British 1st Army (North Africa)

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by JamieC, Jun 15, 2011.

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  1. JamieC

    JamieC Junior Member

    Ok, here goes.
     
  2. JamieC

    JamieC Junior Member

  3. JamieC

    JamieC Junior Member

    Now I know he started the war in 49 LAA Regt where do I go from here? What do the numbers/codes in column A represent?
     
  4. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    just a quick one... records arrived today - 12 months exactly! will keep you posted!
    Oh! Bum. I was hoping for a 9 month turnaround, was hoping for Uncles records any time soo, so maybe have to wait a few more months.
     
  5. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    LINK to meaning of 'x' list. I.E 1-8-44 admitted to 103 general hospital and posted to x(2) list etc.
     
  6. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    So with 49LAA - embarked destination unknown - can't make out if it says 16 or 26-7-43? this would be operation husky? wounded? and admitted to hospital 1-8-44, so in Italy? on release from hospital posted to Lanc. Fus.

    Sorry, this is based on my limited knowledge and I have to go run a few errands, I reckon someone on here will be along and give you chapter and verse soon.
     
  7. JamieC

    JamieC Junior Member

    Yes I couldn't make it out either. However in coulmn D I think that scribble on the line of his time in the field hospital it says "do" or "ditto" doesn't it? Therefore if it means ditto then he would still be in North Africa?
     
  8. JamieC

    JamieC Junior Member

    also, looks to me that he only spent 2 weeks in hospital, so surely not a major injury?
     
  9. JamieC

    JamieC Junior Member

    according to his records, he spent 2.5 mnths in Sicily
     
  10. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    Yes I couldn't make it out either. However in coulmn D I think that scribble on the line of his time in the field hospital it says "do" or "ditto" doesn't it? Therefore if it means ditto then he would still be in North Africa?

    Fd. which I think is in the field? reading column d from top down he leaves UK, arrives in Africa and then embarks for destination unknown, so he has left Africa? C.M.F. is central Mediterranean Force.
     
  11. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    also, looks to me that he only spent 2 weeks in hospital, so surely not a major injury?
    Not necessarily an injury, could be malaria or dysentery or other illness?
     
  12. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    Now I know he started the war in 49 LAA Regt where do I go from here? What do the numbers/codes in column A represent?

    I think thats Army speak, not much to glean from this column although I expect someone on here will be able to elaborate.
     
  13. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

  14. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Jamie,

    Very good information and some good leads. Some "obvious" leads on the first part of the service period - whilst part of 1st Army.

    49 LAA were 78th Division's resident Anti Aircraft Regiment and were with the Battleaxe Division from their landings in North Africa in Nov 1942 until 49 LAA were disbanded before Christmas 1944. So Ken Ford's and Cyril Ray's books are good references for the movements of the whole division throughout that period.

    Embark UK 11.11.42
    Arrive North Africa 22.11.42

    Likely arrived with the 1st Guards Brigade at Algiers (my father arrived on the same convoy from Greenock).

    so from Nov 1942 they were with 78th Division in Tunisia until they embarked for Sicily on 26th July 1943 for the joys of Centuripe, and malaria - and thence later in the year to Termoli, Trigno, Sangro, Cassino, Trasimeno ++

    Given my father's experience of Egypt in Aug 1944, it's not surprising that a hospital visit was required - my Dad was hospitalised for 6 weeks with many others after swimming in Stanley Bay - serious pneumonia. He was able to beg, and agitate to get back to 78th Division, but many others weren't able to - and the imminent breakup of 49th LAA would fit with the posting to Lancs Fusiliers (as mentioned the LFs were awarded one VC in WWII and quite a number in WWI).

    A few thoughts...
     
  15. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Jamie

    Just to fill in the blanks, these were the movements of the 49th LAA between April'43 and Dec '44 when the Rgt was disbanded (taken from my diaries):

    Apr’43 Liverpool, Embarked on S.S.Frankonia, The troopship that took us to North Africa. Algiers. Posted to 49th Light Anti Aircraft Rgt, 78 Div, then stationed at Tunis
    May ’43 War ends in North Africa May 13th.
    June ‘43Carthage, Guelma, Hammamet. Boarded ship for Sicily.
    July’ 43 Syracuse, Bronte, Adrano, Messina.
    Aug ’43 Sicily
    Sep’43 By landing craft to Reggio di Calabria, then onto mainland Italy, Crotone, Bari, Foggia, Termoli.
    Oct ’43 Italy
    Nov ’43 Italy
    Dec ’43 Carovilla, Cantalupo, Agnone, Riccia, Campo Basso, Bagnolia.
    Jan' 44 New Years Day 1944 Snowed in at mountain village of Carovilli.
    Feb ’44 Ortogna, Mignano, Cassino (Regiment responsible for smoke laying beneath the monastery), Caserta, Afragola, San Vittorio.
    Mar ’44 Two weeks in dock in Naples and not a wound to show for it
    Apr’ 44 Vanairo, Vanafro, Ceprano, Lake Trasimeno, Rome.
    May ’44 Italy
    Jun '44 Day leave in Rome
    Baschi, Tiber, Frosinino, Taranto. Pulled out of the line. 78th Div goes to Egypt to re-fit and re-form. S.S.Empires Pride (Ship that took us to Egypt).
    Jul’ 44Alexandria,(Egypt), Cairo, Ishmalia, Amiryah. S.S.Homer Lee The American ship that took us back to Italy. Augusta, (Sicily) Assisi (Italy), Vasto,Termoli, Sangro, Pescara, Scarperia, Florence, Firenzuolo.
    Aug ’44 Italy
    Sep ’44 Italy
    Oct ’ 44Sienna, Tavernelle, Naples, Ancona.
    Nov '44 Firenzuola
    Dec’ 44 The 49th LAA Rgt. disbanded and I was posted to Royal Armoured Corp Training Depot at Rietifor re-training as a Tank Loader/Operator.

    Ron
     
  16. JamieC

    JamieC Junior Member

    Thanks guys for the really helpful info!

    I've just recognised I have posted the first part of his service record twice. THere was a second page which I am now posting:

    [​IMG]
     
  17. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    Compulsilory (?def my spelling mistake there) transferred to Royal signals.
     
  18. JamieC

    JamieC Junior Member

    I'm particuarly interested in where I might see info about the palestine service since he was awarded the the GSM + palestine clasp?
     
  19. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    The 66th Brigade (including 11th LF) were newly formed and attached to 1st British Infantry in July 1944. This division was transferred to Palestine in Jan 1945 (I think that the 27th Jan 1945 embarkation date might be that sailing).

    You can see that the training in Signals started in May 1945, so the compulsory transfer to the Royal Corps in Nov 1945 was probably a formality.

    As it happens I'm taking one of my Dad's comrades to collect his Shamrock tomorrow morning and he transferred from SOE to the Royal Corps of Signals in 1945. I'll ask him for any background to such transfers.
     
  20. JamieC

    JamieC Junior Member

    Richard, Ron et al. a goldmine of information! thanks alot!
     

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