8th Bn Royal Fusiliers

Discussion in 'British Indian Army' started by lightinfantryman, Jan 27, 2012.

  1. My father served with the Royal Fusiliers 8th Bn (City of London) and towards the end of WW2 served in Egypt, Persia and Palestine with the 5th Indian Div.
    The shoulder flashes were I think a red elephant on a blue background.
    I am interested in discovering the history of my father's unit as I believe they were in France before going the the Middle East.
    Can anyone let me know of any book that covers this unit or a source for finding out anything further?
    Many thanks
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Here's refernce to their war diaries.
    Used Lee aka Psy.wars website to search for them.
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/members/psywar-org.html
    He does a copying service too.

    WO 169/16286
    8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    War Office: British Forces, Middle East: War Diaries, Second World War. INFANTRY UNITS. 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    (1 Apr 1944 - 30 Jun 1944)

    WO 169/5015
    8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    War Office: British Forces, Middle East: War Diaries, Second World War. INFANTRY UNITS. 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    (1 Dec 1942 - 31 Dec 1942)

    WO 170/5006
    8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    War Office: Central Mediterranean Forces, (British Element): War Diaries, Second World War. ITALY 1945. INFANTRY. 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    (1 Jan 1945 - 28 Feb 1945)

    WO 170/1390
    8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    War Office: Central Mediterranean Forces, (British Element): War Diaries, Second World War. ITALY. INFANTRY. 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    (1944)

    WO 169/20049
    8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    War Office: British Forces, Middle East: War Diaries, Second World War. INFANTRY UNITS. 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    (1 Jun 1945 - 31 Dec 1945)

    WO 166/4533
    INFANTRY: 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
    War Office: Home Forces: War Diaries, Second World War. INFANTRY. INFANTRY: 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
    (1 Nov 1939 - 31 Dec 1941)

    WO 166/8859
    8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    War Office: Home Forces: War Diaries, Second World War. INFANTRY REGIMENTS. 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    (1 Jan 1942 - 31 Jul 1942)

    WO 169/23202
    8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    War Office: British Forces, Middle East: War Diaries, Second World War. INFANTRY UNITS. 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    (1 Jan 1946 - 30 Jun 1946)

    WO 169/10213
    8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    War Office: British Forces, Middle East: War Diaries, Second World War. INFANTRY UNITS. 8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    (1943)



    I thought 8 RF were only ever in 56 Div.
    56th (London) Infantry Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Are you sure about 5th Ind Div badge ? their insignia was 'the ball of fire'
    Anthony Brett-James. Ball of Fire. Fifth Indian Division in the Second World War. 1951. Contents. Foreword. Acknowledgments.

    Where did you get the idea they were with 5th Indian Div ?
     
  3. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    The only red elephant on a blue ground I can find was Persia and Iraq Command (and that shows only the head of the elephant). 5 Indian Division did serve there briefly in 1941.

    HTH
    Chris
     
  4. 'Always a Fusilier' by C Northcote Parkinson is the Second World War history of the Royal Fusiliers. The 8th Bn served with 56 Division until lack of reinforcements in Italy reduced it to a cadre in September 1944, most personnel transfering to 9th Bn. 1st Bn served with 17 Ind Inf Bde in Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Italy.

    Charles
     
  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers were part of 167 Infantry Brigade, 56 British Infantry Division at Salerno in Sep 43, the crossing of the Garigliano in Jan 44 and at Anzio in Feb-May 44.

    Charles Vernon's recommendation on reading 'Always a Fusilier' is a good one.

    FdeP
     
  6. Owen, you are the man
     
  7. Dad enlisted into 8th Bn Royal Fusiliers that is for sure, in an old tin were these div flashes of an Red Elephant on a blue background so I assumed that these belonged to 5th Indian Div which he told me he had been attached to?
    I have a photo of him in the desert at a place called Bisitum, Persia with 7th June 1945 written on the back, could he have been on attachment from elsewhere, he was a driver on POL wagons? Can I upload this picture to this forum (new to site and may need help)?
     
  8. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Lightinfantryman

    The 56th Division also served at the Gothic Line - Aug/Sep /'44 when they got back

    from Egypt - try Googling for " The Battle of Gemmano"- that will give you an idea of what went on there
    Cheers
     
  9. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    As Chris already said rad elephant on blue ground was sign of the Persia and Iraq Command. 5th Indian Division was based in Iraq between the October 1942 - May 1943. At the that time 56th London Division was also based in Iraq before it moved to Egypt during the March 1943 (in the northern Iraq if I'm not wrong). So probably during this time your father came in contact with 5th Indian Division.
     
  10. Thanks very much for your advice regarding the Gemmano Battle. Having read through the account its importance to the allies must have been enormous, have to grudgingly admire the German opposition when looking at the facts.
     
  11. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Dad enlisted into 8th Bn Royal Fusiliers that is for sure, in an old tin were these div flashes of an Red Elephant on a blue background so I assumed that these belonged to 5th Indian Div which he told me he had been attached to?
    I have a photo of him in the desert at a place called Bisitum, Persia with 7th June 1945 written on the back, could he have been on attachment from elsewhere, he was a driver on POL wagons? Can I upload this picture to this forum (new to site and may need help)?



    I don't know if it helps, but on the Britain's Small Wars website is an article with the title "Pink Elephants on the road to Baghdad" (the Pink Elephant being the Iraq unit marking)

    Pink Elephants on the road to Baghdad


    Persia and Iraq command

    This organization comprised 10th Army and its bases and geographically covered the areas described in its title. It was involved in operations in Iraq in 1941 during an uprising and in the security of the region throughout the war. It's badge was a red elephant's head on a blue background although the red elephant had been beached pink in the sun, hence 'Pink Elephant's on the Basra Road' and was said to of been chosen by its first commander, General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson also known as 'Jumbo'. Following the war this badge continued to be worn by British forces serving in the region including the 19th Indian Infantry Brigade Group with which I served.
     
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  13. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Lightinfantryman

    That maybe so BUT - it has to be remembered that they held the Defensive high ground
    and thus had a very big advantage and one of their brigades held off three of our divisions for more than two weeks - further east by a mile 50 paras held up a whole division of Canadian Infantry plus a British Brigade of Churchill Tanks for more than three days - and that situation caused the Allies 14,000 KIA' in less than 25 days- and the Germans about the same amount-also keep in mind that we were running out of reinforcements at that time and had nothing left so cannibalisation started in earnest

    Cheers
     

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