7th Batt Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry - WW2

[shaunhullis]

Bill- Sorry, yes - I've been away & am only this evening ploughing through the e-mails! Great story you sent; exactly what I have been hoping for! I hope that we can eventually tie it to a particular action or date. It's disappointing that there only seems to be one published memoir by a member of the Battalion, so anecdotes like yours are gold dust. Shaun

[mtrplt]

Hello Shaun, thanks for the reply, I do have a couple more but that was probably the most interesting. My big regret is not sitting down with him and asking loads of questions but I was afraid of bringing back bad memories for him. After he passed I picked up a copy of the OBLI Chronicles, he would have liked reading that.
They were in a parade in Cairo I think and I found some footage on YouTube which may show them, certainly the last group were light infantry, carrying their rifles at the trail, haven’t been able to find it again since.
Something I haven’t been able to find out is when the 7th were in action against the Italians, I understand now they capitulated just prior to Salerno so I can’t understand it, my Dad spoke about fighting them.
Anyway if you would like the other anecdotes just let me know.
Regards,
Bill.

[shaunhullis]

Bill-
That parade in Cairo was in the summer of 1944 when they were rebuilding after Anzio; the Battalion's chronicles state:
"On 8th June the Battalion took part in the King’s Birthday parade, when the Division marched through the streets of Cairo. Old members of the Battalion insisted hotly that the light infantry pace should be maintained throughout the march. As this meant that the Battalion would pass all others before reaching the saluting base, and reach home before the others had completed the march, a compromise was reached. However, the old members did not approve. On the day, the Battalion broke into the light infantry pace just before the saluting base, and created thereby quite a sensation. The Battalion was congratulated on its bearing and smartness."

As for fighting the Italians, that was most probably in Tunisia at Enfidaville (May 1943) - there were certainly Italian units in the front line there opposite your Dad's battalion.

I'm beginning to get my teeth into this project now & while it may take me a few years in between my day jobs there's an amazing story to tell of this unit.