大象传媒

Message 2 - Your notebook

Posted on: 07 October 2005 by RichyaJones

Hi Geoff,
Glad you like the new entries. I actually have all the pages of my grandads service and pay book. Its difficult to tell whats significant and whats not. I'd be happy to email them? Although I'm not sure how to give you my email address without breaking the house rules and risking being spammed!
I'm glad you brought up the subject of Sgt Hudson. I had a suspicion that this was Grandad's best friend who had his head blown off by a tank shell. Its a story well known to my family but Ive not managed to find out who he was. My uncle in Oz has a picture of him in front of a tank. I'll work on getting a better image for the site.
Bye for now.
Rich.

Message 3 - Your notebook

Posted on: 14 October 2005 by troopergeoff

Hullo Richard, Will try and find out more about Sgt Hudson later and if so will forward any info I get. Through your notes you sent, I have discovered that a chap called Bill Owen was driver to Capt "Gin" Holland, and I was able to inform Bill Owens nephew who was looking for anybody who might have known him, of this fact. So it just shows how one trail leads into another, its all fascinating stuff, keep at it. Geoff

Message 4 - Your notebook

Posted on: 28 October 2005 by troopergeoff

Richard, further to my last message I can now tell you that I have been in touch with my old Sgt, Bill Hare. He does remember your grandad but as they were in different Sqdns did not know him all that well, however he was very friendly with Sgt Hudson, they were mates, and he told me the story, that I had completely forgot (old age again) about how he died.

After the Nth African campaign had been over for some time, a visit was planned to see the old battlefields e.g. Steamroller farm, Banana Ridge etc. A party of about 70 men of various ranks and from the Regts, armoured and Infantry that had taken part. Unfortunately the party wandered into an unmarked mine field, and someone stepped on an A/tank mine which exploded amongst the party, killing nine and wounding many more. Sgt Hudson was one of those that was killed instantly. I believe this tragic story was somewhat hushed up at the time, inorder to preserve the blushes of a certain Brigadier wh had suggested the visit against opposition from certain quarters. But, this is what happens in war time.

Hope this little story has been of someinterest to you, All the best Geoff

Message 5 - Your notebook

Posted on: 31 October 2005 by RichyaJones

Hi Geoff,
That is a very interesting and shocking story, was this sometime after the war?
Maybe this wasn't Grandads best friend unless the shell incident was part of the coverup. But I think its unlikely since Grandad re-counted the story many times and the whole family knows about it. I'm still waiting for the 2 photographs I mentioned.
I believe the photos don't have names on them, such a shame I may never be able to find out who was who.
Thank you very much for tracking down Bill and re-counting the story it really is facinating. I might get myself over to Tunisia one these days and have a look around the area.
Take care, Rich.

Message 6 - Your notebook

Posted on: 01 November 2005 by troopergeoff

Morning Richard,

I am not sure the exact time this incident took place, but it was after the Nth African campaign was over in May 43. The Brigade (25th) including 51st RTR did not go to Italy until April 1944.

I would imagine this incident took place not long after the hostilities ceased and clearing up operations started. Don't forget that there were many such events that were kept under wraps for some years, e.g. Slapton Sands. Also a troop ship called the "Leopoldville" on which I sailed from Nth Africa to Naples in Feb 44 was sunk in the English channel loaded with American reinforcements for Normandy with the loss of over 8,000 lives, this was the result of negligence by HMS Brilliant in not noticing the presence of U boats. If you have a look for either of the two vessels I have named above on the 大象传媒 Peoples war, you will see the full story. I did not learn of it until a couple of years ago, I was talking to an American on one of my returns to Italy, and he told me about it,don't know how long it has now been common knowledge. I personally was very sad to hear of the loss of the Leopoldville, as it was the best troop ship that I had ever been on.

That's all for now Richard. Geoff

Message 7 - Your notebook

Posted on: 08 November 2005 by troopergeoff

Richard,

I have an amendment to the previous message which I have just noticed. The loss of life was over eight hundred, not 8 thousand as previously stated, sorry about that. Geoff

Message 8 - Your notebook

Posted on: 28 December 2005 by ben-hollands

Hello I found this forum disusing steamroller farm. My grandfather is Cap鈥檛 E D HOLLANDS DCO DCM. If there is any information which we can share then please don鈥檛 hesitate to contact me on bennyboy.hollands@tiscali.co.uk
Many thanks