War Diaries - 145th Royal Armoured Corps (8th Bn Duke of Wellington Regt) Regt

[scrimnet]

Nice one...

And welcome to RC!

[145croc]

Hi (again) Cat

Try and get hold of a book called 'The Gothic Line' by Douglas Orgill. I got mine off e-bay.

Once you've got it, turn to page 184. There you will find a refeence to (Luietenant) Eddie Xavier and L/CPL Hull. I'm pretty sure that L/Cpl is  a mis-print and should be L/Cpl Hall (Your uncle).

Eddie Xavier was also killed on 18/9/44.

Mal

[CatOne]

Hi 

Thanks for your posts Mal, very interesting! I'll see if I can find a copy of the book you mention, my dad would be very pleased to see it too, his mum, my grandma, always told stories to him of her brother Reg.

Best Wishes
Cat 

[CatOne]

Book now ordered! 

[Pete Keane]

Catherine

Pm sent.

Pete.

[CatOne]

Thanks Pete, I've done as you advised.

Regards
Cat 

[merlin001]

I am researching the Battle of the Gothic Line and particularly the shared ordeal of the 21st Tank Brigade and the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. I intend to write a substantial article on this eventually. As part of my research I managed to contact a few veterans of the 145th RAC in 2002, and they kindly shared some of their experiences. They also sent me a copy of the C Sqn Battle Diary for the period August-Sept 1944, and a copy of the 21st Tank Brigade's Operations in Italy August 1944 to May 1945. I am looking for the Regimental war diary for Aug-Sept 1944 (a scan or legible photos of the relevant sections would be perfectly fine) for the 145th RAC and would happily trade a scan of  the C Sqn Battle Diary in reply. It is about 12 pages and covers 25th of August to the 23rd of September 1944, so Gothic Line plus San Fortunato. Regards

Merlin Robinson, Canada

[merlin001]

Lance-Corporal Hall and Lt Xavier died on Sept 18 1944 during the attack on San Martino, their Sherman (Xavierwas commanding No 3 Troop) was knocked out supporting pinned down infantry of the Loyal Edmonton Regt who were advancing through a cemetery (map ref 863934), and Lt Xavier advanced about 2-300 yds ahead of the infantry to enable them to advance, but due to the terrain it was impossible to give his tank good supporting fire. His tank was hit by AP shot, which killed Lt Xavier. Lance Corporal Hall, the tank's gunner, dismounted to lead the tank to cover on foot, and was killed by a sniper's bullet. The tank's loader-operator managed to guide the tank back. Their bodies were recovered on Sept 20th 1944 by the Regimental Adjutant. P.12-13  145th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps C Squadron Battle Diary Thursday August 24th 1944-Saturday 23rd of September 1944.
Author unknown (likely compiled by one of the C Sqn officers) but copy supplied to me by Lt Rowan Hamilton, formerly of 145 RAC in 2002.

[145croc]

I can supply the copy of the 145RAC War Diary for Aug-Set 1944 that Merlin001 needs, and would be delighted to receive a coy of the 'C' Sdn Battle Diary in exchange. Can you let me have an e-mail address somehow (? Personal Message).