2733859 David Glyndwr SPOWART, No1 Company (July 44), 3.Welsh Guards, 1st Infantry Brigade, 6th Armoured Division Enlisted 1934. 1st & 3rd Battalion
Great photos, thanks very much for sharing those and info about your grandfather. I've added his name and link to this thread to both nominal rolls including this one. Welsh Guards, Other Ranks: unofficial Nominal Roll by Army Number order Do you have names of anyone else in photos?
Thank you again, unfortunately not on the names front, although I can see a few of the large group (August ‘44) in the picture on Route 71 with the camo smocks on. Hoping it will help others.
Nice photos. For information he is reported as being wounded in the casualty lists in North Africa on 8.5.43 along with a number of others from the 3rd Bn. A question - do you happen to know where photo 3 (indoor group of 7) was taken.
Thank you, are you able to post the casualty lists or do you any more information regarding this ? In terms of the third photo there was no annotation on the rear I’m afraid. There is a mix of battledress being worn so I would surmise that this is between the fall of France and Operation Torch on the premise that no ribbons bars are being worn.
Absolutely, he joined in 1934, he’d have been one year or so in at that point. In the other pre-war pics you can see them wearing puttees too !
Apologies, remiss if me, he suffered wounds to his thigh and chest having been mortared in North Africa - not long after they landed. I’ll need to check where that happened - any information you might have I.e. location etc would be gratefully appreciated. I have attached the elements of phis paperwork documenting the wounds. Thank you
In my avatar you can see my father and his mate (commissioned 1944) on active service with 3rd CG in Palestine 1939 and wearing puttees ready for Guard Duty. My father (3rd from right) is holding a Lewis Gun (in a cover) on returning from a 48 hour patrol in Palestine. The chap in the rear wearing a service dress cap was later awarded VC in Italy Sept 1943 as CSM Peter Wright 3rd CG. Steve
I’ve seen very few pics of puttees in the Western Theatres but am aware they were used in the East. Again, the weapons used in Italy are also quite different with heavy reliance on lend lease (very few pics of Stens many pics of Thompsons !) and the randomly SMLEs in lieu of number 4s. As can be seen in pic 9 they’re also wearing US shirts.
Afraid that casualty lists are just that, a list of number, name, rank and a date, so they do not provide any further detail or information. Note that the meaning of the handwritten numbers is unknown. The reason I asked about the photo is, believe it or not, about the wallpaper!! I have a photo of my father with the same background and it has also appeared a couple of other times see this link:- Photo odds and ends - hopefully something for everyone I am intrigued in where the photo was taken, whilst in your photo there are no decorations on display in dad's case he is wearing the Africa Star and also his MID, I place the photo as after Q1 1944 by which time he was in Italy.
Very interesting, perhaps a studio in Naples cashing in … I see exactly what you mean - wallpaper is 100% match.