6th Battalion Lincs Regiment.

My grandfather, i believe, was in the 6th Battalion,definately the Lincolnshire Regiment.

His service number was 4806361.

His name was Edward J Wright.

He enlisted 13/6/1940 and came out 13/4/1946.

With so little information can anyone tell me where he might have served?

All my mother knows is that when he came home from service he hated the smell of oranges and none were allowed in the house, so maybe he spent some time where they were grown and got fed up of them, clutching at straws in know.
His back was also pitted with shrapnel so he saw active duty.

Kind regards Trev.

 

6th Lincolns formed part of 46th Infantry Division.

The Division's post-1940 service was as follows

UK (6/40 - 1/43)
N.Africa (1/43 - 9/43)
Italy (9/43 - 3/44)
N.Africa (3/44)
Palestine (4/44 - 6/44)
N.Africa (6/44)
Italy (7/44 - 1/45)
Greece (1/45 - 4/45)
Italy (4/45 - 5/45)
Austria (5/45 - 8/45)

These battles are noted but the Lincolns may not have been active in all. It's a starting point for research though.

El Kouriza (1943)
Tunis (1943)
Salerno (1943)
Naples (1943)
Volturno (1943)
Monte Camino (1943)
Gothic Line (1944)
Coriano (1944)
Rimini Line (1944)
Lamone (1944)

Source - "Divisions of the British Army 1939 - 1945" , Malcolm Bellis.

Rich

 

Most helpful Rich, thank-you.

 

Excellent info Owen, much appreciated.

 

Hi Trevster

The 6th Lincolnshires were in 138th Brigade, commanded by Brigadier G.P. Harding, in 46th Infantry Division which was commanded by Major-General J.L.I. Hawksworth.

At the Salerno landings on 9 September 1943, 6th Lincs were involved in fierce fighting and completed the expulsion of the Germans from the strong-point of Magazzea.

Late on the 9th the 2nd Battalion 1st Panzer Grenadier Regiment 'Herman Göring' inland at Cava de Tirreni on the Vietri sul Mare - Nocera road, and the Herman Göring Reconnaissance Battalion at the Chiunzi Pass on the Maiori road came into action and resulted in deadlock between small forces. At Cava di Tirreni the Herman Göring Panzer Grenadier Battalion vigorously engaged the 2nd and the Royal Marine Commandos, which were supported by the destroyer HMS Nubian. Towards evening 6th Lincolnshires arrived, tipping the scales, and the action died down.

6th Lincolnshires were also engaged in the advance to Naples and Foggia following the landings. On the night of 22nd/23rd September 46th Division cleared the area of Cava di Terreni, but well sited enemy machine guns spoiled the attempt and neither Santa Croce nor La Molina were cleared, furthermore 2nd/4th K.O.Y.L.I. had the misfortune to be shelled by their own guns as a result of which 6th Lincolnshires, on their immediate left, also fell short of their objective. The fierceness of these action can be judged by the casualties, on 23 September 2nd/4th K.O.Y.L.I. suffered 116 and 6th Lincolnshires 93.

The next action in which they were engaged was the second battle of Monte Camino in the assault on the Bernhardt Line. This was in atrocious weather on 4/5 December 1943 with icy drizzle turning to torrential rain, and the Garigliano, the Peccia, and the Liri, rose to flood. They were in action on the precarious Garigliano bridgehead against heavy German counter-attacks from 20 to 22 January 1944.

On the night of 26th/27th January 138th Brigade began to attack and 6th Lincolns won a firm footing on the slopes of Monte Rotondo East, going on to capture it on the night of the 28th. In the sporadic fierce fighting that followed, on the night of 7th/8th February 6th Lincs twice reached Monte Faito and twice were pushed off it by immediate counter-attacks which forced them back to Ornito. Matters reached an impasse and from 9 February 1944 the whole of the division went over to the defensive as the focal point of the struggle became Cassino and Anzio.

They were also heavily engaged in the battle of Gemmano Ridge. On 10 September 1944 6th Lincolns were ordered to take Point 449 on the Gemmano Ridge and although badly cut up by shell fire one company got up to the wooden cross at the top of the hill. Again and again the top of the hill changed hands. When the hill was finally taken by 2nd Cameron Highlanders "round the base of the great black crucifix at the top were the arms of a dead soldier of the 6th Lincolns" (quoted from R. Docherty, Eighth Army in Italy 1943-45, page 164).

On 9 December 1944 the 6th Lincolns were again in the thick of it when unexpectedly when 90th Panzer Division counter-attacked 46 Division's front at the Faenza bridgehead. 200th Panzer Grenadier Regiment using artillery, tanks, and infantry attacked apparently regardless of casualties, attacking from Celle, struck 138th Brigade's front with the brunt of the fighting falling upon 6th Lincolns and a squadron of the Bays. The three companies of the Lincolnshires were all under strength due to previous heavy losses, but they held their ground from 7 am to just before midday when the Germans fell back. A second attack was launched at 2 pm but also failed. A third attack, made in conjunction with 305th Infantry Division was also repulsed. But 46th Division had suffered heavy casualties and had reached the end of its fighting fitness and had to be relieved.

Mention should also be made of 22 year old Captain John H.C. Brunt of the Sherwood Forresters attached to 6th Lincolns as c/o Carrier Platoon, who was killed winning the VC on the bridgehead over the Lamone River on 9 December 1944 holding a vital sector of the line at Faenza facing the full fury of the above attack.

Peter

 

Excellent info Peter and thanks for the link Owen, good of you both.

Regards Trev.

 

Very compliments for the info!
A picture from Italy....the moon rising over Mt. Faito:



Best Regards, Gurdjieff
http://img38.imageshack.us/i/moononmontefaito2b.jpg/

 

My father left a diary of his wartime experiences that begin in January 1944 when he was captured near the Garigliano River. I am trying to piece together events before that.

He was in the Lincolns and I believe...

He landed at Salerno, on the wrong beach (anyone know which wave?) and his unit was sent to help the Middlesex Regiment??

Then I have nothing until his capture in January 1944, when I believe his unit was sent to clear farm houses of German troops to support the crossing of Garigliano River by the Americans. The attack was successful, but the German army counter attacked and after a firefight at night he was wounded by a grenade and captured.

I have the story after that - lots of detail about food, hospital treatment, camps ending up in Stalag 4b, liberation by cossacks etc, but anything anyone can contribute about Italy would be good.

Thanks in anticipation


finder

 

Trevter-
whilst Peter G gives an excellent account of the trials and tribulations of the 6th Lincolns it should be pointed out from their first toe hold at Salerno - they stayed with the X corps of Gen McCreery in the US 5th Army under Gen Clark -until after the Garigliano Battles they went off south for rest and reinforcement which was badly needed - they then came back and joined V Corps and served on the left flank of the Canadian Corps at the Gothic line battles starting over the Metauro on August 25th - both 46th an 56th Divs took a terrible beating on Coriano Ridge at Croce and Gemmano - as many others did on that ridge.

It should also be noted that at no time were X Corps involved in the Battles for the Foggia Airfields which was in 8th Army sector and were taken by 78th Div

Try Googling for "Gemmano" to get a feel of Croce and Coriano battles - and /or Stu Hamiltions "Armoured Odessey" when he served tea to the infantry coming up the mountain side - there was always a good giggle or two...
Cheers

 

6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment

Photo taken in North Africa ( My Grandfather front row second from right)

Harold Farrar From Dewsbury



Hope this helps you

if your Grandfather is on the photo i can e-mail an A4 Size copy to you.

Regards

R Brook

 

please see below .

 

I have just found this website and I am thrilled to spot my grandfather, Pte. Jonathon Metcalfe, sitting in the front row, third from right.
I was always led to believe that he was in E Company. Does anyone know where this photograph was taken and when? Perhaps the original has some information written on the back.

Regards,

Barrie Stewart

 

Brook1972 hasn't visited the forum for several years. Might be an idea to start a 'Conversation' with him and hope he has set up email notifications. Good luck with your research.

 

Barrie.

I am taking a group to look at the Gothic Line in Sep 19. If you would like to see what happened to your grandfather at the epic Battle of Gemmano, do say and I will give you more information.

Regards

Frank

 

Hi Frank,

That would be marvellous. I would be extremely interested in that.

I do have specific details relating to my grandfather hidden away in a box somewhere, I shall try to find them and give you more details. From memory I thought he was in E Company. Would that sound right?

Barrie

 

Barrie.

Unlikely to be E Company. Unless 6 LINCOLNS ran a different system, an infantry battalion had four Rifle Companies - A, B, C and D. It also had an HQ Company and a Support Company. Support Company was the heavy weapons - mortars, anti-tank and recce.

Get me through www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk and I will tell you all about the Sep 19 trip to the Gothic Line.

Regards

Frank

 

Thanks Frank. I will dig my grandfather's papers out and send you some details. I shall also check out the www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk website. Your description of 'Minden' was very interesting.

Regards,

Barrie

 

Here is a copy of page 37 of Nominal Roll of Book 15 held at the Lincoln archives. Spot with the date of discharge date.