Information about my maternal Grandfather whose WW2 service I am researching. I would be grateful if anyone who has relevant information and photographs of the unit could post them here. Or direct me to online resources that I can access. At age 19 while working as a miner in Dunston colliery, he enlisted into The Green Howards in Gateshead, Sept 1924 to escape the social deprivation of the Gateshead Teams slums. A saying at the time was “The Workhouse or the Army”. Terms of service were 7 years with the Colours and 5 years with the Reserve. He transferred to the Reserve 9th May 1932, rank of Private with Exemplary Military Conduct during his service with the Colours. A timeline of his service in WW2 from his Army Record and his Red Soldiers book which I have. 1 Bn The Green Howards 1939 2nd Sept Mobilised 10th Sept Posted to No.5 Infantry Training Centre, Richmond (Private) 29th Sept Posted to 1st Bn. The Green Howards, 15th Infantry Brigade Home until 4th Oct 1939 BEF (British Expeditionary Force)(France) 5th Oct 1939 to 18th Apr 1940 Home 19th - 20th Apr 1940 NWEF (Norwegian Expeditionary Force) 21st Apr 1940 to 5th May 1940 Home 6th May 1940 to 16th Mar 1942 5th Bn Recce Corp 1941 22nd Jan Transferred to 5th Bn, Recce Corps with rank of Cpl. 29th Apr Appointed acting A/L/Sgt 1st Aug Appointed A/Sgt 1942 17th Mar Embarked UK for India with rank W/Sgt 21st May Disembarked India 18th Aug Embarked India for Iraq 29th Aug Disembarked Iraq 1943-1945 9th Mar Proceeded Middle East PAIF (Palestine Iraq Force) 17th Mar 1942 to 28th Aug 1943 BNAF (British North Africa Force) (Algeria/Tunisia) 29th Aug 1943 to 18th Jun 1944 MEF (Middle East Force) (Egypt) 19th Jun 1944 to 11th Feb 1945 CMF (Central Mediterranean Force) (Italy/Balkans) 12th Feb 1945 to 22nd Feb 1945 BLA (British Liberation Force) (Germany) 23rd Feb 1945 to 27th July 1945 Home 28th July 1945 to 11th Nov 1945 Res Z 12th Nov 1946 to 19th Dec 1952
Welcome to the forum Info below with thanks to forum member Recce_Mitch 5th Reconnaissance Regiment(5th Recce) soldier search 5th Reconnaissance Regiment [1941-1946] The Reconnaissance Regiment for the 5th Infantry Division from its formation to subsequent disbandment. 5th Reconnaissance Regiment was formed in 1941 from 3rd Battalion The Tower Hamlets Rifles, The Rifle Brigade, which had been raised in 1940. Sailed for India in March 1942. The regiment served in Persia and Syria before joining the 8th Army for the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 where it experienced heavy fighting before deploying to Italy becoming the first unit of the Corps into Italy to serve with the 5th and 8th Armies, including Anzio. Left Italy in June 1944 and then came up from the south of France. Withdrawn to North West Europe for the final phases of the war. Taking part in the last drive into Germany after the Rhine crossing. 5th Recce maintained rifles' distinctions, such as black buttons. February 1941: Formed from 3rd Battalion Tower Hamlet Rifles (London Rifle Brigade). 3rd February 1941 – Renamed 5th Reconnaissance Battalion 6th June 1942 – Renamed 5th Reconnaissance Regiment 1st January 1944 – Renamed 5th Reconnaissance Regiment RAC 31st August 1945: Disbanded Commanding Officers Lt-CoI. N. R. Blockley, O.B.E., [Rifle Brigade] Lt-CoI. M. F. Douglas-Pennant, D.S.O., M.B.E. [King's Royal Rifle Corps] LOCATIONS SERVED United Kingdom: 1.2.41 - 16.3.42 At Sea: 17.3.42 - 20.5.42 HMT Almanzora. India: 21.5.42 - 20.8.42 At Sea: 20.8.42 - 28.8.42 HMT Rohna Iraq: 28.8.42 - 28.9.42 Persia: 28.9.42 - 31.1.43 Syria: 13.2.42 - 11.6.43 (1) Egypt: 13.6.43 - 28.6.43 (2) At Sea: 29.6.43 - 10.7.43 Sicily: 10.7.43 - 3.9.43 Italy: 3.9.43 - 3.7.44 At Sea: 3.7.44 - 9.7.44 Egypt: 9.7.44 - 13.7.44 Palestine: 14.7.44 - 8.2.45 At Sea: 9.2.45 - 15.2.45 Italy: 15.2.45 - 27.2.45 At Sea: 27.2.45 - 2.3.45 NW Europe: 2.3.45 - 31.8.45 (1) In transit from Persia 1.2.43 - 12.2.43 (2) In transit 11.6.43 - 13.6.43 BATTLES & ENGAGEMENTS 1943 9 July - 12 July: Landing in Sicily 19 November - 3 December: The Sangro 1944 17 January - 31 January: Garigliano Crossing 22 January - 22 May: Anzio 22 May - 4 June: Rome Further Reading Wheeled odyssey : the story of the Fifth Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps A.R. Prince (ed.) 68 p.
Hi, From the timeline you’ve provided his 12 year service commitment would’ve expired in 1936. You say he was “mobilised” 1st September 1939 so presumably he had committed to further military service between 1936 and 1939? If he hadn’t made a further commitment (Section D Army Reserve?) he likely “re-enlisted” on the outbreak of war and was sent to an Infantry Training Centre to be kitted out. In light of his previous service he likely didn’t need any recruit training and was speedily sent on to a Battalion of his Regiment. Steve
Thank you for the additional information in your replies. Steve, Uploaded is a screen shot of his movements 1930’s. I am not familiar with the different lists.
Hi, Thanks for the clarification. Section D Reserve For men who had completed their time in Section B Reserve. They could commit for four years and were placed in Section D Reserve. Men who had been discharged had up to six months to re-engage in this form of reserve. Terms, pay and training was the same as Section B. Steve
Welcome. Information from your other post quotes his service number as 4384404, might be good to put it in the title, note that this number does not appear in the casualty lists as missing, wounded etc. If you go to the Recce home page and re-order the posts you will find quite a bit on 5th Recce, will be worth looking through:- Recce | Page 8 | WW2Talk
I would recommend you get hold of the history of the 5th Division (nickname The Globetrotters) by George Aris, an excellent read. Copies are fairly easy to come by, from AbeBooks for example: Fifth Division by Aris - AbeBooks Amazon too: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fifth-British-Division-1939-1945/dp/B0006EDTR6
Research continues…. I have updated the title of the post to include the name my grandfather was known by in 5th Recce. My mother recalls Christmas cards arriving from his friend in 5th Recce, Mr. Len A Wiggs, whom I know nothing about, who was assigned to RHQ. And he used to stay with him when he attended the reunions in London. No idea why “Ted”, and unlikely to find out. … but still interesting
Here's a theory. Bear with me. In the Italian campaign the Germans were called Teds, by the Allies, after the Italian for Germans, Tedeschi. Your Grandad's nickname may have something to do with that. List of terms used for Germans - Wikipedia
Leonard Alfred WIGGS 25th February 1917 Camberwell, London - November 1989 Surrey Mid-Eastern aged 72
Further my post re the Divisional history, this chapter covers 15th Infantry Brigade in Norway (“Sickleforce”).
Thanks Martin. I have travelled that whole area of Norway without knowing the history of the Norway Campaign.
You’re most welcome - it is a very good book. By the way, have you thought about obtaining the war diaries for the period your Grandfather was with 1/Green Howards? This thread includes a comprehensive list by Gary of the diaries, which you might find of interest (see post #22): Sub Area HQs in Italy 1943/44 You can ask Gary if he already has copies of any of them and also try asking Andy (member Drew5233) who, as far as I know, has a very comprehensive collection of war diaries for the BEF. Gary and Andy also both offer a copying service for diaries at TNA at a heck of a lot cheaper rate than TNA charge!
Thank for that information. Yes, I be looking at his time in 1 GH as well as his initial service from 1924. Separate project.
Structure & Roles by rank. Copied this from another thread…. “When the Reconnaissance Corps was first established in 1941 it was organized, (like the infantry), into battalions, companies, platoons and sections. According to a directive issued by the War Office at the time, the normal staffing for a reconnaissance battalion was to be 40 officers and 733 other ranks divided into the following components: - 1 Headquarters Company composed of: 1 Admin Platoon 1 Anti-Aircraft Platoon 1 Signals Platoon 1 Anti-Tank Platoon 1 Mortar Platoon - 3 Companies, each consisting of: 3 Scout Platoons, each composed of: 1 Armoured Reconnaissance Car Section (5 LRC's each) 2 Carrier Sections (3 Carriers each) 1 Infantry or Assault Platoon of 4 Sections.” I have read elsewhere that Company became Squadron and Platoon became Troop. My GF was Sgt in 2 Squadron. Can anyone explain to me what roles were occupied by what ranks in a typical Recce Regiment? Thanks in advance.
