Dear Forum, A newbie here I have (well I think I have) filled out my introduction details on the appropriate form when I created my sign in.... and take it members shall be able to view this info....although the invitation of introduction cited above makes me think this may not be the case and I shall be in error? I discovered your forum/web site while researching data as above referred, and thought it appropriate to attempt to contact the diligent research provider directly via the facility to respond in such fashion, in the first instance by way of this forum to "ClankyPencil".... bearing the 46th Infantry Div formation sign as his Avatar (my apologies if this is inappropriate). Subsequently, please may I extend the request to any and all forum members who are able to offer assistance in this quest. ORIGINAL POST HEREUNDER: "Dear Sir It is with great interest I discover your submittal of 6th Battalion York & Lancashire regimental diaries. I have reviewed the content in respect to the above referred date, and find an entry 2nd September 1944 with associated map (Gemmano /R. Conca) identifying I believe B & D company on September 3rd 1944 with a patrol splitting off to MOTCIANO annotated what appears to be "A Cov" ( not sure the abbreviation meaning)..??? after crossing R. Ventura. I am unable to identify which company the recipient (dad) was in at that time, however the diaries fail to include any details of the 3rd Sept, I understand MG nests were involved, unfortunate recipient had PIAT & side arm. Perhaps you may have some alternative ideas or sources to gather fuller information/ objectives in respect to this date? Kind regards Les
Hi Les Apologies for my delay in responding. I've messaged you (in reply to your pm) all the relevant war diary pages etc that i have covering the 6th Y & L for 3rd September 44 plus additional info which may help your research. Hope this helps. P.S. Also suggest you might alter the main title of your post to include 6th Bn York & Lancs, and also add the name of your dad (Denis Hick) to it, as it will make it easier for other forum members to identify what info you might be after, and to make it easier for any other possible researchers to find in the future via searches etc. Something along the lines of '6th Bn York & Lancs - Denis Hick (4758632) - 3rd Sept 44 - Gemmano' Regards
Thank you Scott for the generous sharing of your information, clearly you have great knowledge in research strategies, which has certainly given me a great deal to study and research, will keep me busy & contemplate for some time. Most grateful Kind regards Les
Dear Forum I posted the message below a few days ago. Apologies, I don't appear to be very good at this forum procedure, I intended to start a new conversation ....however I now think I maybe bothering someone who has been kind enough to offer assistance earlier, sincerely sorry should this be the case ...don't want to appear a pestering type. Anyway shall endeavour to post this as "Start a conversation" which mat reach other contributors. Les .............o...O...o............ Hello Forum '6th Bn York & Lancs - Denis Hick (4758632) - 3rd Sept 44 - Gemmano' It is some time since I frequented these pages & I do not reside in UK, I was planning to visit the Yorks& Lancs museum at Clifton Park Rotherham, but travel restrictions have put paid to this. Members have been generous and kind enough to offer information and have even provided excerpts from Regimental diary of events for which I am most grateful. I have discovered on this day 1st Armoured Div arrived at attack starting point Sth. of the Conca, although this is probably irrelevant. However, I discover elements of the Y&L 6 battalion were involved in an assault to take Ponte Rossa a bridge over the Ventena the last river before the Conca. This attack was launched 3rd Sept. 1944 with slow progress, objective being to take San Andrea and advance on San Clemente. I understand this to include 6th Battalion comprising B & D Coy...and possibly A Coy having a patrol apparently moving on Morticino (?) It was 3rd Sept the above referred achieved Army For B.104-S1. it may be useful to know he was anti tank personal (Piat) My aim is to establish which Coy he was attached to on this day,....although I am aware that it is possible squaddies were rotated amongst Coy's subject requirements or shortages. Here's hoping Kind regards Les
Les. Please do not call them squaddies. It is a ghastly term and not relevant to the British Army. British soldiers work in Sections rather than Squads. Regards Frank
Frank, 'Squaddie' isn't a derived from squad. It is a bastardisation of 'swaddy\swaddie' which is a 19th Century term and which was used by the soldiers themselves at least into the 2nd World War. Regards, Gary.
Thank you for your comments which are noted, however Denis and & my uncles all referred to themselves and each other with this terminology, especially reciting exploits when all four of them managed to meet up I believe in Algiers. One later was returned for a cross channel trip to Normandy but did not quite make it past Caen. Regards Les
