Beds and Herts NCOs with 16 DLI YouTube - The Bedfordshire And Hertfordshire Regiment (Quick March)‏ YouTube - 9. 1 DLI REGIMENTAL MARCH - THE LIGHT BARQUE.mpg‏
Beds and Herts NCOs with 16 DLI Well found WILLS I believe theres a photograph of them on that site too. photo Best Wishes Jim
Hi speaking to my mum today and she remembers my grandad saying he was in Egypt for 4.5 years I don't know how this tie's in with him being in Italy. He said they made the Egyptians walk on opposite side off the road to the soldiers because they where thieves. I will have to speak to my grandad about this. Thanks for all the replys
Vespa - If your g'dad was in the 16th battalion D.L.I. - this was in the 139th bde of 46th Division which landed in North Africa around March of '43 - then on to Italy at the Salerno landings in September 9th '43 in Xth Corps of the US 5th Army - through Naples - Mignano and the Garilgliano River - then Anzio - until they went off to Egypt for rest and reinforcing having taken a few beatings - so they were never on the Adriatic side of Italy- until they returned to Italy in the September '44 in Vth Corp and 8th Army -and involved in the Gothic line battles - with the horrific Croce and Gemmano battles- they finally finished up in the SE corner of Austria Cheers
Steve Mac- technically - the British Xth Corps(46th - 56th - 1st and 5th Divs) of the US 5th army were not involved in the four battles of Cassino - however they were very much involved in the approaches to Cassino in the Mignano gap - Garigliano and Rapido rivers and creating the bridgehead over the Garigliano - then on to Anzio to relieve the pressure on Cassino for the first US battle - the second and third battles were by the 8th Army's KIWI and 4th Indian's Divs. until the whole Army group went into Diadem in the May of '44.... Cheers
Steve Mac- technically - the British Xth Corps(46th - 56th - 1st and 5th Divs) of the US 5th army were not involved in the four battles of Cassino - however they were very much involved in the approaches to Cassino in the Mignano gap - Garigliano and Rapido rivers and creating the bridgehead over the Garigliano - then on to Anzio to relieve the pressure on Cassino for the first US battle - the second and third battles were by the 8th Army's KIWI and 4th Indian's Divs. until the whole Army group went into Diadem in the May of '44.... Cheers Hello Tom, So, they were close by but not actually involved. 'Cassino' has probably been used by vespa's granddad as a reference point, like troops that were in Flanders with the BEF said they were at 'Dunkirk'... Best, Steve.
Steve Mac - Exactly right as 46th Div came closest of the Xth Corps at the Rapido - looking at the entrance to the Liri Valley - when the others were creating the Bridgehead over the Garigliano - then they were off to Anzio - what confuses a lot of people is the fact that the Rapido becomes the Garigliano after picking up the Liri River- then on to the Tyrhennian Sea- so the first battle of Cassino was with the French and 34th US divisions - 2nd and 3rd with Kiwi's and 4th Indian from 8th army- with an assist from 78th Div and the final battle everyone was involved- except British Xth and US 6th Corps. Cheers
I am sorry to mess people around but spoke to my grandad today and said he was in the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, 6th ballition. And never went to Monte Cassino but he was at Anzio. He remembers going to Clairewood camp in Durban for six weeks training. He also remembers going to a camp called Southwold? He got this when he went the Anzio beach head museum
I am sorry to mess people around but spoke to my grandad today and said he was in the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, 6th ballition. And never went to Monte Cassino but he was at Anzio. He remembers going to Clairewood camp in Durban for six weeks training. He also remembers going to a camp called Southwold? He got this when he went the Anzio beach head museum Hi Vespa, If your grandfather served with 6 DLI then he must have been attached to another unit during his time at Anzio.After Sicily 6/8/9 DLI were withdrawn in preparation for the invasion of europe.The 6/8/9 DLI were in South Africa prior to their time in the Middle East. More questions than answers I`m afraid.......could he have served with one of the DLIs beach landing battalions at all they may have been in Italy (briefly). Jim
Thanks Verrieres as you say more questions than answers. My grandad told me he got five medals but within two weeks off being home he had to sell them to give his mum the money(single parent)
Hi Vespa, If your grandfather served with 6 DLI then he must have been attached to another unit during his time at Anzio.After Sicily 6/8/9 DLI were withdrawn in preparation for the invasion of europe.The 6/8/9 DLI were in South Africa prior to their time in the Middle East. More questions than answers I`m afraid.......could he have served with one of the DLIs beach landing battalions at all they may have been in Italy (briefly). Jim vespa, I agree with Jim. Only one of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division's Infantry Brigades was involved in the Italian mainland landings and that was the 231st Infantry Brigade - 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt, 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt. They landed at Porto San Venere, in early September 1943 and were only in Italy for a few weeks before being withdrawn back to the UK in preparation for the D-Day landings. Regarding Southwold, 50 Div concentrated in Suffolk, in the area of Thetford, Bury St Edmunds, Southwold, etc., on arrival back from Sicily/Italy. I will have a look this evening to try and determine which units were located at Southwold; and will post again then! Best, Steve.
I will go and see my grandad again and try and jog his maid abit I'am sorry about all this hazzle Vespa, No hassle at all we `ll help all we can mate Jim
Hello vespa, The 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry was billeted at Shuddy Camps at Bartlow, Nr Haverhill, Suffolk, on their return to the UK in November 1943 and remained in that area until moving to Hampshire in preparation for embarkation on D-Day. I do know that some 50 Div units were at Southwold, but have not pin pointed those yet! Best, Steve.
Hello vespa, The 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry was billeted at Shuddy Camps at Bartlow, Nr Haverill, Cambridgeshire, on their return to the UK in November 1943 and remained in that area until moving to Hampshire in preparation for embarkation on D-Day. I do know that some 50 Div units were at Southwold, but have not pin pointed those yet! Best, Steve. Hi Steve ,Vespa The 6th DLI moved on to Lowestoft on the 12th March 1944,8th & 9th DLI went to Southwold,Officers of the 6th DLI were also at Southwold in preparation for Exercise Bullshead (21st March Sudbourne Great Wood) On the 2nd April 1944 the 6th DLI moved from Lowestoft to Camp C 17 at Nightingale Wood where they took part in the many exercises throughout the area in their preparations for D-Day. Best Wishes Jim
Hi Steve ,Vespa The 6th DLI moved on to Lowestoft on the 12th March 1944,8th & 9th DLI went to Southwold,Officers of the 6th DLI were also at Southwold in preparation for Exercise Bullshead (21st March Sudbourne Great Wood) On the 2nd April 1944 the 6th DLI moved from Lowestoft to Camp C 17 at Nightingale Wood where they took part in the many exercises throughout the area in their preparations for D-Day. Best Wishes Jim Hello Jim, Had time to do more thorough research today and concur with your post. Do you know why the 6DLI went to Lowestoft to practice street fighting, whilst the other two battalions, 8 and 9DLI, went to Southwold? Seems a bit odd; but possibly due to large numbers of troops involved. None of the battalion histories for the 6, 8 or 9DLI appear to comment on this! Still no clearer about Vespa's granddad's service with the DLI and I believe his service records are needed to clear up the mystery! Best, Steve.
Hi Steve I think you are right the service records are needed, I have the forms for my grandad to fillin. Do you think he might be mixed for the 16th to the 6th battalions?
Hi Steve I think you are right the service records are needed, I have the forms for my grandad to fillin. Do you think he might be mixed for the 16th to the 6th battalions? Hi Vespa, Even the records might not tell..personally I would`nt doubt your grandfather if he said he was 6th DLI I believe him..but at this time he was`nt with the battalion (If that makes sense?) The battalion were not present at Anzio thats not to say your Grandfather was`nt .I`m sure 16th DLI were`nt at Anzio either but please bear in mind there are two DLI soldiers buried at Beach Head Cemetery ;- Cpl SIDNEY LAWRENCE NASH, Initials:S L Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Corporal Regiment/Service Durham Light Infantry Unit Text:16th Bn. Age:35 Date of Death:11/02/1944 Service No:4618148 Additional information:Son of Arthur Edward Lawrence Nash and Edith Nash; husband of Gwendoline Nash, of Amblerthorne, Yorkshire. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:XXII. F. 11. Cemetery:BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY, ANZIO. Pte JOHN THOMAS PARK, Initials:J T Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Private Regiment/Service Durham Light Infantry Age:31 Date of Death:15/02/1944 Service No:4396576 Additional information:Son of William and Margaret Park, of Darlington, Co. Durham. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:XXII. D. 3. Cemetery:BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY, ANZIO Three more DLI are resting at Anzio War Cemetery;- Pte PETER SOLINCA MORTIMER, Initials:P S Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Private Regiment/ServiceDurham Light Infantry Unit Text:9th Bn. Age:27 Date of Death:19/02/1944 Service No:4460642 Additional information:Son of Mary Ann Mortimer, of Benwell, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:I, D, 5. Cemetery:ANZIO WAR CEMETERY Pte ROBERT STEPHENSON, Initials:R Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Private Regiment/Service Durham Light Infantry Age:32 Date of Death:16/02/1944 Service No:4452078 Additional information:Son of George Robert and Mary Stephenson; husband of Frances Hannah Stephenson, of Burnhope, Co. Durham. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:III, M, 6. Cemetery:ANZIO WAR CEMETERY Pte VINCENT WILSON, Initials:V Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Private Regiment/Service Durham Light Infantry Unit Text:16th Bn. Date of Death:15/02/1944 Service No:4464681 Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:II, D, 7. Cemetery:ANZIO WAR CEMETERY 16Th DLI and 9th DLI ? The history books tell us that these units were`nt at Anzio in February 1944 but clearly these MEN were! In what capacity we do not know. Your grandfather was there,he said he was, the surviving veterans know the truth whilst the books tell the official stories hopefully they will compliment each other but don`t discount a piece of a puzzle which doesnt fit the picture you have read about,that piece may belong to another puzzle in another as yet unopened box. Best Wishes Jim
