7th Batt Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry - WW2

[Skoyen89]

Hi  I suggest you get his records from the Ministry of Defence first to get the basic outline of his career (ca. £30) then once you know which units he was in and when, get the War Diaries from Kew.  Unless he was an officer it is unlikely to mention him by name but it will give detail of the operations he was involved in.  If he was on the Ox and Bucks also try SOFO but they charge £50 per enquiry.  if you have his army number you could also try FindMyPast to see if he was wounded.  Good luck.  PM me if you have further queries.

[geoff6]

Thank you, I am going to do that.

Geoff

[Drew5233]

£50? What do you get for that?

If he was in Italy with the Ox and Bucks he'll have been with the 7th Battalion, they were the only battalion serving in the CMF during WW2.

Cheers
Andy

[Skoyen89]

'£50? What do you get for that'

That was what I was quoted.  Presumably a full sweep of their records for one individual but not sure.  Seemed a lot to me too......

[Drew5233]

I concur. I can't even imagine what they have that's not in the service records or the National Archives that's worth paying £50 for.

[Skoyen89]

Looking on the positive side of it-  if it is a way of keeping a 'County Regiment ' Museum open and thriving and one is not knowledgeable about how to research one's relative it could be £50 well spent, especially if they have some extra sources not available elsewhere. 
Hey we have a TV advert which says "we pay you crap prices for your car if you are 'time poor' or can't be bothered" so maybe it is us who are out of touch with modern living?!

[brummie40]

Hi All
My Granddad Pte Joseph Smith service number 5389008
7th Ox & Bucks Light Infantry,
was posted to Italy and took part in the battle for Anzio. his battalion was surrounded by the German Infantry along with Fallschirmjager. His battalion was totally cut of from reinforcements and heavily bombarded from mortar and machine gun fire. the battalion held their ground to the last man
out of 1000 men it is said that only 60 odd men survived. my Grandfather was wounded and all positions were later overrun and remaining men were taken prisoner,

He was taken to Memmingen POW Camp / Hospital and treated for his wounds.
later taken to Stalag 9c Bad Sulza, Mühlhausen, Hesse. 
he ended up working in the Hospital as a porter looking after the wounded. either that or he could have ended up working in the potassium mines.
and there he would remain until the the camp was liberated by the Americans in 1945

would be very keen to learn more about his travel to Italy and to the camps
thanks Joe

[FamilySearch1944]

I realise this is probably an old thread but remembrance day set me thinking again about my uncle who served in this battalion and died on the 20th January 1944 at Monte Cassino.  I couldn't understand why this battle wasn't under the 7th's records but I see that someone mentioned that they may have been split up.

Just wondering if anyone has any details. My uncle was Michael Waite from Liverpool (distant family connection to Oxford). I have a couple of photos as well if anyone interested.

[brummie40]

Hi Familysearch1944

I would be very grateful to see the photos you may have

regards joe