Green Howards

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by South Lancashire, Jan 5, 2013.

  1. South Lancashire

    South Lancashire Junior Member

    Hi can anyone please give me any information regarding B company 6th Green Howard,s D Day my farther in law 14675411 served in this company and i would like any info or books available cheers Dave
     
  2. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    The 6th Green Howards has (have?) been written about more than most battalions of the 50th Division. The basic work is W.A.T. Synge's regimental history, The Story of the Green Howards, 1939-1945. This is a massive and somewhat dry book, but it covers the movements and actions of the 6th and other battalions in considerable detail. Robin Hastings led the 6th in Sicily and Normandy, and his memoir, An Undergraduate's War, is very good. Paul Cheall, a member of this forum, edited and published his father Bill Cheall's wartime story, Fighting Through, which gives an excellent ranker's account. Claud Macdonald Hull served with the 6th almost all the way through the war, and he put his experiences into A Man From Alamein, a worthwhile novel. Quite a few unit members left more fragmentary accounts, and these can be found at the IWM research center and in sound recordings held there as well. Other snippets of testimony are available at the BBC People's War site and in the many published books on D-Day, the Normandy Campaign, the 50th Division, and Alamein. I found a link to a fascinating diary by the battalion's 1944 signal officer, and I can send that to you. Finally, you should seek out the war diaries at the PRO and contact the regimental museum in Richmond.
     
  3. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum Dave.

    The 6th Bn Green Howards were in the 69th Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division; being brigaded with the 7th Bn Green Howards and 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment.

    The 69th Infantry Brigade was an assualt brigade on King Sector, Gold Beach, on D-Day:

    Landing plan overview here: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=19095

    Landing table here: http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/gold/en_page.php?page=69landing

    War Diary for June 1944 here: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/34802-war-diary-6th-battalion-green-howards-june-1944-a.html

    The former two links will not have Company level information, the latter will have some.

    The regimental history is: THE STORY OF THE GREEN HOWARDS 1939-1945 (Capt WAT Synge) - good copies are very expensive. I have this on order!

    Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

    Edit: I see that Alan has posted information about the Synge book - apologies for the duplication!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  4. South Lancashire

    South Lancashire Junior Member

    the 6th green howards has (have?) been written about more than most battalions of the 50th division. The basic work is w.a.t. Synge's regimental history, the story of the green howards, 1939-1945. This is a massive and somewhat dry book, but it covers the movements and actions of the 6th and other battalions in considerable detail. Robin hastings led the 6th in sicily and normandy, and his memoir, an undergraduate's war, is very good. Paul cheall, a member of this forum, edited and published his father bill cheall's wartime story, fighting through, which gives an excellent ranker's account. Claud macdonald hull served with the 6th almost all the way through the war, and he put his experiences into a man from alamein, a worthwhile novel. Quite a few unit members left more fragmentary accounts, and these can be found at the iwm research center and in sound recordings held there as well. Other snippets of testimony are available at the bbc people's war site and in the many published books on d-day, the normandy campaign, the 50th division, and alamein. I found a link to a fascinating diary by the battalion's 1944 signal officer, and i can send that to you. Finally, you should seek out the war diaries at the pro and contact the regimental museum in richmond.

    thanks for your help cheers dave
     
  5. South Lancashire

    South Lancashire Junior Member

    welcome to the forum dave.

    the 6th bn green howards were in the 69th infantry brigade, 50th (northumbrian) division; being brigaded with the 7th bn green howards and 5th bn east yorkshire regiment.

    the 69th infantry brigade was an assualt brigade on king sector, gold beach, on d-day:

    landing plan overview here: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=19095

    landing table here: http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/gold/en_page.php?page=69landing

    war diary for june 1944 here: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/34802-war-diary-6th-battalion-green-howards-june-1944-a.html

    the former two links will not have company level information, the latter will have some.

    the regimental history is: the story of the green howards 1939-1945 (capt wat synge) - good copies are very expensive. I have this on order!

    Let me know if i can be of any further assistance.

    Edit: I see that alan has posted information about the synge book - apologies for the duplication!

    Best,

    steve.

    thanks for your help dave
     
  6. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    A few Books for sale on Abe-It's not cheap but a good history, I got my copy a few weeks ago for £200:

    SYNGE - The Story of the Green Howards - AbeBooks

    Let me know if you want any of the 6 Green Howards War Diaries copying-Click the red link below for more details. There'll be a lot more than than the link above when you take the appendices into account.


    I posted some pages for 7 GH on the thread below. You can use this to get an idea on what the book is like - Good luck !

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/50611-sgt-john-weston-sampson-4391075-7th-bn-green-howards.html#post552815
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Here's the Bn war diaries covering WW2 if you can get to the National Archives, although there is a period in 1945 missing.

    WO 166/4315 6 Green Howards 1939 Aug.- 1940 Mar., July - 1941 Apr.

    WO 167/751 6 Green Howards 1940 Apr.-June

    WO 169/1725 6 Green Howards 1941 June - Nov.

    WO 169/5022 6 Green Howards 1942 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 169/10219 6 Green Howards 1943 Jan.- Nov.

    WO 166/12556 6 Green Howards 1943 Dec.

    WO 171/1302 6 Green Howards 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 166/17160 6 Green Howards 1945 Jan.-Aug.

    WO 169/23203 6 Green Howards 1945 Nov.- 1946 Apr.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  9. paulcheall

    paulcheall Son of a Green Howard

    Hi Dave
    I am pleased to see someone has already mentioned my Dad's web site. There is a particular page you might find useful which shows which units Dad was in:
    Book, War Diary story and biography of Bill Cheall - WW2 soldier, Dunkirk, D-Day memoir and war diary, World War 2, army soldier
    You will see he was in C Company of 6GH on D-Day but B Co at Dunkirk. If your Dad was in B at Dunkirk I would suspect he will have gone on to Alamein and/or Gaza. You didn't say what your Dad's name was?
    If you want to send me any more info or pics I will be pleased to post them on the web site.
    Paul

    Hi can anyone please give me any information regarding B company 6th Green Howard,s D Day my farther in law 14675411 served in this company and i would like any info or books available cheers Dave
     
  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    You will see he was in C Company of 6GH on D-Day but B Co at Dunkirk. If your Dad was in B at Dunkirk I would suspect he will have gone on to Alamein and/or Gaza. You didn't say what your Dad's name was?


    With a Army Number of 14675411 I cant see how he'd be ay Dunkirk as that's a number given to the General Service Corps which as Tom Canning has said on here many times was formed in 1942 . :unsure:
     
  11. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Andy,

    Reference the missing Fifty Div War Diary for the period (possibly part of) August to November 1945, I have met with this issue before - when trying to assist Graham (handle 'grayden').

    What I know is this... from the 1 August 1945 Fifty Div HQ ceased to command its formations and units, and assumed the title 'Headquarters British Land Forces Norway' from circa 25 August 1945. I believe they returned to the UK in December 1945.

    I am therefore left wondering if the answer is that the War Diairies for this period are to be found under 'HQ British Land Forces Norway', or possibly 'Force 134'; which is what the early elements of British Land Forces in Norway were known?

    Thought this may be of interest to you!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2018
  12. grayden

    grayden Member

    Hi Both,

    I would also be very interested in the diaries for the same period (operation Doomsday). I have had no luck with searches on the database.

    Regards,

    Graham
     
  13. South Lancashire

    South Lancashire Junior Member

    Hi it was my late farther in law 14675411 Pte Thomas Griffin he was posted to B Company 6th Green Howard's 8/11/1943 at the age of 18years thanks Dave
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Steve - where was the Bn during Sept-Oct? If one exists I'll find it :D
     
  15. South Lancashire

    South Lancashire Junior Member

    With a Army Number of 14675411 I cant see how he'd be ay Dunkirk as that's a number given to the General Service Corps which as Tom Canning has said on here many times was formed in 1942 . :unsure:

    No he joined 8th November 1943 he was 18 years old and was posted to B coy 6th Green Howard's.He was involved in the D Day landings hope this helps thanks Dave
     
  16. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Andy,

    Oslo, Norway.

    Fifty Div returned to the UK in December 1944 as a Training Cadre, with its manpower downscaled significantly. I am not certain that it would have had a 6th Bn Green Howards at the time it left for Norway, more likely a composite battalion; with 7th Bn Green Howards and 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment.

    Graham has information that suggests that his father was in '50 Division Rifle Company' (whatever that was) - he had previously been in the 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment.

    I have next to no information on manpower complements during this period...

    Best,

    Steve.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2018
  17. South Lancashire

    South Lancashire Junior Member

    Hi Dave
    I am pleased to see someone has already mentioned my Dad's web site. There is a particular page you might find useful which shows which units Dad was in:
    Book, War Diary story and biography of Bill Cheall - WW2 soldier, Dunkirk, D-Day memoir and war diary, World War 2, army soldier
    You will see he was in C Company of 6GH on D-Day but B Co at Dunkirk. If your Dad was in B at Dunkirk I would suspect he will have gone on to Alamein and/or Gaza. You didn't say what your Dad's name was?
    If you want to send me any more info or pics I will be pleased to post them on the web site.
    Paul
    Hi Paul it was my Farther in Law who joined B company Green Howard's in 1943.being called up at the age of 18 years . and was at D Day. your dads book arrived today just started chapter 11 thanks Dave
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Synge's Regimental History has them sailing for England on 13th Dec and arriving at Malton on the 15th Dec. That is the last entry for the Bn.
     
  19. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Here is the signal officer's diary that I referred to. It's a wonderful document, giving a real day-to-day picture of the battalion. Kenneth Taylor's War Diary – 1
     
  20. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

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