{"id":13678,"date":"2025-09-03T17:31:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T17:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/?page_id=13678"},"modified":"2025-09-04T18:08:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T18:08:29","slug":"war-diaries-2-lir-july-1944","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/second-world-war\/war-diaries\/war-diaries-2-lir-july-1944\/","title":{"rendered":"War Diaries, 2 LIR \u2013 July 1944"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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1 July \u2013 IN THE FIELD (ITALY).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1200<\/strong> Bttn warned for move back to Tivoli area on 2\/7\/44. Advance party to leave at 1400 hrs 1\/7\/44,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1500<\/strong> TCVs from 4 Indian Division arrive in bttn area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2 July \u2013 IN THE FIELD (ITALY).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0400<\/strong> Bttn cooks\u2019 trucks leave for intermediate area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0530<\/strong> Bttn ready to move. Order of march \u2013 Bttn HQ,  HQ, E, F, G, H and S Coy, Be Echelon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0600<\/strong> Bttn pass Brigade SP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1400<\/strong> One hour\u2019s halt for hot meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1600<\/strong> Bttn HQ arrive in area Stazione Lunshezza 899699. All coys and B Echelon in same area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3 July \u2013 TIVOLI.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Bttn cadres recommenced. Parties proceed to Rome on day leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4 July \u2013 TIVOLI.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0800<\/strong> All transport (except necessary vehicles to B Echelon in preparation for handover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Parties proceed to Rome on day leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Bttn Sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1945<\/strong> Bttn Sports postponed halfway through owing to arrival of Divisional Concert Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5 July \u2013 TIVOLI.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Parties leave for day in Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> All G 1098 stores to be handed in to QM stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Second half of Bttn Sports held. Prizes presented to sections and platoons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2030<\/strong> ENSA film show in bttn area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6 July \u2013 TIVOLI.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Usual leave parties to Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advance parties from 2\/7 Queens, 56 Division arrive in bttn area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7 July \u2013 TIVOLI.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0800<\/strong> Usual leave parties to Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Transport, except for essential vehicles but including AFVs and A\/Tk guns handed over to 2\/7 Queens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Lt Col J McCann, Welfare Officer. Rome area and former Second in Command of bttn visited Bttn HQ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8 July \u2013 TIVOLI.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0815<\/strong> Bttn parade of all RCs to practice drill for forthcoming visit to Vatican City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> Bttn bathing at MBU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Intercoy football matches \u2013 HQ v G, E v H.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9 July \u2013 TIVOLI.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0715<\/strong> Bttn Parade of all RCs and a number of CEs for visit to the Pope and the Vatican City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1730<\/strong> Bttn warned for move on following day. All remaining stores packed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1900<\/strong> CO addresses bttn and announce his transfer as CO of 1 RIrF. Lt-Col HEN Bredin, MC, assumes command of the bttn. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10 July \u2013 TIVOLI.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Bttn leaves in TCVs for Prenestina Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1030<\/strong> Bttn arrives at station and boards train,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1200<\/strong> Train journey begins. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Train halts in siding, south of Frosinone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1200<\/strong> Train journey continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

12 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0700<\/strong> Train halted for one hour at Benevento \u2013 hot meal of tea and stew served.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1430<\/strong> Train halt for one hour at Barletta for hot meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0600<\/strong> Train arrived at first destination \u2013 at Narsisi Station (Taranto area).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0700<\/strong> Breakfast at station. Bttn then march 1 mile to Transit Camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1200<\/strong> 50% of bttn on leave in Taranto. Also swimming and bath parades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> RC church parade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0930<\/strong> CO addresses bttn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> Day leaves to Taranto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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15 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Day of recreation. Leave parties to Taranto. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

16 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0600<\/strong> All heavy baggage transport to docks for loading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> RC and CE church parades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0930<\/strong> Bttn FFI inspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

17 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1500<\/strong> Bttn move by march route to docks at Taranto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1700<\/strong> Bttn embarked on troopship Banfora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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18 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1300<\/strong> Convoy sailed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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19 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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20 July.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1100<\/strong> CO\u2019s lecture to all officers and NCOs on probable future moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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21 July \u2013 IN THE FIELD (ITALY).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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22 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Convoy arrives at Alexandria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bttn disembarks and moves by transport to 58th <\/sup>Transit Camp (Amaryia District), 15 miles from Alexandria. Bttn spends night in this camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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23 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0500<\/strong> Bttn em-bused for move to Qassassin Camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0630<\/strong> Bttn moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1100<\/strong> Halt for tea meal at Khatatea Refugee Camp area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Bttn arrive in Qassassin Camp<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

24 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> Brigadier visits Bttn HQ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrangements being made for leave parties to Cairo, Alexandria and Ishmalia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transport drawn from BOD \u2013 13 x 3 tonners, 28 x 15 cwts, 9 Jeeps and 3 Portees. Also five 6 pounder A\/Tk guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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25 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1230<\/strong> Balance of G 1098 stores drawn from ADOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2300<\/strong> Baggage party and baggage arrive from Alexandria. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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26 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0515<\/strong> Five day leave parties proceed to Cairo, Alexandria and Ishmalia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Parties proceed to Cairo and Ishmalia on day leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1100<\/strong> Brigade visits Bttn HQ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Brigade HQ Guard of 2 NCOs and 18 men supplied by bttn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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27 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Day leave parties to Cairo and Ishmalia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Warning Order for Advance party to be ready for move to new area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

28 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Day leave parties for Cairo and Ishmalia <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

29 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Day leave parties for Cairo and Ishmalia <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

30 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0700<\/strong> Five day leave party to Alexandria and 1 day leave to Cairo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> CE and RC church services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

31 July \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Day leave parties proceed for Cairo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 July \u2013 IN THE FIELD (ITALY). 1200 Bttn warned for move back to Tivoli area on 2\/7\/44. Advance party to leave at 1400 hrs 1\/7\/44, 1500 TCVs from 4 Indian Division arrive in bttn area. 2 July \u2013 IN THE FIELD (ITALY). 0400 Bttn cooks\u2019 trucks leave for intermediate area. 0530 Bttn ready to move. Order of march […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":13610,"menu_order":19,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13678","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13678"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13679,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13678\/revisions\/13679"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}