Highland Light Infantry

I have applied to MOD for War Record of my late Father in Law, Leonard Wilson. The records are with National Archives & may take 10-12 months to obtain.
His service number was S/3326559 and although he lived in LIversedge in Yorkshire he enrolled with the HLI in Glasgow on 27/06/1940. Not sure why this was?
From a map of Europe he marked up I know the following:
That he travelled to Port Said and then up through Gaza to Lebanon. Whilst alive, he told us he had skied in Lebanon & been in Italy but little else.
I have found info on the Mountain Training at The Cedars in Lebanon which seems to indicate the 2nd Battalion HLI were there from maybe Dec 1942?
I think he visited Geneifa & Ikingi before embarking from Alexandria to Taranto.
From there he went to Athens & back to Bari by air.
He travelled from Bari to Dalmatia & back.
He travelled from Bari to Rome on leave and then down to Naples & then up to Ancona.
From there he went to Spezia.
From Ancona he travelled to Northern Italy maybe through Rimini, Ravenna, Ferrara & Treviso.
After that he travelled to Villach & into Austria & Home.
I have no dates for any of these.
I know that the 2nd Battalion of the HLI were in North Africa from 1939, so I have assumed he was stationed with them from some date after 1940 (when he enlisted)
I know he was in training on 27/07/1941, 30/04/1942, 08/07/1943, 24/05/1944 & 04/09/1944, but don't know where or doing what.
He has a Pass & railway ticket from Thurso to Heckmondwike from 09/11/1943 to 23/11/1943 which is stamped 13th Battalion HLI. He has some photos etc of Italy which are dates after this date.

Until I get his war records, does any of this make any sense to anyone.
The Highland Light Infantry was amalgamated into the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1959 so info on the HLI seems a little spartan?
Regards
John Lynn

 

Hello John, a start on the documents side.

Only thing found online currently is your father-in-law's Medal Card application. Hopefully the hand writing and signature will be a match with something you can check against at home.

Notice Royal Army Service Corps army number.





I hope you are not waiting too long for the service records to come through.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Jim,
Thanks for a quick response. We have his medals, so will check against this doct, but expect it tallies. The handwriting is certainly his. How were you able to come across this if you don't mind me asking? Is it available online. I am just begining this 'journey' so am unfamilair with what is available & what isn't or where to find things. When I search most things in the archives they say they aren't available online
Regards
John

 

John,

Welcome aboard. I recommend you create a document using a table for the dates known and as the clues arrive add to the table and note where each piece of information comes from - sometimes it will be wrong!

This time Wiki has very little on 2nd HLI and nowt on 13th. See for the 2nd:

From: Highland Light Infantry - Wikipedia and almost the same text on the regimental association website: World War Two

There maybe more history on the (joint) regimental museum website: History | The Royal Highland Fusiliers

Here is a short history for the 2nd in 1943-1944:

From dryan67 in Post 6: 1st Battn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Italy May 1944 have a look at Post 15

What is not explained is why 2nd HLI were in Sicily for such a short time, 10 July 1943 to 23 October 1943 before returning to Egypt etc.

He joined the HLI in June 1940, his July 1948 Medal Card states Royal Army Service Corps. Perhaps he was transferred out to a more fitting posting?

Using an online search: "2nd highland light infantry" site:ww2talk.com (or minus nd) will identify posts here where the phrase is found. Not that many with 2nd, likewise with 2; yes, there may be duplication.

There is very little here on 13 HLI and the following Wiki entry suggests it was a home-based training unit:

From: Philip Bowden-Smith - Wikipedia

Some dates for the 13 HLI:

From Ike Skelton Organization of British Armored Brigades

 

Hello John,

Your father-in-law's Medal Card I sourced from "Fold3", a US based military genealogy subscription service (they, at some time, would have gone into a contractual agreement with The National Archives at Kew to digitise the medal cards and make them available to view/download to paying subscribers to Fold3).

There is very, very, very little record wise available online for any individual. It is very much a pot-luck thing as to what there might be.

For any individual, service records are always (but always) the way to go. Whatever you eventually receive will at the very least complete some of the picture of your father-in-law's service.

Good luck with all, kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Hi John

His medal card, courtesy of ancestry, suggests he was transferred to the RASC sometime prior to his demob. The "S" prefix to his service number also supports this.



2 HLI were under the command of Land Forces Adriatic (LFA) for some time before being sent to Athens and brought under the command of ARKFORCE (Gen Arkwright) to help quell a ELAS insurgency.

I have the war diaries for their brief time in Greece. I have sent you a PM.

Hope this helps

Gus

 

John you stated:

I don't exclude a soldier returning to the UK from Egypt / Italy, it is unusual and may indicate illness, training, compassionate leave etc. Does the Pass have his name? Then he returns to Italy in time for the Greek intervention. Thurso is the port for ferries to the Orkney Islands (where the Scapa Flow naval base was and possibly where the 13th HLI were on guard duties). Trooping journeys i.e. returning to the UK did not start or end there.

Ah, an answer:

From: British Light Infantry Regiments

From: Armed Forces Units Deployed to Hoy during WWII - Hoy Orkney

 

Here is my summary for the 2nd Highland Light Infantry, though a bit dated:

2nd Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)


Jerusalem Area, British Troops in Palestine and Transjordan – 3 September 1939 to 14 November 1939

In August 1939, the 2nd Battalion were preparing to change station and return to the United Kingdom. On the outbreak of war, the battalion was spread out in detachments in Gaza and covered an area of over thirty miles from north to south on Railway Duties. These posts were numbered 1 to 9 with Nos. 1 to 3 around Khan Yunis, Nos. 4 to 6 in the middle, and Nos. 7 to 9 around Al Majdal. The reserve company was in readiness to move on short notice to quell any outbreaks of violence among the Arabs and Jewish immigrants. At times it was used in Jerusalem, Gaza, Beersheba and Tel Aviv. The 2nd Battalion served under the command of Headquarters, Jerusalem Area, which had been converted from HQ 19th Infantry Brigade on September 3rd, 1939. On short notice, the battalion left Palestine in November 1939 and moved to Cairo.


18th Infantry Brigade and Cairo Area – 14 November 1939 to 17 March 1940

On arrival from Jerusalem, the battalion occupied The Citadel in Cairo as a garrison unit.


22nd Infantry Brigade – 18 March 1940 to 21 July 1940

The battalion left Cairo and served under the brigade at Mersa Matruh, where it helped construct defensive positions west of the town. After the entry of Italy in the war, two companies did a reconnaissance in force up to the frontier posts but withdrew after an exchange of fire. In July the battalion returned to Cairo.


23rd Infantry Brigade and Suez Canal Area – 22 July 1940 to 14 August 1940

On its return to Cairo, the battalion briefly served at The Citadel and then in Kasr el Nil Barracks before moving to Port Said.


HQ Suez Canal Sub-Area – 15 August 1940 to mid-December 1940

The 23rd Brigade and Suez Canal Area was redesignated as HQ Suez Canal Sub-Area on August 15th and the 23rd Brigade ceased to exist. The HLI left Port Said in December 1940 and sailed to Port Sudan, Sudan to relieve the 1st Essex Regiment.


GHQ Middle East Force – mid-December 1940 to 22 December 1940

On arrival at Port Sudan, the battalion entrained for Gedaref.


10th Indian Infantry Brigade – 22 December 1940 to 23 June 1942

The battalion moved to Khasham el Girba, Sudan. It took over from the 1st Essex at the Butana Bridge and came under the command of the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade there on December 22nd, 1940. When the battalion arrived the 10th Indian Brigade held a number of bridgeheads on the east bank of the Atbara in the area of Gedaref, Khasm-el-Gerba and Sarsareib. Early in January the 2nd HLI, less two companies, and with two machine-gun companies and a battery of 4.5-inch howitzers under command, was ordered to probe enemy positions at Abu Gamel. After a thirty-mile night advance, the force was deployed before Abu Gamel on the morning of January 10th, 1941. The other two companies joined during the day and the battalion took the enemy water supply as well as turning back the Italian supply columns. Just as it was ready to attack on the 11th, the battalion and supporting troops were withdrawn thirteen miles to the rear at Beija. Later intelligence learned that the Italian garrison was ready to surrender on the 13th.

When news of the withdrawal of the enemy from Abu Gamel reached the battalion, the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher, ordered the HLI to advance at once. Abu Gamel was reached on the 16th and the Italians could be seen retreating to Tessenei. From there the 2nd HLI continued to advance to cut the track between Kassala and Tessenei in order to cut off the Italians retreating from Kassala. From there it was to move on to Tessenei. Unfortunately the advance was delayed by mines on the road and on the banks of the River Gash and the battalion only reached the west side of the river. After the engineers prepared the riverbed, the 2nd Battalion crossed on the morning of the 18th and moved directly on Tessenei. Since the Italians begen to withdraw from Kassala on January 18th there was not hope of cutting off the retreat. The battalion bivouacked for the night at Tessenei and found the Italians falling back on Keru the following day. The 10th Brigade was ordered to advance eastwards from Tessenei and block the enemy line to Keru. The 2nd Battalion moved at once the twenty-two miles to Aicota to cut of the retreat advancing along a single narrow track through wadis and ravines. It reached a long and narrow gorge and pushed on through to continue to attempt to cut off the enemy. Shortly the battalion was in action against enemy rearguards, which were overcome allowing the sappers to clear a path through for heavy vehicles. Two companies of the battalion then moved forward to support the screening force from the Sudan Defence Force. On the 22nd, the Sudan Defence Force contacted enemy columns retreating from Keru. A single company of the 2nd HLI supported by a single field battery was sent to meet the enemy on the Jebel Sheba. During a hasty attack, the company commander was killed as the battalion came up against heavy machine-gun fire. With the support of the field battery, the company closed on the enemy, who surrendered for a total bag of six hundred prisoners.

After the action at Jebel Sheba, the battalion contined the advance through difficult terrain to Biscia, already taken by the 4th Indian Division. From there, the 10th Indian Brigade was ordered to push cross-country to cut the Agordat-Barentu road. When it reached the position on the road, no enemy arrived so the brigade moved on to Barentu. The two Indian battalions in the brigade, the 4/10th Baluchs and the 3/18th Royal Garhwal Rifles, had already taken the first line of defence at Barentu on January 26th. The 2nd Highland Light Infantry attacked the second line of defence after forming up behind the Indian battalions with ‘A’ Company on the right flank and ‘D’ Company sweeping further west. Both companies took their objectives after a stiff fight, but a withering enfilade fire then hit ‘A’ Company. ‘A’ Company was forced to retreat while taking casualties causing a similar fate to befall ‘D’. During the attack the battalion lost both company commanders along with one hundred other casualties. As the brigade continued pressure on Barentu along with the 29th Indian Brigade to the west, the enemy gave way and evacuated the town on the night of February 1st. Barentu was occupied the following day.

Since the 4th Indian Division was held up at Keren, the brigade could not pursue the enemy down the Arressa track. Instead, the battalion was withdrawn back to Tessenei to help recover from an outbreak of sickness caused by the unhealthy conditions around Barentu. The 5th Indian Division remained around the Sabderat-Tessenei area after Barentu to rest and train in mountain warfare. A new plan was formulated on March 1st for another attack on Keren involving both the 4th and 5th Indian Divisions. The 4th Indian Division would attack north and west of the road and, when the left flank was secure, the 5th Indian Division would attack east of the road.

The 4th Indian Division’s attack went in on March 15th on the heights on the north side of the roadblock. On the 5th Indian Brigade front, the 9th and 29th Indian Brigades concentrated behind the lower slopes of Cameron Ridge on the morning of March 15th. The 10th Brigade would not become involved until the first two phases of the 5th Indian Division’s attack were complete and it would be used to exploit any success. On March 15th, the 2nd Highland Light Infantry was attached to the 9th Indian Brigade and would carry out the attack on Fort Dologorodoc. The battalion went forward at 1030 hours behind Cameron Ridge and advanced across the road and up the southern side of the gorge with ‘C’ Company leading. Its objective was the Pinnacle feature. Once secured, ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies would pass through and attack Fort Dologorodoc. Under heavy fire, ‘C’ Company pressed to the foot of the objective, but was then pinned down. ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies were also held up at the foot of the Pinnacle because the 4th Indian Division had not taken its objectives. After being under heavy fire for six hours, all three companies were withdrawn at dusk. ‘D’ Company had been used as porters during the attack, a normal practise in such mountainous territory. An attack by the other three battalions of the 9th Brigade secured Fort Dologorodoc by the morning of March 16th and the 2nd Highland Light Infantry returned to the 10th Indian Brigade, which was placed at the disposal of the 11th Indian Brigade.

The 10th Indian Brigade, under the 4th Indian Division, prepared to break through between Brig’s Peak and Mt. Sanchil. The two Indian battalions would begin the attack and the HLI would attack the col between the two positions after both were taken. It would then break out onto the Keren plain. The leading Indian battalions reached their attack positions at 0330 hours on March 17th. Due to heavy fire, the Indian battalions were not able to capture the two positions taking a total of 316 casualties between them. The HLI was not committed and the 10th Brigade was withdrawn on the night of March 17th/18th to Force Reserve with the HLI not able to get away until the night of March 18th/19th. The attack on both divisional fronts had now faultered and both divisions reorganised while holding the ground.

The 10th Indian Brigade (less the 3/18th Royal Garhwal Rifles) concentrated in vicinity of Cameron Tunnel on March 24th in readiness for the final attack on Keren. The brigade attacked on March 25th with the 2nd Highland Light Infantry’s objective being the lower ridge before Sanchil. The battalion had entered the railway tunnerl past Cameron Ridge early on the 24th and waited until 0430 hours on the 25th to attack, surprising the Italians. The battalion was reduced to only 300 ranks with ‘A’ and a combined ‘B’/’C’ Companies involved. It took all objectives by 0700 hours taking 900 prisoners. The HLI then held the position until March 27th under constant fire. On that date, the mobile column, Fletcherforce was able to move forward and exploit the breakthrough. ‘A’ Company then took the summit of Sanchil.

On March 29th, the 10th Indian Brigade was ordered forward of Keren and took Asmara on the 31st. The HLI arrived at Asmara on April 1st, 1941 and marched in with pipes playing. From there, the brigade moved onto Massawa on April 4th, clearing a roadblock that night. On April 5th, the brigade reached Dogali and cleared another roadblock. By the 7th, the 5th Indian Division had invested Massawa and was prepared to attack the city. The 10th Indian Brigade moved forward on the night of April 7th/8th and occupied part of a ridge running west and north of Signal Hill. The attack continued and Massawa surrendered at 1400 hours on April 8th.

The 5th Indian Division was now given the task of taking Amba Alagi and sent forward the 29th Indian Brigade with supporting forces including the 3/18th Royal Garhwal Rifles of 10th Indian Brigade on April 24th. The 2nd HLI was not involved, since Amba Alagi capitulated on May 16th, one day before the battalion was scheduled to march against the city. For the next two months the battalion remained at Keren with detachments at Adua and Kub Kub on occupation duty. During the time it trained and took on reinforcements. On July 5th, 1941 it embarked at Massawa for Egypt.

On July 10th, 1941 the battalion arrived in Egypt with the 10th Indian Brigade and moved into Quassassin Camp near Ismaila on the Suez Canal with the brigade. During the second week of August 1941, the brigade moved to the desert to begin training in mobile desert warfare and the 5th Division worked on the defences of the Alamein Line in the area of ‘Fortress A’ and ‘Fortress B’. The 5th Indian Division assembled at Burg el Arab in preparation for its move to Iraq on August 22nd. The 10th Brigade began its journey to Iraq on the 25th. The journey of over 1500 miles ended at Kirkuk during the first week of September 1941 and passed through Mena, Ismailia, Asluj, Gedera, Mafraq, H4 Pipeline, H3 Pipeline, RAF Landing Ground 5, Habbaniya, and Diltawa. After only a short time in the Kirkuk area, preparations for the 5th Indian Division’s return to Egypt began on September 25th. After a similar reverse journey, the 2nd Highland Light Infantry arrived at Mena Camp with the brigade on October 16th, 1941. On November 2nd, the 10th Brigade embarked for Cyprus from Haifa and landed at Famagusta. After a brief stay in a nearby transit camp, the brigade moved into positions to garrison eastern Cyprus around Larnaca.

The 10th Indian Brigade left Cyprus on March 12th, 1942 aboard the Antwerp and moved to Haifa in Palestine. From there it entrained for Egypt and returned to Qassassin Camp on arrival. On April 8th, the brigade left Qassassin for the Western Desert, taking over positions in the area of Halfaya Pass after moving through Mersa Matruh. The 2nd Battalion was located at Sollum. The brigade remained there until April 25th, when it moved to the ‘Kennels’ at El Hamra, where all three brigades of the 5th Indian Division assembled. At the end of the second week of May 1942, the 10th Brigade moved to the Gambut area to guard the group of airfields north and south of the Trigh Capuzzo and also protect 8th Army’s Advanced Headquarters. The brigade was still there when the Afrika Korps began its offensive on May 26th.

As Rommel broke through on May 31st, the 10th Brigade was moved to the area of Bir Harmat in order to establish a box at Bir et Tamar. It was to be used with the 69th Brigade to attack Aslagh Ridge, but a sandstorm forced the cancellation of the attack. Another attack was organised on June 3rd that would have the 10th Brigade start from the Bir Harmat-Knightsbridge track and make a night attack to the west to secure the northeastern end of Aslagh Ridge with the 4/10th Baluchs and Bir et Tamar to the northwest with the 2nd Highland Light Infantry. The 2/4th Gurkha Rifles would remain in reserve northeast of the Baluchis. The 10th Brigade’s attack began at 0250 hours on June 5th supported by the tanks of the 4th Royal Tank Regiment. The battalions reached their objectives with very little loss and the 2nd Highland Light Infantry was established at daylight in the area of B204 (Bir et Tamar). Due a miscalculation, the brigade fell short of its objectives and the artillery fire program fell on empty desert. This was discovered as the 22nd Armoured Brigade advanced beyond the brigade and was halted by intense enemy fire. While this was happening, the 2nd HLI lost part of its objective to an enemy counterattack. It attempted to retake the position but was attacked by German armour at midday. The battalion was then driven back to the Gurkhas’ position and were then sent back to the Trigh Bir Hacheim to reform. It organised into a composite battalion along with the remnants of the 2nd West Yorks and the 3/12th Frontier Force Regiment. By June 6th, the rest of the 10th Brigade was destroyed on Dahar el Aslagh and overrun.

The 2nd Battalion moved back to El Adem to reform. The battalion had lost ten officers and 221 other ranks during its nine days in action. The battalion at El Adem now had 15 officers and 400 ranks. In the 10th Brigade the 4/10th Baluchs had five officers and 190 men and the 2/4th Gurkhas one officer and 156 men remained. The 2nd HLI were now attached to the 9th Indian Brigade in the El Adem Box. On June 12th, the Germans began to attack the box and, by the 16th, the El Adem Box was almost completely surrounded. El Adem was then evacuated and the 2nd Battalion was transferred to the 29th Indian Brigade to replace the 1st Worcestershire Regiment.


29th Indian Infantry Brigade – 23 June 1942 to 22 July 1942

During the withdrawal the battalion did not operate as a complete entity. Its companies were detached to the various columns formed and fought with ‘Gleecol’, ‘Scotcol’, ‘Leathercol’ and others. One company was overrun at Hamza while covering the retreat of the 29th Brigade. One column operated out of Mersa Matruh with eight guns while others took up positions on the Fuka escarpment to cover the withdrawal of XIII Corps. When the Germans attacked the escarpment, the brigade headquarters and guns were overrun on June 26th and 27th. The remnants of the battalion withdrew through the enemy and joined up with a piquet of the 12th Lancers west of El Daba, where Battalion HQ gathered up any survivors. By June 28th, the battalion strength was 16 officers, 360 other ranks, 37 vehicles and 4 carriers. At the start of July the battalion withdrew to Khatatba with 13 officers and 293 other ranks.


HQ 17 Area – 22 July 1942 to 23 March 1943

On July 22nd, the battalion left the field and relieved the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at the Citadel in Cairo. It was relieved at the Citadel by the 44th Reconnaissance Regiment on January 13th and moved to Beni Yusef camp to train. On March 18th, 1/2nd Punjab Regiment took over guard duties from the Battalion at Mena. It left Giza Railway Station on March 23rd, 1943.


HQ 15 Area – 24 March 1943 to 1 May 1943

On March 24, 1943, the 2nd Battalion left Egypt and moved to Givat Olga near Hadera in Palestine. On arrival the battalion was immediately became the main component of No. 2 Beach Brick Battalion (later No. 32 Beach Brick Battalion).


Force 545 – 1 May 1943 to 10 July 1943

It carried out exercises in its new role during May and June 1943, particularly Exercises Dryshod and Wetshod, the latter in the Gulf of Aqaba. On June 16th, the battalion disembarked at Suez and moved into camp at El Shatt and, along with the other Beach Bricks, did its final training at Kabrit. On July 1st, the battalion sailed through the Suez Canal and, after a short stop at Port Said, sailed in convoy for Sicily.


8th Army – 10 July 1943 to 23 October 1943

At midnight on July 9th, the Dilwara, Tegelberg, and Reina del Pacifico carrying No. 32 Beach Brick dropped anchor off Avola on the southeast coast of Sicily. The troops landed at 0630 hours on July 10th with the Brick supporting the 5th Infantry Division in XIII Corps. The battalion captured a coastal battery, but unfortunately a sniper killed the CO, Lieutenant-Colonel Thorburn. The battalion continued in its role as a Beach Brick through August 17th. Its coordinating administrative headquarters was HQ 86th LOC Area (later HQ 151st LOC Area) while on the beach. On the 17th, the battalion moved to Catania to prepare for the invasion of Italy.

No. 32 Beach Brick landed in Italy between Reggio and Villa San Giovanni in Calabria on September 3rd, 1943 enabling the 5th Infantry Division to pass through and take Scilla. After its duties were over on the beach, the Brick moved to Vibo Valentia on the 14th. From there it moved in stages to Gambarie and Taranto. No. 32 Beach Brick was disbanded there on September 23rd, 1943.


GHQ Middle East Force – 23 October 1943 to End-April 1944

The battalion embarked on the Llangibby Castle from Taranto for Augusta, Sicily on October 23rd. After stopping at Augusta in Sicily for two days it sailed on the 27th for Alexandria, Egypt. On October 30th, the battalion arrived at Alexandria and disembarked the following day. On November 1st, it moved into a camp near the pyramids in Egypt at Mena. A week later the battalion moved to another camp in Egypt at Beni Yusef. Some low category men were exchanged for higher category men in the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. At the start of December 1943, the entire battalion left for camp in Syria to continued training and spent a fortnight at a temporary camp in Sidon, until moving to a newly built training camp in the Lebanon at the foot of the Gebel Sannine. The battalion began to train as a mountain battalion for service in Italy and reorganised into three companies. By April 1944 the battalion was fully trained and returned to a camp outside Alexandria in Egypt. It embarked at the end of April from Alexandria on the Derbyshire and Circassia.



HQ Allied Armies Italy – End-April 1944 to 18 May 1944

The 2nd Highland Light Infantry arrived in Taranto on May 4th, 1944. Between the 15th and 18th of May it re-embarked in landing craft at Manfredonia and move to the island of Vis in the Adriatic off Yugoslavia.


HQ Force 266 – 18 May 1944 to 15 June 1944

The battalion took over as the defence battalion on the island of Vis from the 2nd/6th Battalion, The Queen’s Regiment on May 18th, 1944. Headquarters for Force 266 was formed from the Tactical Headquarters of the 2nd Special Service Brigade, which was employed in operations on the islands along the Yugoslav coast. On May 22nd, an unsuccessful raid on the island of Mljet took place, led by Nos. 2 and the 43rd Commandos, with brigade headquarters, a company of Highland Light Infantry, the entire (about 150 strong) and supported by four 75mm pack howitzers of No. 2 Troop of the Raiding Support Regiment. Partisan intelligence located about 150 German troops on three island hilltops but the information proved inaccurate forcing the commandos to climb around the hills until exhausted. The force then withdrew, having made no substantial contact with the enemy. The next operation that involved the battalion was an attack on the island of Brac from June 2nd to 4th. ‘C’ Company formed the OP Force during the operation and a carrier section was also under the East Force. Two officers and 14 other ranks were wounded in the operation.


HQ Land Forces Adriatic – 15 June 1944 to 15 August 1944

On June 15th, HQ Land Forces Adriatic was raised and took over Force 266’s units. At the start of July 1944, fifteen men of the battalion raided Brac Island. In mid-July, the battalion was involved in a raid on Korcula Island supported by a battery of the 111th Army Field Regiment and a flight of the Royal Air Force Regiment. At the end of the month No. 2 Commando sailed from Italy and landed at Spilje, together with ‘C’ Company of the 2nd Battalion HLI and a squadron of the Long Range Desert Group to aid partisan operations in Albania. They attacked the strongpoints at Himara but were repulsed as the Germans had previous knowledge of the attack. However the garrison was seriously weakened in the process and the partisans took the position two days later.


HQ Vis Brigade – 16 August 1944 to 10 November 1944

On August 16th, a new headquarters was formed on the island of Vis by the redesignation of HQ 20th Beach Group and formed the forward base of Land Forces Adriatic. During September 1944 the battalion sent patrols and raiding parties to Solta, Brac and Korcula (September 14th-17th) Islands as well as the Peljasau Peninsula. The battalion began to leave Vis on September 25th, 1944 for Italy and landed at a number of ports through the end of the month.

‘A’ Company was flown to Patras, Greece on October 4th, 1944 followed by the rest of the battalion. It was used for internal security at Athens, Cornith and elsewhere. It returned to Patras in October and began to advance to Cornith serving under the Vis Brigade along with detachments of the RAF Regiment.


HQ Adriatic Brigade – 10 November 1944 to 19 January 1945

The Vis Brigade was renamed the Adriatic Brigade on November 10th since it had now left Vis and was operating in Greece. On December 5th, the battalion was located in northwest Lykabettos less two companies in the Peloponnese. It concentrated at Athens that day and the next day it was used to secure the Kolonaki District of Athens. During January the battalion had seventy civil police and a battalion of the Greek National Guard under command. The battalion left Athens on January 19th, 1945 on HMCS Prince David and sailed for Taranto.


HQ Allied Forces Italy (attached 10th Indian Infantry Division) - 19 January 1945 to 11 March 1945

On arrival in Taranto, the 2nd HLI moved by road and rail through Aqua Viva, Casaerta, Rome and Arezzo to Soltino. On arrival it was attached to the 10th Indian Division. The battalion was still designated for a mountain role and officers and men were sent on mountaineering course. During February the battalion carried out mountain training around Vallombrosa. It left the area in March for the front line.


10th Indian Infantry Division – Attached – 11 March 1945 to 16 April 1945

The battalion became attached to the 25th Indian Brigade and took up positions in the front line on the Rignano Spur as the 25th Brigade took over the Monte Grande area from the 85th United States Infantry Division from March 11th to 14th. The battalion remained with the 25th Indian Brigade and later the 10th Indian Brigade on Monte Grande until the division was relieved on April 16th, 1945.


MacForce – 16 April 1945 to 8 May 1945

When the 10th Indian Division pulled out of the Monte Grande area, it left behind a mixed force of units to cover Monte Grande. This force, called MAC Force, was under the command of the Jewish Infantry Brigade Group and included the Lovat Scouts, the 2nd Loyals, the 4/11th Sikhs, the Jodhpur Sardar Light Infantry, the Nabha Akal Infantry and the 2nd Highland Light Infantry. The 57th Field Regiment and 11th Light AA Regiment supported MAC Force. On the 19th, the Germans began to withdraw from Monte Grande as both of their flanks were threatened. The battalion advanced forward along the mountain ridges against the rearguards of the German 1st Parachute Division. Eventually the battalion approached Bologna and the pursuit ended. After the armoured pursuit left the battalion behind, it moved to Brisighella to rest and recover


HQ Allied Armies Italy – 8 May 1945 to Mid-July 1945

When the Germans capitulated, the battalion was used to escort POWs to Taranto, but after it arrived there it was sent back north to Austria, where it arrived on June 1st to garrison Marau, Stadl, and Schoder. It remained there until July 1945.


7th Indian Infantry Brigade – Mid-July 1945 to 31 August 1945

The battalion left Austria during the first fortnight of July 1945 and emplaned in small groups at Klagenfurt. After a stop in Bari, the battalion joined the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade in Salonika. From there the battalion moved into Drama in Macedonia near the Bulgarian frontier. It remained there into 1946.

 

Dryan, Thanks for this, its quite amazing. Is this what would be in a War Diary? or have you obtained or drawn it together from other sources? I will now study this in detail and I'm sure his known movements will fit into this. I guess that when we get his War Record we can piece him into this info. I'm also guessing that elements of 2nd Battallion didn't necessarily go to all of these locations. I simply say this as I noted that '....‘A’ Company was flown to Patras, Greece on October 4th, 1944 followed by the rest of the battalion." which indicates that the Battalion was split from time to time. As I'm not a military person this is all new ground for me and I can see I'll have to do a bit of background research.
Thanks again
John

 

You are correct. My summary is from a variety of sources including the regimental history and official histories. A battalion was often split with companies serving in a number of different locations particularly if doing garrison work. The service record will be your best bet at confirmation of details.

 

Thank you for this excellent summary of the 2nd HLI history. I am researching a member of the 2nd HLI who was killed by accident in a shooting on 25/8/1945 somewhere in Western Europe. There is a theory that he may have been in Kortijk in Belgium in or before May 1945. He will probably have been buried near where he died initially, then transferred to the US Cemetery at Margraten before being re-interred at the British Cemetery in Overloon in the Netherlands in May 1947. Have you any idea how someone from the 2nd HLI will have been in Western Europe at that time - and specifically at Kortijk in Belgium?

 

"Thank you for this excellent summary of the 2nd HLI history. I am researching a member of the 2nd HLI who was killed by accident in a shooting on 25/8/1945 somewhere in Western Europe. There is a theory that he may have been in Kortijk in Belgium in or before May 1945. He will probably have been buried near where he died initially, then transferred to the US Cemetery at Margraten before being re-interred at the British Cemetery in Overloon in the Netherlands in May 1947. Have you any idea how someone from the 2nd HLI will have been in Western Europe at that time - and specifically at Kortijk in Belgium?"

I am not sure. The only way to be certain would be to obtain his service record. He may have been on attachment to another unit or he may not have been with 2nd HLI at the time, but with one of the HLI battalions that service in NW Europe (1st, 5th, 6th, 10th HLI or 1st, 2nd Glasgow Highlanders (HLI))

 

Elaine,
I do know that my Father-in-law travelled back through Western Europe after serving in Italy. unfortunately I have no detailed info on where he stopped and dates.
Regards
John

 

I have already looked at the Casualty lists on FindMyPast (and Ancestry) - they just say "Western Europe" for the 1945 incident. A Scotland's People death record gives the detail that he was accidentally shot. My question was whether anyone know how he might have ended up in Belgium when the Battalion does not seem to have been there.

 

Thanks John The theory is that this man was in Belgium for some time - probably from May or before until August. I think dryan67's idea is probably the most likely option - but I can't prove it without a service record. I am researching over 100 men buried at Overloon so can't get records for them all.

 

Thanks for the reply. I am researching a lot of men buried at Overloon - so not practical to get service records for them all. I will write the story up but make the inconsistency between him being in Belgium clear. I think that is the best I can do.

 

I should have added that your work has helped me understand the circumstances in which he was wounded on 26 Jan 1941. Thanks for that.

 

A good thought as I know I've found errors before with the CWGC data - but not in this case - he was wounded on 26/1/1941 in the Middle East and died in 1945 in Western Europe - both say 2nd HLI.