Comments on: War Diary, 1944

By: Paul Cheall

Paul Cheall — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:09:20 +0000

My father was also in 50th division, 6th Battalion Green Howards, 69 Brigade, B Company. It was heartwarming and fascinating to read of the parallel experience of someone else fighting in the same Battalion. I have recently completed editing my own father's memoirs and they are partly online at http://www.grimdetermination.co.uk, where you can read the chapter on Dunkirk.

I have to admit I had to restrain myself from letting out a triumphant yelp when I read of the pasting taken by the German tanks near Villers Bocage on 1 July – because that is where my Dad was wounded the very day before – no doubt by a shell from the same tanks! Dad's War Diary is going to be published next year as an autobiography, which will cover his entire war from the territorials at Dunkirk, North Africa, Sicily, D-Day and finally Germany, where his war ended. I've been comparing notes with the soldiers mentioned by your father and my own. There is just L C Hastings and Priv Gibson who are mentioned in dad's own list. I have squeezed out every possible name from every piece of paper that dad wrote on and they are listed at http://www.grimdetermination.co.uk/#/indices-names-ww2-a-f/4541929777.
Thanks for taking the effort to post your Dad's diary.
Regards, Paul

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 06:50:37 +0000

Thanks Eric. If the film is ever made available for public viewing I'd be interested to see it.

By: Eric Aerts

Eric Aerts — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:55:35 +0000

Hi Patrick,

I have been reading your fathers diary and the chapter about bridgehead Geel is very interesting. The history association of Laakdal discovered an 8mm film about the liberation of Eindhout, a small village near the Albert Canal, by the 6th bat. Green Howards. I don't know anything about the task of a signal officer, but it's possible your father might be on the film.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:25:53 +0000

Hi Patrick
I have been reading through my fathers diary as I will be in Nijmegen in a few weeks. He was in the Canadian Film Corps. and was in Nijmegen at the same time as your Father. They may have not crossed paths but I have always found it interesting how we can pass a person on the street and have a connection that we never knew about. In my fathers diary for Tuesday November 21 1944 he wrote, "Moved to Bruuman home in Nijmegen, mother, Father,Rosemarie & Miarianna and son John. Shot 100' on draw for leave to Canada at 2 corps- interiors". thanks for posting your fathers diary
Cheers
Bruce

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:32:54 +0000

Hi Karina.

My father doesn't remember many names any more but he will try to look at the Battalion photo and the officer you believe might be John Eli Shepherd to see if it jogs his memory. If it does, I will post back here.

Thank you for your comments.

By: Karina

Karina — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:46:26 +0000

Hi Patrick,
Just looking at the photo of the 6th Battalion Green Howards 1944 & I think I recognise my Uncle John Eli Shepherd ,top row ,3rd from the left. He served with the Green Howards & was from Middlesbrough. Sadly he was killed in Gheel on Sept 10th 1944, he was just a boy at 18 years old .
Wonder if your dad remembers him?
Thanks & praise to your father ,who was astute & caring enough to keep the diary & kind enough to share it with us. It paints a picture of what happened & answers some previously unanswered questions.
Many thanks to your father ,we are eternally proud & grateful for the battles fought for our freedom.
Always in rememberance to the fallen, may they rest in peace .

By: BoBo

BoBo — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:34:20 +0000

Hi Patrick,
just to let you know (if not said already) the wording on the notebooks cover "O.v.D.- Buch" tells that it was the official log (Logbuch) of a German military unit.
O.v.D. = Offizier vom Dienst > officer on duty
Buch = book

Greetings from Germany.

By: sven

sven — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:22:00 +0000

Your wonderful diary has been listed in the war diary archive war-diary.com.

By: janet prescott

janet prescott — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:28:06 +0000

I am writing a book about Joey (ginger) Hollingsworth. he was part of the kings royal rifles. he landed in normandy (gold beach) a few days after d-day. i am trying to find out exactly when. Any help would be appreciated.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:02:03 +0000

Jim, many thanks. I will pass this on to my father. I always find the parade at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday very moving to watch, even on TV. Patrick