2nd. Bat. Chesire Regiment MG during 1942

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by via fora!, Feb 1, 2011.

  1. via fora!

    via fora! Junior Member

    I would like to know if there exists the war diaries of this battalion during 1942 and in particular the months between May and December 1942.
    They suffered many loses during the Gazala battles but being an MG unit their movements and actions are diluted between the actions of the units they were reinforcing.

    Many thanks

    Eduard
     
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is a summary of the 2nd Cheshire Regiment M-G during the period of May to December 1942 from the regimental history. It served with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division during this period:


    The battalion, less ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies, left Zabboud Camp, Lebanon for Libya on February 12th under 50th Division. Eight days later in was in position in the Gazala Line in Libya followed by the remaining two companies three days later. The division relieved the 4th Indian Infantry Division. ‘A’ Company was attached to the 69th Infantry Brigade, ‘D’ Company to the 150th Infantry Brigade, and ‘C’ Company to the 151st Infantry Brigade, while Battalion HQ, HQ Company and ‘B’ Company were part of the mobile divisional reserve. ‘D’ Company was captured on June 1st along with the rest of the 150th Brigade. The division withdrew on June 14th and the battalion moved to Shefferzen by June 15th. The division was then withdrawn to Mersa Matruh, where the battalion was reorganised with two companies: ‘B’ and ‘A’/’C’, each of four platoons. The battalion put in an attack on the Germans at Garawala on the night of the 26th/27th of June and was followed by a withdrawal to Egypt, where it concentrated at Amiriya-Mareopolis area during the first few days of July. ‘B’ Company was sent forward to join the 69th Infantry Brigade in the line on July 20th, 1942. On August 22nd, the Battalion HQ was located near Alexandria reforming ‘C’ Company. ‘A’ Company was under the 7th Armoured Division and ‘B’ Company was protecting the HQ of XXX Corps. During the battle of Alam el Halfa, ‘A’ Company remained with the 7th Armoured Division and ‘B’ Company served with the 1st South African Division. The entire battalion served under the 50th Infantry Division during the battle of El Alamein.
    The battalion moved to the El Adem area on December 5th, 1942 to train and then at the end of the month it moved to Regima and trained for two months with the 102nd Anti-Tank Regiment, RA. It left for Medenine on February 28th, 1943 and then served in the North African campaign with the division at Medenine, Mareth, Akarit and Enfidaville. It then returned to the Delta on April 24th, 1943 and arrived on May 11th at Sidi Bishr. It moved to Suez on June 29th and embarked at Port Said on June 30th for Sicily.
     
  3. DaveWalters

    DaveWalters Junior Member

    Just a note to the OP my Grandad was with the 2nd Cheshires at this time, I'm waiting on his war records before I do my main research so don't have much info but perhaps they knew each other, depending on the Company.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Here you go:

    WO 169/4999 2 Cheshire Regiment 1942 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 169/5000 2 Cheshire Regiment 'B' Company 1942 Aug., Oct.- Nov.

    WO 169/5001 2 Cheshire Regiment 'C' Company 1942 Jan.- Mar.
     
  5. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    The 2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment served with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division as its MG Battalion from 1 February 1941 to 30 June 1945, albeit it was detached from time to time to assist other units that needed specialist MG assistance.

    The summary of the Regimental History gives a flavour of what happened at Gazala in late May to mid-June 1942, but you really need to read a detailed account of the 50 Div's actions to understand what these men got up to, especially in the breakout.

    Originally in the 50 Div was the 150th Infantry Brigade - 4th and 5th Bn's Green Howards and 4th East Yorkshire Regiment - and 151st Infantry Brigade - 6th, 8th and 9th Bn's Durham Light Infantry. The latter brigade was with 50 Div throughout WWII, but the 150th Infantry Brigade was overrun at Gazala on 1 June 1942 and those that survived went in the bag. The 69th - 6th and 7th Bn's Green Howards and 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment - joined 50 Div in late June 1940 and together with 151st Infantry Brigade were ordered to withdraw from the Gazala line in mid-June. This was the breakout.

    The breakout at Gazala was truly amazing. The 50 Div was the last to leave the Gazala line (boxes really), with the rest of the 8th Army in full retreat eastwards eventually to the Alamein line and it did so by attacking the Axis forces to the west.

    When it had punched a hole through the Axis forces it swung to the south around Bir Hackeim and then east eventually to the Alamein line. Divisional troops, like the 2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment, would have been fully involved in these actions.

    I suggest that the Battalion histories for whichever Infantry Brigade the Company of Cheshire's you are inetrested in was attached to would provide the best account. Either that or any War Diaries that survived the breakout.

    Just ask if you need any further information about 50 Div and if I know or have I will provide!

    Best,

    Steve.
     

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