Help with Great-Uncles

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by Tracey Howarth, Mar 18, 2021.

  1. Can anyone advise what this cap and badge are? Photo in with my Dad's things but not sure who. Two Grand Uncles died August and September 1943 so researching them too.
     

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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    JimHerriot likes this.
  3. My Great Uncles both fought in the second world war also. Can anyone advise what each of their regiments were involved with?
    John James Watt - 5502679 - 1/4th Bn, Hampshire Regiment - died on 15th September 1943, buried in Salerno War Cemetery
    William Watt - 6460971 - Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) - died 16th August 1943, buried in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily.
    So sad my Great Grandmother lost 2 sons in such a short space of time and her Son in law (my Grandad) a POW and they had no idea he was still alive.
     
  4. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Tracey - as this section is headed up '1st Bn Border Regt' I would suggest that you start two new threads, one for John and one for William in the 'Searching for someone & military Genealogy' section. Put their name, number and regiment in the title so that it attracts specific responses.

    Trouble with having too many individual soldiers in one post is that it will get awfully confusing as any replies will all get muddled up.
     
  5. OK thanks. Not sure how to do that but I'll look!
     
  6. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

  7. Gelert

    Gelert Active Member

    Tracey, What an honour to be related to these great men and to have a connection with such historic events.

    5502679 John James Watt enlisted in early November 1939. 1/4th Bn Hampshire Regiment took part in the Salerno Landings on 9th September 1943. The Germans counter attacked between 13th and 15th September in an attempt to push the Allies back into the sea. John James was probably killed in the heavy fighting for White Cross Hill. From royalhampsires.org:

    The 2nd, 1/4th and 5th Battalions (the Hampshire Brigade) at Salerno

    The 128th (Hampshire) Brigade – comprising the 2nd, 1/4th and 5th Battalions – was one of three assault brigades of X Corps at Salerno. Part of 46th Division, the Brigade attacked on X Corps left, nearest to Salerno itself, while 56th Division (including 2/4th Hampshire) landed on the right. The plan was to force a landing on a front of about one mile between the rivers Picentino and Asa and destroy local enemy defences. The Brigade was then to capture the hills overlooking the Salerno road allowing 138th Brigade, following through behind, to capture Salerno itself.

    After some confusion – 2nd Battalion landed on the wrong beach and 5th Battalion on the wrong side of the Asa river – much of the Brigade initially made good progress against strong German resistance. Nevertheless casualties, were heavy: Major DD Crofts of 2nd Battalion was among those killed while Major HB Portsmouth, the second-in-command of 1/4th Battalion, was wounded on the beach.

    The 5th Battalion was badly mauled as it attempted to regroup after becoming dispersed during the landings. Two Companies advancing up a narrow lane – subsequently known as ‘Hampshire Lane’ – were caught in the open and overrun by a German counter-attack with tanks. The enemy assault then swept over A Company and Battalion Headquarters and many men were lost, including nine officers taken prisoner. Battalion Headquarters were trapped between the walls of the lane when a tank advanced, firing as it came and running over the dead and wounded. A direct hit from a shell killed three officers as well as the signallers on the wireless sets. The attack was eventually halted by men gathered together by Major PR Sawyer, but at the end of the day the 5th Battalion had lost five officers and 35 other ranks killed and more than 300 of all ranks wounded and taken prisoner.

    Despite these losses, the three Hampshire battalions had done their job. With the beach-head secured and the British sector enjoying a brief lull in the fighting, troops, guns, tanks and stores were brought ashore in great numbers to supply the force mustering for the crucial attack on Naples.

    On 13th September the Germans launched their counter-attack against the Salerno beach-head. The 5th Battalion was again at the centre of the storm. After its mauling on the day of the landings it had been reorganised into two Companies, ‘D’ and a composite Company made up of the survivors of other rifle Companies. The battalion’s positions on White Cross Hill came under attack along with those on The Crag, held by the 1/4th Hampshire, but these were beaten off. However, just before midnight on 14th September the enemy launched surprise attacks against both positions. The Crag was quickly overrun but most of the 1/4th escaped to join the 5th Battalion on White Cross Hill.

    However, even the arrival of the 1/4th on White Cross Hill could not prevent its capture by the Germans. A counter-attack by two Companies of the 5th Battalion did reach the top of the hill but the troops had to withdraw before first light. On 15th September and the days following the Hampshires launched several more unsuccessful and bloody counter-attacks against White Cross Hill. Among those killed were Captain W Follit of the 5th Battalion and Lieutenant J. Hillman, of the same unit, who gave his life gallantly attacking an enemy machine-gun post.

    Among the many acts of bravery in the fighting for White Cross Hill the actions of Sergeant GAF Minnigin stood out. Sgt Minnigin led the defence of the village of San Nicola, on the 5th Battalion’s right flank, with just a handful of men. He rescued a wounded Commando from the village church and on several occasions went up the slopes of White Cross Hill to bring back other wounded. Sgt Minnigin received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery to add to the Military Medal he had won in North Africa.

    6460971 William Watt enlisted in October 1938.

    After a period of service in the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), he transferred to No2 Commando and took part in Operation Chariot, the St Nazaire Raid, in March 1942.

    From the Commando Veteran's Archive:

    A few of No.2 Commando who made it back after Operation Chariot:

    Photo courtesy of Tim Huelin, grandson of Bert Dixon No.2 Cdo.

    Survivors from MLs 156 and 446, Seaton Barracks, Plymouth, 29th March 1942.

    Assuming 3 rows all left to right:

    Front row (5 men all lying down): 1. Cpl. A. Smith (1tp); 2. Pte. Len Scully (1tp); 3. Fus. Eddie Tucker (6tp); 4. L/Sgt. Roy Bellringer (1tp); 5. L/Cpl. Ivor Bishop (1tp)

    Middle row (7 men): 1. L/Sgt. Alex McClair (2tp); 2. L/Cpl. William Watt (6tp - kia 6th Aug 1943); 3. Pte Tom Everett (RAMC 2 Cdo; 4. Capt. Mike Barling (RAMC 2 Cdo); 5(in duffle coat). Pte Jim Newell (1tp); 6(in duffle coat). L/Cpl. Stanley Stevenson (2tp); 7. n/k.

    Rear row (8 men):1. n/k; 2. Cpl. Reg. Fursse(6tp); 3. L/Cpl. Jack Webb (RAMC 2tp 2 Cdo); 4. L/Cpl. John Dawson (6tp); 5. L/Cpl. George Ewens (3tp); Cpl. Jim Prescott (6tp); 7. L/Cpl. Dominic Cobelli (1tp); 8. Gdsm. H.C. 'Taff' Lloyd (6tp).

    + 2 men looking out of the window: not known


    [​IMG]

    His CO in Sicily was Lt Col Jack Churchill

    Sicily - Operation Blackcock.

    No. 2 Commando came off the unemployed list on the night of August 15th, landing at Scaletta – a small coastal town well behind the supposed German lines, about 15 miles or so south of Messina. Our landing was a bit off the intended spot, but no matter, as we soon were engaged with the luckless tail-end of the German rearguard who were heading at top speed towards their evacuation point at Messina. The enemy vehicle drivers and their troop passengers didn’t have much of a chance and the fight was over in short order. The following morning it became apparent that several soldiers of the German rearguard had ‘holed-up’ in houses and other buildings in Scaletta. Some rather-bitter street fighting followed on the morning of August 16th, resulting in casualties on both sides.

    No. 2 killed in action or died of wounds
    • Cpl Bill Watt from Cumberland, age 25
    • Lt John Jeffreys from Essex, age 23
    • Sgt Anthony Duffy from Liverpool, age 29
    • Gnr Edward Cox from Blackpool, age 22

    [​IMG]
    Corporal William Watt, 6 troop, died during operations at Scaletta, Sicily. We have a document that outlines these details, " Buried at Scaletta by A.D.S. at Rear of School in centre of village. Grave marked with a Cross 16/8/43."
     

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