751st Field Company RE in Italy

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by risca_boy, Oct 22, 2021.

  1. risca_boy

    risca_boy Junior Member

    I hope someone can help with info on the 751st Field Coy RE?

    On a recent Facebook post a chap from Italy had found a box in his grandmothers house with a local, to me, address written on it. (pic attached)

    Turns out it belonged to my ex neighbour Stanley Oliver James BUSHELL. I'm in touch with his family and have his service records but would like to find when he was in this particular part of Italy.

    His service records show he was in Italy from Sept 1943 to June 1945.

    The box was found in a house in a place called Longana near Ravenna.

    The war diaries haven't been digitised at the National Archives and I'm struggling to find much info on the internet. I did find 4 recommendations for awards to men from the 751st which is a little help, but would like more.

    Thanks Steve
     

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  2. hutt

    hutt Member

    Nothing is likely to beat the actual unit diaries so if you can't make a visit yourself, a couple of members on this forum will do so for a model fee. 751st seems to have 2 possible diaries that would cover that time period.
     
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  3. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    The recommendations for awards may give you a clue. If you have downloaded an original, it will should the signature snd appointment of the person who wrote it.

    Off the top of my head, they were a Corps or Eighth Army asset.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  4. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    I checked the National Archives citations. A Sgt was awarded a Military Medal in Nov 43 for work during the construction of a Bailey bridge over the massive River Sangro.

    The chap who wrote the citation was the Commander Royal Engineers at HQ V Corps. That tells me that 751 Fd Coy RE, when in Italy, worked directly for CRE V Corps.

    Ravenna was in the V Corps area of operation in the closing months of the war.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  5. risca_boy

    risca_boy Junior Member

    Thanks hutt
    I also only found two references to war diaries for them. I'll have a word with the family and see what they want to do.

    WO 170/1771
    Description: Companies: 751 Coy.
    Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 170/5293
    Description: Companies: 751 Coy.
    Date: 1945 Jan.- Dec.
     
  6. risca_boy

    risca_boy Junior Member

    Thanks Frank
    According to Wikipedia "During World War II, troops of 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards - 5th Canadian Armoured Division and the British 27th Lancers entered and liberated Ravenna on 5 December 1944." so I'm assuming that he would have been there around this time?
     
  7. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    To confirm what Frank has mentioned they were V Corps troops. The file below is from January 1944 - but I think the Corps level attachments were consistent. The War Diaries will ell you - if yu want coies drop me a line.

    WO_204_1529_0026.jpg
     
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  8. risca_boy

    risca_boy Junior Member

    Thanks Gary that's great, I'll speak to the family later and see what they want to do.
     
  9. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    That is quite likely but only the WDs will confirm. 4 PDLG were part of 12 Cdn Inf Bde which was formed in Aug 44 but 5 Cdn Armd Div only ever had two Field Companies of Engineers instead of three so it is likely that 751 Fd Coy RE were allocated to them.

    If this is correct then 751 Fd Coy RE would have supported the Armd Div for its attack on the Gothic Line. It had a particularly brutal encounter at Coriano in Sep 44.

    Get Gary T to source the WDs for you and then you will know for sure.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  10. risca_boy

    risca_boy Junior Member

    Thanks Frank. I've messaged Gary about them.
     
  11. risca_boy

    risca_boy Junior Member

    Sent you a message thanks Gary.
     

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