Gents, During the Battle of Normandy Following D-Day the 9th Parachute Battalion was reinforced by a Large contingent of the OBLI. Many of these men lately wounded with the battalion, I wondered if these chaps were from the 2nd Battalion Airborne? The War Diary States: 6th July 1944 Place: Ecarde Day spent in cleaning up, reclothing and rest. CO decided to move Bn HQ and HQ Coy to another field where new dugouts were to be constructed. In the evening the Bn was reinforced by 2 Offs and 70 ORs from the OXF & BUCKS L.I. 9 ORs from the BUCKS Regt. and 27 ORs from the South Lancs Regt. 1 Off from the Essex Regt and 1 from the Monmouthshire Regt, total 4 Offs and 106 ORs. With these additions it was possible to reorganise into 3 Coys. The strength of the Bn was now 16 Offs and 287 ORs. it would be great if anyone knew and info on this. Thanks Rich
Few names of Ox & Bucks attached to 9th Parachute Battalion these were all wounded in Normandy except for Johnson who was taken prisoner. 5389512 Pte. F.G. Johnson 14396383 Pte. E.W. Butler 5384183 Pte. T.H. Garrett 5351143 Pte. P.E. Hampton 5387668 Pte. A.J. Jackson 14409360 Pte. D. Randall 5385121 Pte. F. Richardson 5387662 Pte. G.N. Smith 5388364 Pte. A.E.P. Williams 5385856 Pte. F.J.T. Revell
It appears from the battalion noted to the attached m lads who were killed they were allocated from the OBLI reserve battalion in the U.K. as direct battle replacements for the para battalion.
I wonder if they were “ non airborne equipped “ eg battle bowler and bd as opposed to para lid and Dennison ?
I have just come across some lists from the PRO WO171/426 which are of men transferred to the various Parachute Battalions as well as the Airlanding Battalions. There are a number transferred to the 9th but in the main they are from the Kings Regiment. If there is anyone in partticualr you are looking for lwet me know and I'll check. The lists are dated middle to to late July. I am happy to post them but I'm afraid my skills with computers are poor so it could be a totla disaster as it has before when I've tried with documents. Cheers Arnhem
At least one that I know of, Peter Lovett was one of them. The Kings Regiment made up the beach clearance units that came in with the 2nd wave. Once their job was done they were disbanded. They could transfer to any unit they wanted but had to in Normandy. Alex
I know that some OBLI were transfered to the 1 Bn Black Watch as my father makes mention of it in his letters. He had also been transferred to the BW on his commission in the Lancashire Fusiliers. He make note of the fact that being a little miffed that they were now 'Scotsmen' the OBLI guys kept to their regimental traditions for when ordered to quick march they would set off at their normal light infantry quick march pace.
