Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)

[L23]

Can anyone tell me more about the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) , especially where they were and events around 18 January 1945.

Appreciate any info on Regiment, WW2 around this date
Thank you very much.   

[old rowley]

if you go to www.regiments.org and put HLI into the search bar on this it will open on a page about this regiment. The details given on the CWGC site gives a small bit of information with regards to those buried at Sittard War Cemetery (where Hugh Taylor is buried) in Holland and says that the 52nd Lowland Division, which the 5th Btn City of Glasgow HLI was but a part of played a part in trying to drive the Germans from an area on the River Roer which (according to the cwgc site) is in the area of the cemetery.

old rowley

[L23]

Thanks for that link. 

[johngarstang]

I think the they were part of the 15th Scottish Division from 1942.  My father was with the 10th Battalion HLI and was part of the Europe campaign through France, Belgium and into Holland.
Around 25th Jan 1945, I think the Battalion was near Merxplas near Belgium, preparing to open up the roads to the Rhine Bridges. From there, the route was through Nijmegen, Kleve, Osnabruck, Celle, Uelzen. The Elbe was reached on 29 April 1945 leading to surrender of Hamburg on 1st May and the final surrender of all German forces on 5 May. I know the 10th Battalion HLI occupied Lubeck and set up HQ there on 19 May. 

[boston14]

Trying to find where the 10th Battalion were based in 1942/43/44. Believe they were based in Dunbar ,East Lothian,Scotland .Any info. would be appreciated .
EP

[johngarstang]

Trying to find where the 10th Battalion were based in 1942/43/44. Believe they were based in Dunbar ,East Lothian,Scotland .Any info. would be appreciated .
EP
THe 10th Battalion was formed at Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow, 1939. Part of the 46th Infantry Brigade and from 3 December 1942, the 227th Infantry Brigade.  Both were part of the 15th Scottish Division.
My research follows my father, who was in the Pioneer Corps of the 10th Batt.

Feb-May  1941, Danbury and Ipswich
Jan 1942, Shetlands
1943, Loch Watten (Caithness), Northumberland and Sledmere
1944, Battalion formed up in preparation for D Day
April 1944, Steyning, ready for embarkation.
17 June 1944. Sailed for France. Part sailed from Newhaven, and I think part from Southend.
I have chronicled the rest of the war through Europe to Lubeck, which the 10th Battalion occupied.

[boston14]

Many thanks Johngarstang,for the information you listed . My father was killed at Caen,France . Does that tie up with the placement of the regiment ?
Regards
EP

[johngarstang]

Hello EP. The 10th Batt. landed at Courseulles around 18th June 1944 and moved south, crossing the Odon just to the west of  Caen. After that, they were involved in taking the Falaise gap and up past Rouen and into Belgium etc. So, this would fit in with your father's movements.  My own father continued through Belgium and into Holland. He was twice wounded, but fortunately survived and got back to the UK to continue as an instructor until his demob.
We have visited the Royal Highland Fusiliers  Museum in Sauchiehall St, Glasgow where there are extensive records and displays.  As you may know, the HLI was merged with the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1959 to become the RHF.  In particular, there are two publications which I was able to get copied onto CD.
1) Campaign In Europe, The Story of the 10th Batt HLI 1944-45.  This gives detail of all the military movements.
2) Proud Heritage - Story of the HLI. Vol 4.  Page 291 onwards give some detail of interest.

Back in 2011, when I did my research, the RHF curator was Sandy Leishman and he was very helpful.

I hope this is helpful to you.  JS

[boston14]

JS,
       Thanks for your advice , I have contacted the Museum in Glasgow . Hopefully they will have something for me .
Much appreciated
EP