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Information provided by: Tim Saunders
First Published: 07 November 2003

Overview

2nd Devons, in common with the 1st Battalion, initially felt that they had a ‘dull war’, incarcerated as a part of the infantry brigade garrisoning the strategically important island of Malta. However, as the war in the desert grew in importance, the Axis forces were determined to reduce the capacity for Malta to disrupt their own operations and to prevent the British providing air cover to the vital naval convoys. After Rommel’s defeat at El Alamein Malta lost some of its strategic significance and the Devons, with 231 Malta Brigade, joined the 8th Army in North Africa, who were preparing for the invasion of Sicily, which was to be the Battalion’s first of three amphibious assault landings of the war. After some hard fighting, including 2nd Devons at Regalbuto amongst the foothills of Mount Etna, the Germans were driven from Sicily and the Allies prepared to invade Italy. 2nd Devons took part in their second assault landing with 231 Brigade at Porto San Venere on 7th September 1943. However, their fighting in Italy was not to last long as the Battalion was selected by Montgomery, along with the rest of 231 Brigade, who now experienced amphibious assault troops, to return to the UK to be amongst those spearheading the invasion of France. To their confusion, the West Countrymen of 2 Devon were posted to join fellow veterans of 50th Northumbrian Division. After a Christmas at home, the Battalion settled down to training in the austere wartime British countryside. ‘After a short time training took on a distinctly amphibious flavour and we knew that we were for it again.’ The third landing on Gold Beach was indeed the hardest and costliest of the Battalion’s assault landings and the grind of the battle of Normandy extracted a heavy toll on the West Countrymen. After Normandy the Battalion followed the armoured divisions across northern France to Belgim, where they assisted the Guards in liberating Brussels, and on the Dutch border. Hear they held the Nearpelt across the Escaut Cannal at the start of 30 Corps much delayed advance across the ill conceived 'airborne carpet' to Arnhem. The majority of 50th Division returned to the UK, having beem widely regarded as having borne too greater sahre of the war. However, 2 Devon joined 7th Armoured Division as lorried infantry and fought across germany to the Elbe.

Facts and figures

Unit name: 2nd Battalion
Unit nickname: Sweedbashers
Force: Army
Designation: Battalion
Type: Infantry

Chronology

2nd Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment

July 1938 - March 1943: Joined 231 Brigade in Malta

Prior to the outbreak of the war, 2 Devon moved to Malta to form a part of the island’s garrison (along with 2 Dorset and 1 Hampshire). Malta was just one of many strategically important bases that enabled Britain to 'rule the waves and an command Empire on which the sun never set'. Once war broke out, Malta became a key point in ensuring that the Axis forces were unable to dominate the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal. From airfields on the island, British planes could attack Axis shipping and protect their own convoys bound for Egypt and the deserts of North Africa. As the Axis reach the zenith of its power, the Germans and Italiens aimed to stave Malta into submission, during what has become known as the latter day Siege of Malta. 2 Devon shared the privations of the Maltese people and spent much of their time clearing up bomb damage. A life of long hours on duty, little food and much manual labour was hard and laborious but the Battalion was saved from sharing the British defeats that litter the history of the early war. It is a measure of the suffering of Malta, its people and garrison that Malta receive the George Cross in recognition of its staunch resolve in the face of adversity.

March 1943 - July 1943: Training in Egypt with 30 Corps

As the North African campaign came to its successful conclusion the security of Malta was assured. Consequently, 231 (Malta)Brigade left Malta to join the veteran 30 Corps in Egypt, as an independent brigade. Here they brushed up their infantry skills and started the preparations and amphibious training for the next phase of the War in the Mediterranean; the invasion of Sicily. New equipment, unfamiliar routines and the quirks of the Royal Navy had to be learnt and understood, against a background of failure in amphibious operations at Gallipoli (WW1) and at Dieppe a year before.

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