Although one of the many County Regiments, the Northamptonshire Regiment had three battalions serving during World War Two. Two in the Mediterranean and one in the East. The 2nd was part of 5th Div and was one of the most travelled during WW2. Originally part of the BEF then took part in the landings in Madagascar, then on to India, overland to Iraq then Egypt, Sicily, Italy and finally ending the war as part of 21st Army in Northern Europe. The 5th were originally the Huntingdon Cyclist Batallion during WW1 of which Charles Laughton, the actor (Hunchback of Notre Dame) was its most famous member. In WW2 they were the first TA unit to come into contact with the Germans as part of BEF. Then joining the 78th Battleaxe Div for Operation Torch, took part in the invasion of Sicily, then advanced up Italy as past of the 8th Army. They finally ended the war in Austria. Other Northamptonshire Regiment Did you knows... First Regiment to land in North America First Infantry Regiment to have a battle honour on its colours Last Regiment to carry colours into battle First Regiment to be transported by air. Plus lots more...
Here is the answers Here is all the answers 1750's French and Indian wars? 1755 - At the start of the Seven Year War - They were part of General Braddock march on Fort Du Quesne and ambushed by French and Indians at Monongahela. Incidently they were led out the forest by a Major George Washington (who's family came from Northants) later the first President of the USA. What for? The 2nd Battalion (58th Foot) part in the Siege of Gibraltar of 1779 to 1782, bestowed in 1784. When? Battle of Laing's Nek on 28th Jan 1881 during 1st Boer War When to where? 15 officers and 548 men of B Coy of First Battalion were flown 800 miles from Moascar in Egypt to the outskirts of Bagdad on 22nd June 1938. They were flown in nine Vickers Victoria Aircraft of Nos 70 and 216 Squadrons. This was when Assyrians in the north of Iraq threatened to revolt. And one more for you - Arthur Wellesley - later Duke of Wellington served as a Captain in the 58th (2nd Bat) from 1791 to 1792. Best Mike
Any one want any pics of the colours or museum pieces, I swan around the Museum in Abington park Northampton on a regular basis. Little gem of a place.
Bad snap of the colours in local museum I took years ago...I'll go back and put some better ones up and other related stuff if anyone wants it.
Hi Kerri, Any idea how long he was atteached to the unit? The reason could be for training purposes, either he had a skill that the unit needed and he was drafted in to do the training or visa versa and he was being trained to take that back to his unit. While i was in we had no end of Commonwealth members joining us on attachment, either for the training or training us in something. I remember having several Aussies with us for several months when we were based in Colchester. Sniper
What can you tell me about the Long range desert group of 1942 middle east and their conection to northampton shire unit ?
The long range desert group were the forerunners to todays SAS. Mainly using jeeps as transport they would drive behind enemy lines and cause mayhem by ambushing convoys or blowing up important insulations such as airfields, stores and ammo dumps. They also used to gather information and send it back via radio. I can't find any connection that they may have had with a Northamptonshire Unit. The first LRDG's were made up mainly of New Zealanders though later some South African and British units supplied some volunteers but not from any Northamptonshire unit. Sniper
Sniper, I have found out that the Northamptonshire unit fought in Halfaya Pass Egypt. I beleive that maybe grandpa fought with this unit at this Helfaya Pass ? He was with the AIF and did have a Northampton shire badge in his belongings. Would you know of any roll that I can look up ? As grandpa's file on his Middle East movements were lost I have no coppy or unit to look up. The only other colour patch I have for the ME is Port Docking detachment unit. Also would you know about shell Warf at port Twefik, I'm still looking for transit camp 157 and now know that it was a 3 1/2 mile walk along the Cairo Suez road from Shell Wharf would you know of a map? Kind Regards Kerri
Halfaya Pass was the operation known as Operation Battleaxe and this area is a few Km's along the coast from El Salloum. To read about the battle follow the link or copy it into your browser. Operation Battleaxe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kerri, I have a few questions to ask you which may lead us to the answer you are looking for. Firstly what did your grandpa do for a living when he returned home? And secondly, do you know if he was in contact with anyone in the UK after the war, such as letters or visits? Sniper
Hi Sniper, Not long before grandpa died he cut the letter heads off letters and burnt a lot of papers and his dog tags. As far as I know no one was in correspondence with him and I don't think he had any visits from overseas, I know that he was fighting the Defense department to try and get medals he was entitled to but even back then paper work was missing from his file mainly his Middle East deployment , he got very upset about this and burning everything was a response to this we think. When Grandpa returned I think he went into Dairy farming but he was a hairdresser by profession. Regards Kerri
Kerri, I'm thinking that he did not have an attachment to the Northamtons but he met and became friendly with someone from the Regiment and they may have swapped cap badges as a sign of the friendship. I know this went on quite a lot, especially between people from different commonwealth countries. I am sorry that he was not recognised as being deployed into a theatre of war and not getting the medals he was entitlred to. This happened to someone i knew. He was supposed to of served in the theatre for a certain time and he was short of the time by one week when the war ended, hence he was not entitled to the South Atlantic Medal. Kind regards Mike
Your more than welcome Kerri. It seems the most likely possiblity but without any records we would never know for sure. Do any records of his survive at all? Mike