269389 Lt. Horace Arthur Ransom, East Surrey Regt. Att. Green Howards

Discussion in 'Italy' started by vitellino, Mar 6, 2022.

  1. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Hello everyone,

    I am trying to find out in what circumstances Lt. Ransom was captured. Unfortunately I don't know which battalion of the Green Howards he was attached to. Attached are four entries from the British Army Casualties 1939-45.
    In anticipation,

    WO 417 5 Ransom wounded & missing.jpg WO 417 5 Ransom POW in German hands (Italy).jpg WO417 8 Ransom POW German Hands now died.jpg WO417 9 Ransom correction POW German hands  died of wounds.jpg Vitellino
     
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  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    There is an entry (with copying disabled) for him in the penultimate entry: Llanarthne War Memorial – WWWMP It states he was killed on 27th March 1944 and is buried in Milan War Cemetery.

    In 2016 DaveB visited Milan CWGC and noted:
    He took photos and placed them in Dropbox, he is an active member so perhaps a PM will get access.
    From: Photos taken in CWGC cemeteries in Italy - Bari & Milan (plus some in Lisbon, Portugal)

    Looking at the CWGC records for deaths that day, he is the only one listed in the Milan Cemetery; the others are at Bari, Anzio and Mt. Cassino.

    He appears in The London Gazette 21/5/1943 as he became a Second Lt. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36023/supplement/2261/data.pdf

    Using the CWGC records in March 1944 the 1st Green Howards took casualties, with burials x13 at Anzio, one each at Cassino and Naples. The 1st East Surrey were in Italy then, with x7 burials at Cassino, Minturno x6 and x1 Naples.

    Three posts here describe 1st Green Howards role then: Green howards WW2

    Scanning the threads here concerning 1st Green Howards it appears you need to pin down when they left operations around Minturno, part of the attempt to cross the River Garigliano and when they arrived in Anzio. Then, just perhaps the War Diary can help.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2022
  3. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    When you search for "1st Green Howards" + "taken prisoner" there is a hit for a 1946 report 'The German operation at Anzio. A study of the German operations at Anzio Beachhead from 22 January-31 May 1944' and available as a pdf.
     
  4. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Thank you for the inforrmation on Milan War Cemetery.

    Perhaps I should have stated my interest at the outset .

    I am preparing a website on this cemetery which is almost ready and have detailed information for about three quarters of the casualties and where they were concentrated from. I found the reference to the Lanarthle War Memorial which, unfortunately, does not tie in with what is clearly stated on the last two pages I posted from WO 417/5, named that he died of wounds as a Prisoner of War. That's why he ìs buried in Milan and not elsewhere.

    I know from CWGC that he was concentrated into Milan from a German Cemetery at Gardone

    I will now have a look at the Anzio information as has been suggested

    Vitellino
    WO 417 5 Ransom shortened.jpg WO417 9 Ransom correction abbreviated.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2022
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  5. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    An edit to the above -

    I didn't look at Anzio, as on looking again at the above it gives the date of capture - 28 December 1943. That led me to investigating the whereabouts of all battalions of the Green Howards in that month.

    I read in 'The Italian Campaign, 1943-5 ' (Shephard p. 164 ) that on 23rd December 5 British Division (and hence 1 Green Howards) took Arielli near to Orsogna, the latter still being in German hands. On checking the burials in the Sangro River War Cemetery I found that two men from 1 Green Howards had been killed on the same day that Lt. Ransom had been wounded and captured so I think it safe to say that I have answered my own question!

    However, if anyone has a copy of 1 Green Howards' War Diary for December 1943 I would be interested to read it.

    Vitellino
     
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  6. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    Pages from 1 GH WD for 28th December 1943. Lieutenant Ransom had joined the battalion on 10th December 1943.


    1_Green_Howards_Dec_43_0011.JPG

    1_Green_Howards_Dec_43_0012.JPG
     
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  7. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Gary, that's just what I was looking for.

    I wish I could count how many times I have been helped with basic information like this from members of the forum.

    Thank you very much indeed.

    Vitellino
     
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  8. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    If needed I do have the Regimental rare History? Would you like me to have a look to see if it gives anymore detail has what Gary has provided? One never knows. Its quite detailed has what parts I've read.
    Edit; it may provide a map?


    R
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2022
  9. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    No thanks, Stu, I found out everything I needed except the bit of information which isn't and can't be in the War Diary.

    I would have liked to know which German hospital he was admitted to - it was obviously up in the north as when he died he was buried in the German War Cemetery at Gardone before being transferred to Milan War Cemetery.


    Janet
     

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