Whereabouts: 2nd Royal Warwickshire Regiment & 5th Wiltshire Regiment

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Jane Harris, Aug 18, 2018.

  1. Jane Harris

    Jane Harris Member

    Afternoon, Recently received my fathers service records and would like to know if anyone can help. He was posted as injured 6th Aug 44 sustaining multiple shrapnel wounds (2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment). Also 14th Feb 45 receiving shrapnel wounds right thigh (this time he was with the Wiltshire Regiment, sorry no Battalion number as far as I can see). Does anyone know where these two Battalions were on these dates, all it says on the records is West Europe Theatre of War. Many thanks.
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  3. Jane Harris

    Jane Harris Member

    Thank you.
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Had more time than I thought

    img151.jpg

    TD
     
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  6. Jane Harris

    Jane Harris Member

    Appreciate that, thank you.
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    If you can supply a name & number some of the members can look him up in the casualty lists & that should have which battalion he was in .
     
  8. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    On 14 Feb 45 your father was in the midst of the fighting in the Rhineland (Germany). The 4th and 5th Wilthires - as part of 129 Bde, 43rd Wessex - had just taken the important town of Cleve after a night attack (night 9/10 Feb) and a day full of fighting (10 Feb 45). See: VERITABLE 1945: 15th Scottish & 43rd Wessex Divisions in the Reichswald battle.

    On the 13th the 129 Bde continued the advance to the east of Cleve. By the end of that day the 4th Wiltshires captured the Eselsberg, a tactical important stretch of high ground hard east of Bedburg, which was taken almost without a fight. Next day, Feb 14th, both Wiltshire batallions were involved in heavy fighting for the Eselsberg. In the morning the 4th Bn had to ward off an attempt by tanks and infantry of the 116.Panzer Division to recapture the lost high ground; that afternoon, after the enemy counterattack subsided, the 5th Bn tried to push eastward from the Eselsberg but the attack was stopped almost on the Start Line. Both battalions were very heavily shelled during that day and together lost at least 46 men killed.

    More about the latter battle over here: VERITABLE 1945: 15th Scottish & 43rd Wessex Divisions in the Reichswald battle
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2018
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  9. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    "The Story of the Twenty-third Hussars":

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    106.jpg
     
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  10. Jane Harris

    Jane Harris Member

    So grateful to everyone for information. Am tearful, proud and wanting to know more about what he went through. He joined up (conscripted in, not sure which) 18th April 1940 into the Royal Berkshire Regiment number 5343359 his name was Fred Gibbions. Attached copies of WO telegrams mum received and saved. She also saved a local newspaper cutting in which he said his battalion made their way off the beach (Sword I think) and when he was wounded they were a little way inland. Not sure where that could have been. Thanks again.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    8th June 1944 the RWR were in the middle of attacking Lebisey Woods NE of Caen. If you use the search facility of this site and type in Lebisey woods then there are threads that talk about this action.

    As said previously it might be worth your buying a copy of the Regimental History written by Marcus Cunliffe.

    TD
     
  12. Jane Harris

    Jane Harris Member

    Thank you.
     
  13. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    infantry on tanks.jpg

    Like these soldiers he was lifted into Cleve on Sherman tanks of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry (photo IWM).
     
  14. Jane Harris

    Jane Harris Member

    Many thanks Stolpi.
     
  15. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    Casualty Lists:
    Gibbons_01.jpg
    DNR = Date Not Recorded

    Gibbons_02.jpg

    Gibbons_03.jpg

    Gibbons_04.jpg
     
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  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  17. Jane Harris

    Jane Harris Member

    Many thanks to all, even though I am blubbering again! I must man up (as the saying goes).
     

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