111 Fld Regt RA, 8th Indian Division

Ubique · 25-01-2008, 07:28 AM

Looking for info on when this chap died.
CWGC :: Casualty Details
Capt Frank Ellis 111 Field Regt RA killed 08/12/1943.
I believe they were with 8th Indian Divison at the time.
It's a friend of mine's father.
Help, please.

spidge · 25-01-2008, 08:00 AM

The big clue in identification is in the story of the Sangro cemetery:

Quote:

The site of this cemetery was selected by the 5th Corps and into it were brought the graves of men who had died in the fierce fighting on the Adriatic sector of the front in November-December 1943, and during the static period that followed. In addition, the cemetery contains the graves of a number of escaped prisoners of war who died while trying to reach the Allied lines. SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY contains 2,617 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. Within the cemetery will be found the SANGRO RIVER CREMATION MEMORIAL, one of three memorials erected in Italy to officers and men of the Indian forces whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith - the other two cremation memorials are in Forli Indian Army War Cemetery and Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery. The memorial at Sangro River commemorates more than 500 servicemen.

Ubique · 25-01-2008, 08:17 AM

I've found this.They were supporting NZ troops.

Quote:

1 Air Landing Light Regiment shelled the road on either side of Orsogna. 4 and 5 NZ Field Regiments and 111 Field Regiment Royal Artillery provided close in support for the infantry.

River Sangro and Orsogna, 11 Nov 1943 - 17 Jan 1944

Anyone have a history of 8th Indian?

Kyt · 25-01-2008, 08:18 AM

111 was supporting the NZers for the Orsogna operation (Operation Torso) from the 7th:

River Sangro and Orsogna, 11 Nov 1943 - 17 Jan 1944

II: Operation TORSO | NZETC

spidge · 25-01-2008, 08:23 AM

Well I am not going to post what I found! Must be great minds think alike as I had the same thing!

Ubique · 25-01-2008, 08:24 AM

Thank You for your help.

spidge · 25-01-2008, 08:45 AM

I was reading this site this morning about the error with Bardia and Tobruk. Whatever source he used did not acknowledge the Australian 6th Division as the division who took both places.

New Zealand in WW2

Quote:

6 Dec 1940 - 25 Feb 1941: Western Desert Force

On 6 Dec 1940 the British Western Desert Force launched a counter-offensive against the Italians (Lucas, 1982). The British captured Sidi Barrani (11 Dec 1940), Sollum (17 Dec 1940), Bardia (5 Jan 1941), Tobruk (22 Jan 1941; actually it was the Australian Division), and Derna (30 Jan 1941).

Kyt · 25-01-2008, 10:29 AM

There seems to be conflicting info about the 111. As far as I can tell, they were part of the 2nd NZ Division. Thet may have been attached to the 8th Indians for a while but I cannot find them in the 8ths order of battle.

The 111 did move around quite a bit as this shows:

Axis History Forum :: 111th Field Regiment R.A (TA)

I don't have the official history of the 8th Indians (damn difficult to get hold of) but a general hsitory is avaiable online in its entirety:

The Tiger Triumphs. The Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy. 1946. Foreword. Table of Contents.

Interestingly I can't find Ellis's name in The Times casualty lists (not that is any indicator). Has your friend applied for his service records?

spidge · 25-01-2008, 01:32 PM

They were here at El Alamein October 1942.

XIII CORPS [Lt General Horrocks]
577 Field Company RE
578 Field Company RE
576 Field Park Company RE
13 Corps Signals
50TH (Northumbrian) INFANTRY DIVISION [Major General Nichols]
2 Bn Cheshire Regiment (machine gun bn)
74 Field Regiment RA
111 Field Regiment RA
124 Field Regiment RA
154 Field Regiment RA
102 Anti-tank Regiment RA
34 LAA Regiment RA
233 Field Company RE
505 Field Company RE
235 Field Park Company RE
50 Northumbrian Division Signals
1 Greek Infantry Brigade [Brigadier ]
1 Infantry Battalion
2 Infantry Battalion
3 Infantry Battalion
1 Artillery Regiment
1 Machine Gun Company
1 Engineer Company
151 Infantry Brigade [ Brigadier Percy]
6 Bn Durham Light Infantry
8 Bn Durham Light Infantry
9 Bn Durham Light Infantry
69 Infantry Brigade [ Brigadier Cooke-Collis]
5 Bn East Yorkshire Regiment
6 Bn Green Howards
7 Bn Green Howards

Ubique · 25-01-2008, 09:17 PM

I didn't get the full story until today.

Quote:

I was told that my father was actually injured in July,and was in hospital,unconscious until he died.Apparently ,I was a think a stray snipers bullet which pierced his helmet.

There is more to the story that I won't put on the forum but they tried to get Service Records but aren't listed as NoK.
Seems a complicated personal story.
Don't think the July bit is correct as they'd be in Sciliy in July nowhere near the Sangro.