East Kent Regt (Buffs) in Italy 1944

Mike.

5 BUFFS, as part of 36 Infantry Brigade who were part of 78 British Infantry Division, were sent over from the Adriatic coast in Feb 44 in order to reinforce a flagging US Fifth Army who, between Oct 43 and Jan 44 had sustained 51,000 casualties getting the Gustav Line at Monte Cassino. They were sent with two other formations: 4 Indian Infantry Division and 2 New Zealand Division.

78 Infantry Division were delayed by a huge snow storm so missed the Second Battle of Cassino but were there for the Third Battle although they played no direct part. At the end of the Third Battle, they took over the positions of 4 Indian Infantry Division up on Snakeshead Ridge and around the Castle. They, in turn were replaced by II (PO) Corps, and went off into the rear areas in order to train for their exploitation role in the Fourth Battle that started on 11 May 44.

At the Fourth Battle, they were part of XIII (BR) Corps and crossed the Gari/Rapido once 4 British Infantry Division had established their bridgehead. The role of 78 British Infantry Division was to push up to the Hitler Line - six miles further ahead, and secure Aquino. They failed to achieve this on 19 May 44 and went firm whilst 1 (Cdn) Corps assaulted the Hitler Line on 23 May 44.

Your grandfather had quite a war.

Regards

FdeP

 

FdeP

Thanks for that i have just ordered a couple of books as recommended on this site: Battle axe Division and from Algiers to Austria.

My Granddad (Cpl. John Brennan - Yorky) did have a hell of a time in Italy so much for the D Day dodgers?

Regards

Mike

 

I would also consider the regimental history Historical Records of the Buffs 1919-1948 by C R B Knight

 

1 Buffs were in action well before the campaign in Tunisia. They fought from Jun 1941, initially under 22 Guards Brigade, then from September with 4 Indian Division, and were all but wiped out in December near Alem Hamza. Once reconstituted, they fought both before and at Alamein, and were among the leaders of the advance to Mareth and later Tunis, before crossing to Italy. They were landed, according to a short regimental history, at Anzio, not Salerno. While I do not have a comprehensive history, I feel that the author of my book (Gregory Blaxland, a former Buffs officer) would have mentioned Salerno!

Chris

 

All of the information above has been really interesting.

I've been trying to find out some info on the buffs after finding out my granddad served with them briefly.

I have very limited information other than that he transferred after 2 years with the marines on 7/8/1944 and left on the 5/2/1945 to join up with the Dorsets. I do not know what battalion he was, any help on this would be great. Also any info on where he may have been would be great for me to research myself.

 

Hi and welcome to the forum. You would really need to know his battalions to push your research forward as different battalions from the regiment would have been all over the place. Do you have any memorabilia that mentions units? Letters can hide great clues for example.

 

The info I have is limited apart from that he went to company D in the 4th Dorsets from the buffs. I have a lot of info on that side but it's harder to find out info on the buffs. All I have are campaign medals which has helped so far to limit the possibilities down.
Oh I also have a unit number but thought that that might be a bit of a dead end.

 

WW2 soldiers are always hard to research if you don't know 100% the units as most soldiers appear to have moved around quite a lot to different units as the army saw fit. I would consider applying for a copy of his service records-They will tell you definitively what units he was with and when he was with them.

 

Thanks Drew.
I will get on with that and keep researching all that I can.
It seems that if I need any advice this is a great place to come.

Dave.

 

Mike.

5 BUFFS were part of 36 Infantry Brigade in 78 Infantry Division. 78 Infantry Division came into the Third Battle of Cassino at the very end and took over the positions held by 4 Indian Division on Snakeshead Ridge and in the Castle before being withdrawn to form the exploitation force for the XIII (British) Corps break into the Liri Valley on 11 May 44.

I am taking a group there on 8-11 Jun 17 if you are interested in seeing what your grandfather endured.

Regards

Frank

 

Frank
Thanks for that, but I went myself this last July. Drove from Aberdeen to Montecassino, spent 3 weeks in Southern Itatly. As well as Montecassino, I visited Anzio, Ortona etc. I met authors Alessandro Teti (Castel del Sangro) and Simon Pocock (Scotrone) who both wrote books on WW2. After that i drove to Normandy and camped at Omaha beach for a week.
Trip of a lifetime!

Regards
file://localhost/Users/michaelmcmahon955/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Previews/2016/08/01/20160801-193327/IMG_3473.jpg
Mike

 

Mike.

Most envious. Superb.

Regards

Frank

 

That's some adventure Mike. One hell of a fuel bill & tank (Ouch). Was you running on the red stuff, or did you have a belly tank? All joshing aside, I can only say well done.. If you do it again then let me know (only kidding). It sounds like a journey of a life time.
Stu.

 

My Grandfather, Linton Cawdell, served with the Buffs in North Africa and was a mortarman at Monte Cassino either with the Buffs or the RA (not sure of the size of the mortar). He said is survived a double feed which, being a former mortarman myself, I understand as being extremely lucky. He told me he defied a direct order from a Sergeant Major to shoot a dog on the parade ground. Would love to find any photos or footage.of the unit in North Africa.or Italy.

 

funkynerd.

If you are interested, I am taking a group to Cassino in May 18.

Regards

Frank

 

Hi there

newbie here. I’m looking for information about my grandad Edward Barnes, he was a private in the Buffs East Kent Regiment - 5th Battalion. He was wounded twice. I know he was in Africa and Italy but little else. I’m waiting on his service record, found information re his wounds but I keep hitting a brick wall any guidance would very much be appreciated thanks

 

Lynnxoxo.

In addition to his Service Record - which will arrive from MoD Glasgow once this Covid stuff is over, what exactly are you looking for?

Regards

Frank

 

honestly anything I’ve been searching the board and can’t seem to find his name on any of the lists etc it’s has been good reading about his battalion though as I know he was at Monte Cassino. I’m basically trying to put together something for my kids as I think it’s important for these stories to live on. Any books that might help etc I really am new on this side as I’ve been doing the ancestry side.

 

Welcome, you are heading in the right direction by applying for his service records - worth the wait and you won't go anywhere without them.
The 5th Bn, Buffs (East Kent Regiment) served in 36 Infantry Bde that were part of the 78th (Battleaxe) Infantry Division. The Division was formed in February 1942 for Operation Torch and the landings in Algiers.
78th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia

There is more than one E Barnes serving with the Buffs in the casualty lists, are his initials E J, what was his full name?

 

thanks I’ll have a read of it. Yes his initials are E J, his full name is Edward James