521 division tps coy, rasc

Can anyone tell me who 521 division tps coy were attached to in Italy, from September 1943 to May 1945 please? Also, what does IGRTD stand for?

 

Maximus

no such thing as 521 Division - possibly 521 RASC Company in some division BUT we shall know better by seeing the records

this IGRTD sounds like an Infantry reinforcement training depot

Cheers

 

Maximus

Without better sources at hand for the moment:
In February 1943, 521 Company, R.A.S.C., belonged to 46 Division (together with 519, 520 and 570 companies). The first three had belonged to 49 Division.

Location was North Africa

From D.J. Sottun: Wait for the Waggon

A Divisional Troops Company R.A.S.C., managed the transport for those divisional (not brigaded) units.

Cheers
Aixman

 

Maximus

Aixman has it about right as they were in 46th Div in North Africa - then floating reserve for Sicily - then landed at

Salerno with X corps with the US 5th Army - then leave in Egypt if they stayed with 46th - back to 8th Army at the Gothic

line for a hammering at Croce - then Greece and finishing up in Graz - Southern Austria

Cheers

 

Many thanks for all the info, it's been really helpful.
Would you know who 1AA bde coy RASC were attached to on BEF? My grandfather was sent to France in September 1939, and didn't come home until 12th June 1940. I was told he was rescued from Dunkirk, but judging by the dates he couldn't have been.

 

Hi
You probably need to get hold of the contents of the diary WO167/425. I've a copy of the front cover but no more having scanned it quickly a year or two ago to check to see if it was anything to do with the Ist AA Division. Sorry.

Perhaps someone could check through it for you?

It also look like they may have been part of the invasion of Sicily. (521 Coy that is)

 

IGRTD appears to be a 5 letter draft embarkation code to me. This draft code was on soldiers kit and paperwork before they embarked for sailing to/from the UK.

If you could post up the relevant document which has IGRTD on, we may be able to confirm this.

Lesley

 

Just realised, 1 GRTD is 1 General Refit and Training Depot
WO169/137131 will cover this for July 43 to December 43. They were at Philippville, Algeria around this time. My father passed through late summer before moving onto Sicily.
A lot of the diary seems to be concerned with forwarding reinforcements for the Italian invasion operations, Baytown, Avalanche, Slapstick etc.

 

Maximus.

Just to correct Tom's dates for 46 Inf Div. They did indeed land at Salerno on 9 Sep 43 but stayed on in Italy until Feb 44. In that period, they pushed North, crossed the Volturno in Oct 43, were heavily committed to the Second Batlle of Monte Camino in Dec 43 and the river crossing attack on Sant Ambrogio in Jan 44. By Jan 44, they were shot through and needed a rest.

Regards

Frank

 

Hi Maximus

This would be the RASC transport company supporting the 1st Anti-aircraft Brigade. This unit was formed as part of ADGB (Air Defence of Great Britain). The RASC provided transport for this brigade which needed to be self-sufficient and as far as I can tell it was sent over to France as part of the Headquarters Group of the BEF.

As far as being rescued from Dunkirk, it's definitely possible. He is noted on his service records (on your other thread) as ex BEF on 30 May 1940, being sent then to 1 TC R War R - which I understand means No. 1 Training Centre, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (my great uncle was also there post-Dunkirk). Not sure why he was then posted back to 1 AA Bde and listed as posted ex BEF on 13 June 1940. I know there was a "second BEF" but I don't know enough about this to say whether that meant he might have gone back over to France for a couple of weeks before leaving again. His record certainly records him as being with the BEF (and not at "Home") from 11 September 1939 until 12 June 1940. A mystery!

Cheers and good luck.

Ian

 

FRank

Thought 46th Div went off to Egypt along with 56th and 78th as they seemed to disappear for a while before turning up again at
the Coriano Ridge in the September '44 for the Croce hammering…

Cheers

 

Thanks to everyone who replied to my thread. I now know a lot more than I did!
I wish I'd joined this forum months ago!

 

Tom.

56 Inf Div went off for a rest in the middle of Anzio. 78 Inf Div were still in Italy for the Op DIADEM breakout in May 44.

F

 

Frank

I didn't say that the 78th went off to Egypt at the same TIME as the 56th as I knew they went off when near Orvieto or

thereabouts in late June '44 - and I also knew that they took part in Diadem as I saw them there - along with 6th AD and 4th

inf as I also saw the 78th - 46th and 56th along with 1st Armoured Div turn up for the Gothic Line in Aug/Sep of '44 - as 46th

with 25th Tank Bde were on our left flank as we went forward on the 26th August with the Canadian 1st Inf. Div……with the Poles

on our right flank……...you were probably at school at that time though…

Cheers

 

Tom.

I was not even born but I am catching up fast.

Regards

Frank

 

Frank

you just have to read the right books …..

Cheers