2nd Bn. Hampshire Regiment

Hi, I am new on here and I would like to get copies of the 2nd Bn. Hampshire War Diaries for Sept 1939 to June1943
Owen very kindly gave me the numbers I require.
W/O166/4324
W/O166/8713
W/O167/753
W/O173/181
W/O175/499

I know that Ideally I should go to the N/A at Kew to copy these.
What I would like to know is, is it possible to get copies without actually visiting Kew. Please exscuse my ignorance about all this as I would find it quite difficult to get to Kew. I am in awe of the knowledge and information supplied on this site and have finally plucked up the courage to ask a question. Thank you
Rosey

 

I have WO 167/753 from their time in France. I would also have their Brigades and Anti-Tank Coy diaries.

I'm happy to provide you with a copy of each on disc if you are happy to donates some cash to one or more of the charities in the link below:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/28058-bef-war-diaries-wo-167-series.html

Is there anyone or thing specific you are interested in regarding the Hampshires? I've posted some pictures and info on them from 1940 France.

 

I've read quite a lot of accounts by a Battalion Officer called Peter Halliday - I suspect he must have a book out there somewhere.

Some of his accounts are in a very good book called Guards VC by Dilip Sarkar.

 

Hi Drew
thankyou for your offer of W/O167/753 I would be delighted to have that. I will look at the thread you have indicated and will make a donation. I will get back to you, I am a bit slow with the computer as I am entirely self taught and take a while to figure out the procedures etc., My interest in the Hampshires is that I have been researching my husbands' Dad who was a regular with the Hampshires. He was originally with the 1st Bn. in India then returned to the U.K in 1937 and was posted to the 2nd Bn. I have his Service Records and he was with the BEF in 1939 and was Killed in Action at Tebourba on the 3rd of December 1942. I don't know which Coy he was in within the Bn. but I saw a copy of a page from the Hamps War Diary of 1940 once and it made him seem nearer somehow, sorry to be so sentimental. He has no known grave but he is remembered on the Memorial at Medjez el Bab.

 

No worries Rosy, I know what you mean

Whats his name?

I'll sorth the diaries out for you this w/end.

 

Owen, Andy, great help for a new member, well done.
Rosey, you are in good hands with these two!

Mike

 

Drew thank you so much. I will make a donation to the Sailors. Soldiers & Air Force Assoc. Seeing as my husband is an ex. Matelot and by brother in Law ex RAF and both of our families were several generations of Army I can't be fairer than that can I?
My Father in Law's name was James Edward Fletcher

 

Thank you once again Owen, I have that book and it has been a great help along with my Father in Law's Service records, in piecing together his life. My husband was only 18 months old (the youngest of three children) when his Dad was killed and so has no memory of him. I know that happened to a lot of families but it is still a poignant thing to research someone's life even after all these years.

Cheers

 

Thank you for your welcome Mike. I am indeed grateful for all the help I have received. This is a great site.

 

Hello Rosey and welcome to the forum.

I hope you find the attached photo of interest/use.

 

The Happies were in the 1st Guards Brigade; but sadly the war diary pages were torn out for the 1942-1943 (just the months of conflict are missing). If I'm back in the nationl archives any time soon i'll see if I can find the relevant documents for you.

I have posted information previously on their last stand at Tebourba which was taken from original 78 Division documents.

 

Hello 52nd Airborne
I can't tell you how thrilled my husband and I were to see that photo. It was so unexpected and moving. It is some comfort to see that Medjez el Bab Cemetery is in such a green and shady setting. I had imagined it to be dusty and brown like the desert. I had always thought that a name on a memorial wall would not have the emotional impact of a grave but I was wrong. One day we will visit. It is wonderful that you have taken the time to photograph these memorials/graves. I think that the men and women who fought in and survived the War are heroes every one, but I also think that the men who never came home and who are buried in unmarked graves should never be forgotten. So thank you so much for the photo.

Rosey

 

Hello Phaeton
thank you for your kind offer to look out for more documents for me. I have scanned and saved the 78th Brigade documents you posted on the other site. I know my Father in Law won't be mentioned in the diaries but seeing and reading the written words gives a real sense of what it was like for the men out there. He was killed in action at Tebourba on the 3rd of December '42that was why I was particularly interested in that month.

Rosey

 

CWGC :: Certificate


Picture posted by 52nd


Madjez-el-Bab Memorial

 

Hi Rosey, I've got some information about 21 of the 2nd Hampshires killed in the war who came from Portsmouth. Let me know if there is anything I might be able to help with.

 

Rather than copy just the 2nd Hamps for you, I've copied the whole of 1st Guard Brigade so you can get a feel for what was happening upto Brigade level.

Can you PM me the address you want the disc sending too please.

Regards
Andy

 

Hi Drew
I have sent you a PM. Thank you so much for all your help.

Rosey

 

Hi James
I have had a quick look at your Remembering the people of Portsmouth site and it is very good. I had contacted Portsmouth Council some time ago about their proposal to put all the names of the WW11 Dead on a Memorial in Portsmouth and I think it is such a good idea. They didn't have my Father in Laws' name on their list so I gave them his details. He was a Portsmouth man born and bred. By the way he lied about his age when he joined the army in 1928. He was only sixteen and was only 30 when he was killed and not 32. I don't know what sort of information you have on the 2nd Hampshires who came from Portsmouth, I will get back to you. Thanks for that.

Rosey

 

Hi Rosey,
I dont know if this is of any relevence to you but I to am looking for info on the Hampshires, my Grandfather served in India around the same time as your father. I have a post on the Gyneology thread, however here is an outline.
I am looking for more info on my Grandfather (I have his records from Glasgow), he joined The Hampshires on 8th of November 1923 he spent a year training as an infantryman and drummer boy. On the 6th January 1925 he joined the 1st Battalion and was posted to Razmak in India.
The battalion saw action on the Northwest frontier, the famous Khyber Pass, throughout 1925. He learned to box in India and won many bouts and inter-army medals. According to records he transferred to the 2nd Battalion and may have seen action in Cairo, Junipor and then Palestine.
My grandfather was posted to England after rejoining the 1st Battalion in 1932. He then spent 1932 to 1939 in the Army Reserve, before being called up to the Hampshire Regulars (2nd Battalion) again at the beginning of World War Two for the BEF’s push into Europe against Germany.
From getting home on one of the small boats, to 18th April 1941, my grandfather’s service record is very sketchy, however the 2nd battalion saw service in Africa after the Dunkirk retreat.
I hope it helps.

Best regards
Jim