2nd Highland Light Infantry on 15 September 1944

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Stirrick, Mar 17, 2022.

  1. Stirrick

    Stirrick Member

    The 2nd HLI was uniquely reformed as a Mountaineer Battalion over the winter of 1943-44. In around May,1944 it was moved to the island of Viz as part of 'Land Forces Adriatic'. This provided support to Yugoslav Partisans operating against German forces in the Dalmatian Islands and along Yugoslavia's Adriatic coast.

    I'm trying to find out more about several casualties that the Battalion suffered on 15 September,1944. I can't find any reference online to a raid that the unit mounted at this time, and I don't have access to the Battalion's War Diary.

    Would anyone know how these casualties might have been sustained ?
     
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    During September 1944 the battalion sent patrols and raiding parties to Solta, Brac and Korcula (September 14th-17th) Islands as well as the Peljasau Peninsula.
     
  3. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

  4. Stirrick

    Stirrick Member

    Thanks, Dryan.

    I found several operations online which took place in this period:

    German Operation Zirkus - 12-13 September 1944 - contested evacuation of Mljet and Korčula islands as well as the western part of the Pljesac peninsula
    Operation Brac III - 11-18 September 1944 - landing at Lucica Bay in an attempt to interrupt the evacuation of Brac
    Operation Geography - 12-13 September 1944 - reconnaissance in preparation for major Operation Aplomb against Kithera
    Operation Detained III - 17 September 1944 - attack on island garrison on Solta
    Operation Mercerised - 22 September-17 October 1944 - capture of Sarandë in southern Albania

    However only Brac III seems to overlap with 15 September, and I'm not sure whether the 2nd HLI were present.

    Do you have any details about casualties suffered by the Battalion in these operations ?
     
  5. Stirrick

    Stirrick Member

    Thanks David.

    I'd seen both these posts before - I'm just disappointed that Gary Kennedy didn't get a reply. ;-)

    The operations from Vis certainly sound interesting - to be honest I knew nothing about them until I started looking into the 2nd HLI.

    In effect 'Land Forces Adriatic' was a Special Forces organisation and so a real handful.
    I found this IWM oral recording by a sniper who served with the 2nd HLI.
    Oates, James Lawrence Burgess (Oral history)
    Just in case you're interested. ;-)
     
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  6. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Last edited: Mar 17, 2022
  7. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here are some of the September raids. It looks like Korcula is a likely candidate.

    Brac (11-19 September 1944)
    No. 43 Royal Marine Commando
    1 Troop, The Raiding Support Regiment


    Kithera Island, Greece (16 September 1944)
    No. 9 Commando
    The Greek Sacred Regiment


    Korcula (14-17 September 1944)
    2nd Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry
    1 Battery, 111th Army Field Regiment, RA
    1 Flight, Royal Air Force Regiment


    Solta (19-23 September 1944)
    No. 43 Royal Marine Commando
    1 Battery, 111th Army Field Regiment, RA


    Corfu (22 September-8 November 1944)
    No. 2 Commando
    2 Troops, The Raiding Support Regiment
    No. 40 Royal Marine Commando (Arrived 27 September)
    Queen’s Battery, 111th Army Field Regiment, RA
    The Royal Air Force Regiment Parachute Levies (Landed 6 October 1944)


    Araxos Airfield (23-26 September 1943)
    The Special Boat Squadron
     
  8. Stirrick

    Stirrick Member

    Fabulous, thank you Dryan.

    It looks like the re-occupation of Korčula Island is the best bet.

    I was a bit worried about tying this whole thing together.
    Without a likely offensive operation, I was wondering if these soldiers had been wounded on Vis.
    Perhaps by a German air raid.
     
  9. Stirrick

    Stirrick Member

  10. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    My notes have 400 of 2 HLI arriving at Katakolon, in Greece on a LC(T) along with 2908 Squadron RAF Regiment on 26th September. This was part of Operation Towan Bucket. Detachments from 4 Para, RSR, SBS and LRDG were also involved. BUCKETFORCE's commander was Major Earl Jellicoe of SBS.

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
  11. Stirrick

    Stirrick Member

    Thanks Gus

    The casualties I am interested in had occured on 15 September.
    But this all adds to my knowledge about the activities of this unit.

    To be honest, having learned a little about it, I am amazed that 'Land Forces Adriatic' isn't better known.
     
    gmyles likes this.
  12. Interested in the above post: John Yates, my father was posted missing , subsequently place of casualty Island of Brac dated 1.7.44, member of Raiding Support Regiment. Any light on activities would be appreciated
     
  13. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member


    Possibly an outgrowth of this operation:

    Raid on Brac Island (
    2 June 1944)(Under HQ 2nd Special Service Brigade and 26th Partisan Division Y.A.N.L.)


    North Force
    500 Partisans

    OP Force
    ‘C’ Company, 2nd Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry
    30 Partisans

    East Force
    OSS Operational Group
    700 Partisans
    Carrier Section, 2nd Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry
    Section, 101st Light AA Battery, RA (2 47/32 mm guns)
    Troop, The Raiding Support Regiment (4 75mm guns)

    Main Force
    HQ 2nd Special Service Brigade
    1300 Partisans
    No. 43 Royal Marine Commando
    Heavy Weapons Troop, No. 40 Royal Marine Commando
    ‘Y’ Troop, No. 40 Royal Marine Commando
    Section, The Raiding Support Regiment

    Artillery
    1 Troop, Partisan 75mm guns
    1 Battery, 111th Army Field Regiment, RA (8 25-lbers)


    Reinforcements (3 June 1944)

    3 Troops, No. 40 Royal Marine Commando

    2 more 25-lbers


    Rearguard

    50 men, No. 2 Commando
     
  14. Thank you. Another piece of the jigsaw
     

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