what was my great uncle doing in north africa

[zander]

hi everyone,
looking at my great uncles army records i am a bit confused,
he was transferred to the north staffs r 2nd bn in april 1943 in north africa then his records say he went missing in italy only to end up as a POW in germany,
a little confused to how he started in north africa but inside a year feb1944 was in italy and captuured.
can anyone help by telling me what they were doing at this time.
he got the africa star with 1st army clasp if this helps.
many thanks zander

[mmm45]

2nd Batt North Staffs were involved in the Anzio landings(Italy) in 1943 he may have been captured there?
This was the next step into Europe from the North African campaign.

Wouldve thought he qualified for the Italian Star too.

Ady

[sheldonesque]

The 2 North Staffs had a hard time of it on the night of the 7th-8th February, when their position on Buonriposo Ridge was overrun by a German counter attack. They had to withdraw after heavy casualties. He may have been captured then.

A good description of that particular engagement can be found here (about half way down):

http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/anziobeach/anzio-enemy.htm

It would be worth contacting this site as they may have the war diaries:

http://www.northstaffordshirelha.org/who_we_are/unit_history

P.S. Must be a typo Ady...the Anzio landings were in January 1944, not '43

[zander]

hi again,
thanks for the reply's.
he did get the italy star as well.
reading bits on his records reported missing italy 8/feb/1944
thanks zander

[mmm45]

Yep my mistake....getting Invasion of Sicily (July 43) and Anzio mixed up!!

Looks like he was captured at the incident described by Sheldonesque

Ady