2nd Bn The XX Lancashire Fusiliers
WW 2. 1942 - 1945
France, Belgium, N. Africa, Medjez El Bab,
Sicily, and Italy (Monte Cassino,and Gothic line).
(The left hand photos is Frank with his P.I.A.T. gun and the right hand photo see below)
FROM THE TANK MUSEUM AT BOVINGTON.
“The photograph shows what appears to be an assault gun: Sturmgeschutz 40 Ausf. G (StuG III Ausf. G). Basically, the Germans used the hull of a Panzer III (the turret was removed) and fitted a 7,5cm gun into the front of the superstructure. Assault guns were widely used and were difficult to spot given their low silhouette. They were employed as assault gun (Sturmgeschutz) / tank destroyers usually in detachments both independent and attached to divisions. They were used at Monte Cassino and there are a number of photos in existence.which show them knocked out.”

 
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These 7 photos sent in by the Barker family of Frank with 2LF in Cassino ->
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3.

Click on photo to go to Ted Settle's story
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William J Collins
Click photo to go to his story
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6.

Found in John's Belongings
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James Frederick Ryder
Click on photo to see his photo collection



Alf Heywood with a poppy he pick whilst laying a mine field
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Fusilier Frank Burgess

Frank's discharge documents and service book

Fusilier Frank Burgess is back row first from left He is also on photo 3C above
back row number 11 from left.
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unknown friend of Frank
"Note his Battleaxe Division Signs "

George Hill,
not sure who he is, but is named on the photo can any help with this



Does anyone remember Ted Wilkinson,stretcher bearer with the 2nd Bn
North Africa,Siciliy,Italy and Austria
(Note Battle Axe Division on his shoulder epaulettes)


Abraham Thomas Harris
Battle Axe Division Dispatch Rider

My father served in N.Africa and possibly Italy in WW2 but other than one photograph of him in uniform I have no information about his service. I am currently tracing my family history and would like if possible to add to the very limited information I have. I know from his comments to me as a child that his 'job' was delivering dispatches by motorcycle and that he was invalided out c.1944 following a serious spinal injury due to a motorcycle accident. Family photographs, now sadly dissapeared, show him at a hospital, possibly Cairo,but it could have been Alexandria.
Other than this I have no information whatsoever on his rank etc.
Many thanks.
Royston Harris

Joe is now checking out this story so watch this space

A Coy 1943

Sgt Albert Atherton,
Albert is the one with one hand in his pocket,the chap in the middle is called Watson and the chap on the right is not known


Fred Hurst

Fred Hurst was born 9th November 1923 and he enlisted in April 1942.
He was wounded or injured in North Africa with the 2nd Bn and returned to recuperate to Fulwood Barracks Preston.
He then rejoined the war and was killed in action on the 9th April 1945 at the battle of the river Senio.
This was the last great WW2 battle the 2nd Bn took part in.
Fred came very close to making it home.
This is the CWGC link.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2237415
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3445166 Fus Arthur Edward Cox MM

The MM Citation
Initials: A E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Fusilier
Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 24/10/1943
Service No: 3445166
Awards: M M
Additional information: Son of Arthur Edward and Sarah Cox; husband of Catherine Cox, of Heywood, Lancashire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. A. 39.
Cemetery: SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY
http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=2377614


Catherine Cox aged 95
at the opening of the new Museum


Catherine with her Daughter and
Granddaughter
27th June 2009

RSM Robert Alexander DCM




Sidney Sedgwick
won the Croix de Guerre in North Africa fighting with the Free French Forces

Can anyone add anything to his story?


Sent in by
Mike Murray
'WW2 People's War is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC. The archive can be found at bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar'
This extract is taken from 'John Hudson, WW2 People's War'


THIS IS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO MY MAIN STORY, www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A3878760 AND RECORDS THE EXPERIENCE OF FIRST CASUALTIES IN ALGERIA, NORTH AFRICA.
We recovered from our seven-mile march to Cap Matifou and spent a week awaiting the arrival of our guns and transport. Another ship had carried them, which was a relief; a cargo of shells and explosives in the rough Atlantic would have disturbed our sleep!
Preparations complete, we set out in convoy to join the 1st Army engaged in the east towards Tunisia. The reader may be familiar with the terrain in that part of North Africa. The foothills of the Atlas Mountains lead to small valleys towards the coast. Night arrived, and our convoy crept forward. Someone said, "These can't be front-line positions, it's too bloody quiet." Guns and ammunition were left in one valley, excess transport, personnel, wireless operators, cooks, etc., moved on in the darkness. We came to a halt. "Everybody out," whispered the sergeant, "the Germans are over those hills, so no noise." We were convinced that British Infantry were close at hand, but their forces were thinly dispersed over the hills, and the nearest, (Lancashire Fusiliers) were engaged elsewhere.
At daybreak, a "look-out" reported that a German patrol had moved during the night and they later appeared on the skyline. "Spandau" machine-gun fire started and our lads took cover behind vehicles, returning fire with rifles, although we only had a small quantity of ammunition available. We were thankful to see a platoon of Lancashire Fusiliers arrive.
An officer led them up the hill with Bren-guns and mortars, they were experienced troops and soon had the area cleared. British infantry have no equal in situations like that, they pressed on out of sight. It was our baptism of fire - two men had been hit in the legs, but the Lancashire Fusiliers certainly saved our "bacon!"
In the weeks that followed, the "AFRIKA KORPS" were slowly pushed back by British and United States forces into Tunisia. Our Battery suffered casualties when a gun exploded as they were preparing to fire. A faulty fuse was suspected. Two men died and others were wounded. It brought the true horror of war to our young lives. One lad from Staffordshire was about twenty, another, a Scottish chap, a bit older.
In my next episode we build up ammunition for the last bombardment near Tunis. British and American Infantry advance under shellfire to give the final knock-out to the Germans in North Africa.
The "AFRIKA KORPS" safely in P.O.W. cages, the troops enjoyed a well-earned rest, although a "Gunners versus Signallers, Drivers, and others" football match, under the hot African sun, was anything but "restful!"
Scottish troops of 51st Highland Division from "Monty's" 8th Army soon prepared to land in Sicily. Our "heavy" guns were destined for Salerno, beaches south of Naples.


Major Christopher Lea MC
Brother of
Lieutenant-Gerneral George Lea
Colonel of The Regiment (RRF)

The story of the Battle of Medjez El Bab
one of our Battle Honours

"Medals and awards known to have been won during this campaign by the 2nd Battalion

" Info from theCatalogue of medals from Dr A W Stott's collection,sold in London 1997 at DNW Auction house."
Click here for the link to Dr Stott



I was browsing through the site recently when at the end of 2LFs North African page I noticed amoungst the Dr Stotts medal list the details of Major Kenricks death and the fact that he died of wounds and is buried in Pietermaritzburg Cemetery in South Africa.
My nephew went to University there so I asked my brother to contact his friends to see if they could find the grave in Fort Napier War Cemetery. I gather that a lot of severely wounded servicemen were sent to RSA for treatment during the war and there was a big Military Hospital at Oribi.
You can see from the pictures attached that they have found it. It looks a lovely, well kept, tranquil place but it is a long way from home. He is the only Fusilier in that cemetery.
Pity Kevin Hill has passed on he no doubt would have known this officer. Perhaps there is someone you know who can fill in the details of how he received the wounds that lead to his death? Perhaps there are relatives still around who would like copies of the pictures?
Coincidentaly my Uncle Tom spent six months in the Oribi Military Hospital. He had the uncovetted distinction of being sunk three times in 24 hours when Stukas smashed his destroyer flotilla off Crete. He was bombed in the water and went to PMB to have most of his guts removed. On discharge he became a publican sadly with only half pint capacity though he retained his 12 pint thirst .As a consequence he spent the last few years of his life mostly flat on his face - he went down with all guns blazing in the true Nelson spirit

sent in
by
Maurice Taylor