I can't find any reference to the 11th HLI, other than they were attached to the 15 (S) Div. My uncle was with the 11th from March 1940 through to July 1942 (Field) and I would like to find out where they were exactly. Many thanks for any help anyone can give Barb20
It would appear that 11 HLI served in 46 Infantry Brigade, part of 15 Scottish Division from 1939, in UK, until Dec 1941 when they were converted to 156 Royal Armoured Corps, part of 36 Tank Brigade, also in UK, until September 1943 when they reverted to their original title until placed in suspended animation. Sorry, no info on where they served in this later reincarnation, but this is after the period you are interested in. Source Bellis. Chris
Hi Barb I moved your post/query to a thread of its own as it wasn't 1940 related. Have you considered looking at the battalion diaries in the National Archives? Cheers Andy
Here's one for starters: WO 166/4346 11 Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) 1939 Aug.- 1941 Nov.
Many thanks to Chris and Drew. Sorry Chris for being a dimbo, but what does Source Bellis mean? Have thought about War Diaries but unable to travel to Kew. Would there be a way of looking at a copy without actually attending Archives? Thanks for the number you suggest anyhow Drew.
Here are some more details on the 11th HLI: 11th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) (T.A.) 46th Infantry Brigade – 3 September 1939 to 19 November 1941 The battalion was formed from the 6th Battalion on March 31st, 1939 (FOC July 14th, 1939) at Glasgow. The 46th Brigade initially trained around the environs of Glasgow the end of December 1939, when the 15th (Scottish) Division replaced the 52nd (Lowland) Division, which moved to the Dumfries area, in the area of the Firth of Forth. In the spring, it again replaced the 52nd Division in the Borders area around Galashiels, when the 52nd moved south. Soon after the 15th (Scottish) Division also moved in early May 1940 to Wiltshire to take over from the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. The stay in Wiltshire was shortlived and the 46th Brigade moved in advance of the division to the east coast to defend a section of the coastline between the Thames and Blackwater under the command of the 2nd London Division. The 15th (Scottish) Division took over a forty- mile section of the coastline from Southend to Harwich. The rest of the division arrived in Essex on May 21st and took over from the 2nd London Division. In February 1941, the division and brigade moved to Suffolk and the division took over the coastline from Felixstowe to Lowestoft. When the brigade moved north to Northumberland on November 20th, the battalion remained behind in Suffolk to convert to the 156th Armoured Regiment, RAC. 36th Army Tank Brigade – 1 December 1941 to 12 August 1942 The brigade was forming from HQ 205th Infantry Brigade until January 1st, 1942 and did not officially take command of its units until that date. The regiment joined on January 10th, 1942, although it was converted to the 156th Armoured Regiment, RAC in December 1941. It was equipped with Valentine tanks. The brigade was located in the area of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk and remained there throughout its existence. 36th Tank Brigade – 12 August 1942 to 30 July 1943 The 156th Armoured Regiment, RAC had begun to lapse into “temporary advance” from June 1943. The regiment was disbanded on July 31st, 1943 having given up all of its Valentine tanks. The brigade was disbanded at Lismore Park near Bury St. Edmunds. In September 1943 it became the 11th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry and went into suspended animation in 1944.
Can't thank you enough for all the information you have given - it really is helping me to build a picture. Don't want to take advantage but can I ask if you know anything about where they were from the time they disembarked in France in June 44 until September 45? I know my uncle was in Schwerin, Germany in clearing up exercises in June 1945 and at a CCS in July and then hospital but haven't any idea what he was doing before then.
The 11th HLI was disbanded in September 1943 for all intents and purposes. More than likely your uncle was switched to another unit at this point, since you certain that he landed in France.
Many thanks to Chris and Drew. Sorry Chris for being a dimbo, but what does Source Bellis mean? Have thought about War Diaries but unable to travel to Kew. Would there be a way of looking at a copy without actually attending Archives? Thanks for the number you suggest anyhow Drew. British Armoured and Infantry Regiments 1939-1945, compiled and published by Malcolm A Bellis. He has also published a number of other reference books on Brigades, Divisions, 21 Army Group etc. Have to say that, though this book shows what I said earlier, cross referencing to Brigade and Division books does not confirm it. Chris
Hi Barb My interest is Suffolk anti-invasion defences during WW2 and I have a an electronic copy of 11 HLI war diary for 1941 (basically their role was to defend the Suffolk Coast between Bawdsey and Orford). Not sure if this is the year you are interested in (as you mention 1945) but if it is please pm me and I will forward links to my website and blog (not sure if can mention them on here) and will try and summarise the diary for you (much of it is just a long list of cassini grid ref's for road craters, road blocks etc!) Dave
Thanks again. Yes it is clear from his records that on the 1.1.44 he was on X(i) list 15 (S) Div and on the 13.6.44 he embarked from UK to NWE. I understand through family that he was in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany and there is a pic of him in Schwerin, Germany in June 1945 but nothing more until 7.7.45 when he was admitted in NWE to 34 Casualty Clearing Station from 15 Div HQ and then to hospital and then to a 34 Reinforcement Holding Unit. He embarked UK in September 1945. Received BAOR Clasp. Goodness knows where I go from here! Any suggestions please?
