1942 [ Content Tag Results ]
Below is a list of the history pages, personal accounts, extracts and photos that have been tagged with a reference to '1942'...
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Divided into content type :
2. [ pow ]
Johnnie Matheson
5 Escape Attempts
Johnnie Matheson retells the story of his five escape attempts from POW camps between 1940 - 1945.
He walked into wartime captivity with a haversack full of looted French franc notes of doubtful value from a bombed bank in St Valery - and more than five years later drove across a war-torn Europe heading for his Highland home in a brand new BMW car festooned with American stars and stripes, and a legitimate fortune in pounds sterling in his pocket.
3. [ history ]
Reformation
1940 - 1942
After St. Valery, the remainder of the 51st Highland Division joined the 9th Highland Division, a territorial 2nd line duplicate of the 51HD (amongst other smaller Battalions) to form the new 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. This reformed division had the following orders of Battle...
4. [ pow ]
Stalag XXa Camp 52
1940 - 1942
Henry Owens describes life and forced labour at Stalag XXa Camp 52, Gorsdorf, Poland. 1940 - 1942
5. [ pow ]
Stalag XXb, Marienburg
1942 - 1944
Henry Owens describes Stalag XXb, Marienburg 1942 - 1944
6. [ history ]
Arrival in Egypt
Aug 1942
In June 1942 the 51st Highland Division moved by train to a variety of ports, and embarked for an unknown destination. They moved around Africa leaving Durban on the 16th July and disembarked on 14th August 1942 at the entrance to the Suez Canal at Port Tewfik...
7. [ history ]
North Africa
Aug 1942 - May 1943
After St. Valery, what remained of the 51st Highland Division joined the 9th Highland Division to form the new 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. The reformed Division took on a home defense role between 1940 - 1942 when it set sail for Egypt and the North Africa Campaign.
8. [ history ]
Battle of El Alamein
Oct 1942
Montgomery was determined to attack the enemy using his infantry to create a gap and then push the armour through the gap created. The area for this was not the weaker sector in the south but the stronger part of the enemy position in the North. 30 Corps were to execute this attaching on a frontage four divisions wide...
9. [ history ]
In Pursuit
Nov 1942 - Jan 1943
After El Alamein the 51st Highland Division were in pursuit of Rommel and the retreating forces from Tubruk to Misurata
1. [ account ]
Brigadier James Oliver
A short biography from 'The Red Hackle'
Brigadier James Oliver : A short biography - an extract from 'The Red Hackle' - the Regimental magazine of The Black Watch.
2. [ extract ]
Divison Brigade Commanders WW2
1940 - 1945
Battalions and Commanders within 152, 153 and 154 Brigades during France 1940, North Africa 1942-43, Sicily 1943 and North West Europe 1944-45, sourced from "Battalion" by Alastair Borthwick.
3. [ extract ]
El Alamein, The Quiet Gunner
Extract from "The Quiet Gunner At War" by R. Gorle MC RA
Extract from "The Quiet Gunner At War" by R. Gorle MC, of 128 Field Reg. RA, describing the guns at El Alamein
4. [ general ]
Major Hugh Robertson
Major Hugh Robertson's Daughter, Linda McLean, very kindly sent us a few photographs of her Father after reading about him within Alastair Borthwick's account of the 5th Seaforth's "Attack on Groin" in which Hugh features in his role as O.C. "C" Company.
5. [ general ]
492 Field Battery Positions
11 Aug '42 to 24 Jun '45
Sketch map showing movements of 492 (Highland) Field Battery, R.A., throughout North Africa Campaign from August 1942 and on through Europe to June 1945.
6. [ account ]
El Alamein - A Gunner's View
Personal Account By Captain J T Lang
Captain John Lang served with 128th (H) Field Battery RA (TA). He was at El Alamein and this is his personal account.
7. [ account ]
Notes on Battle of El Alamein
North Africa, 1942
Detailed notes on the Battle of El Alamein from the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. (North Africa, October, 1942)
8. [ extract ]
5th Camerons Company Piper, Donald Macpherson at El Alamein
October 42
Extracts taken from The Queen's Own Highlander magazine issue commemorating the 50th Anniversary of El Alamein. The extract describes the use of the Camerons' Company Piper to alert the charging Black Watch of their position.
9. [ account ]
El Alamein - Colonel John Sym DSO
Oct/Nov 42
The following account of the Battle of El Alamein comes from the personal account of Colonel John Sym DSO who was 21C of 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders.
10. [ extract ]
El Alamein, Driver MacAskill
154 INF BDE.COY.RASC
An extract from the memoirs of Driver MacAskill provides a fascinating account of the logistic support at El Alamein, Oct '42.
11. [ account ]
Major (tmp. Lt. Col.) James Oliver : DSO Citation
October 1942, North Africa
Citation for the first of two DSO awarded to Major (temporary Lieutenant Colonel) James Alexander Oliver MBE of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). This first DSO is in recognition of his 'outstanding example' in the attack on the Miteriya Ridge on the night 23/24 October, 1942
12. [ account ]
51st (H) Recce. Reg. at El Alamein
24th October 1942
An account of the bloody shelling at El Alamein on the 24th October 1942 from the 51st (Highland) Reconnaisance Regiment; an extract from 'A Brief History of 51st (H) Reconnaissance Regiment (1941 -1943) and its Involvement in the Desert Campaign', produced as a pamphlet in 1991
13. [ account ]
Operation Supercharge
El Alamein, North Africa, October 1942
A Description of Operation Supercharge, El Alamein, North Africa, October 1942.
1. [ photo ]
Lt.-Col. James Oliver, DSO, MBE, TD
Lt.-Col. James Oliver, DSO, MBE, TD in the field May 1942 - August 1943
2. [ photo ]
242 Battery "G" Troop
Before North Africa, 1942
Paul Witty, who's Father (Jim Witty) served in North Africa and Sicily with the 61st Anti-Tank Regiment, very kindly sent us a disc of scanned photographs of his Father's, taken during various periods of his service. Jim Witty is marked as 2nd row, 3rd from left.
3. [ photo ]
Henry Owens Work Camp
Henry Owens at Work Camp No.52, Gorsdorf, 1942. Henry notes that this photograph was "a propaganda picture taken by the German authorities for a German magazine. The British uniforms were given to us for the photograph and were promptly taken back. A German guard took a couple of photographs for us, showing the real situation."
4. [ photo ]
51st Reconnaissance Regiment
June 1942
Richard Sands, who's Father (Sgt George Sands MM) served with the 51st, kindly sent us a scan of a photograph his Father had of the Sergeants and Warrant Officers of the 51st (H) Reconnaissance Regiment, taken in June of 1942 before their departure to Egypt where they would join the 8th Army in preparation for the battle of El Alamein.
Sgt George Sands served with both 2nd and 5th battalions. Sailing to North Africa, January 1942, as reinforcements/replacements for 2nd battalion at Tobruk. Before he had finished acclimatisation, Tobruk had fallen and 2nd battalion went into captivity. He fought for a few months with 4th Indian Div. He then joined 5th battalion when they arrived in Egypt some 6months later. He fought with 5th battalion from Alamein to Bremen.
5. [ photo ]
7 Black Watch Flag
North Africa Campaign, 1942-43
7th Black Watch flag flown during the North Africa campaign, 1942-43. Part of the collection on display at the Black Watch Musuem, Perth. The flag carries the tactical identification number of the Battalion together with the formation badge of the 51st Highland Division.
6. [ photo ]
J.Matheson, Stalag 9c, 1942
1942, J.Matheson, Stalag 9c (Johnnie Matheson is marked as top row, second from left.)
7. [ photo ]
7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Men of the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders on the march
8. [ photo ]
Colonel John Sym DSO
North Africa c. 42/43
Colonel John Sym DSO was 21C of 2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders and then Brigade Major of 152 Brigade during El Alamein. His book, "Seaforth Highlanders" by Colonel John Sym (editor) was Published by Gale & Polden Ltd, Aldershot (1962) and can still be obtained from second hand book sites.
9. [ photo ]
Field Marshal Montgomery
51st Highland Division was under the command of Field Marshal Montgomery from August 1942.
10. [ photo ]
Sketch Map, Stalag XXb, Marienburg
A hand drawn sketch map (presumed to be by Henry Owens) showing the layout of Stalag XXb, Marienburg (some time between 1942 - 1944).
11. [ photo ]
492 Field Battery, Alamein to Messina
Sketch Map, Alamein to Messina
Hand drawn sketch map showing movements of 492 (H) Field Battery (128th Field Regiment) during the North Africa Campaign. Includes annotation detailing firing, not-firing and rest positions.
12. [ photo ]
Black Watch Soldiers Painting Insignia
Privates James Bruce and Alex McMichell living up to the nickname of the "Highway Decorators". This nickname given to the division by other divisions who became used to discovering the "HD" insignia painted wherever the Highlanders had passed through.
13. [ photo ]
Hugh Robertson MC Clipping
This newspaper clipping was kept by Hugh Robertson's Mother. Linda McLean (Hugh's Daughter) recalls that she kept it as Hugh had not believed that he had been awarded the M.C. and thought she had become confused whilst he was overseas.
The date of print and original publication are unknown.
15. [ photo ]
Route of North Africa Operations
1942-1943
Diagram depicting the route of the North African campaign.
16. [ photo ]
Piper MacDonald, Western Desert
Western Desert, 23 September 1942
Caption reads "Piper MacDonald of the Seaforth Highlanders plays to some of the troops who make up the Highland Division while they rest during a march in the Western Desert, 23 September 1942."
Taken by Sgt.Martin 23.9.42.
With kind permission of the IWM.
17. [ photo ]
Diagram El Alamein Operations
October 1942, North Africa
Diagram of the area of operations of 152 Brigade at El Alamein, North Africa, October 1942.
18. [ photo ]
25lb Gun Firing, El Alamein
23rd October 1942
A 25 pound gun firing during artillery barrage which signalled the beginning of the 2nd Battle of El Alamein, 23rd October 1942.
19. [ photo ]
4.5 inch gun, El Alamein
North Africa, 1942
4.5 inch field gun firing at night at El Alamein
20. [ photo ]
El Alamein Infantry
El Alamein, 24th October 1942
British Infantry advance during Operation Lightfoot - 24th October 1942.
21. [ photo ]
Empty 25lb Shell Boxes
Dawn, 24 Oct '42
A large heap of empty 25lb shell boxes, photographed at dawn 24 Oct [1942], illustrates the intensity of the opening barrage at the Battle of El Alamein.
22. [ photo ]
taking tank at El Alamein
A Soldier of the 51st Highland Division charging a tank during the Battle of El Alamein.
23. [ photo ]
Vehicles silhouetted against the flash of artillery
2nd Battle of El Alamein
Vehicles silhouetted against the flash of artillery firing at night during the 2nd Battle of El Alamein
24. [ photo ]
61st Anti-Tank Reg, North Africa
North Africa
Group photo of 61st Anti-Tank Regiment, sent to us by Mr. A.Trigg the Son of Gunner "Bob" Trigg who can be found on the back row, second from the left. It is presumed to have been taken in North Africa sometime in May/June/July 1943, prior to embarkation to Sicily in July '43.
25. [ photo ]
Bob Trigg with Crew, North Africa
61st Anti-Tank Reg, North Africa
Bob Trigg (far left) is pictured on his gun with his crew, presumed to be in North Africa sometime in May/June/July 1943, prior to embarkation to Sicily in July '43.
26. [ photo ]
Gunner Bob Trigg
61 Anti-Tank Reg, North Africa
Photo of Gunner Bob Trigg in North Africa.
27. [ photo ]
Memorial Plaque, Nairn Old Parish Church
51st (H) Recce Reg
The Plaque and Roll of Honour in Nairn Old Parish Church.
The inscription reads "To the glory of God and to the memory of the men of the 51st (Highland) Reconnaissance Regiment who fell at the Battle of El Alamein October 1942 and who worshipped in this church the previous winter"
The plaque was unveiled by Gen Wimberley, GOC 51st Highland Division from mid 1941 and throughout the Desert Campaign, during a Service of Remembrance held on Sunday 9th April 1950 (Easter Sunday). The service was conducted by the Padre Rev Thos. W. Topping and the Minister, Rev Donald M McDonald, 25 old comrades and relatives attending.