In those early days the boating equipment was primitive, canvas and plywood craft with outboard engines; but on each successive visit to Scotland the equipment became better and the Battalion more efficient in Combined Operations.
By the beginning of 1943, they were considered ready for this type of operation, and after another short period of hardening and Combined Operations training in Scotland, were almost sent to Sicily. At the very last moment, this movement was cancelled and Canadians were substituted. Then, and during the subsequent months, everyone, felt intensely disappointed.
However, information received towards the end of 1943 proved that the Division of which the Battalion was part, had been retained in England for an even greater and more dangerous job of work, the long awaited invasion of Europe.
[Note: 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles were part of 9th British Infantry Brigade which in turn was part the 3rd British Infantry Division - see also https://9th-british-infantry-brigade-in-ww2.blogspot.com Details of their mapped movements through Normandy can also be found at https://map.project44.ca ]
My grandad was 2 RuR Tommy Phillips he survived the war but died of lung cancer in 1975.
ReplyDeleteWe know very little about him in uniform photos are hard to find.
He was at Normandy through to Germany, he came home to Belfast but never spoke of his experience not many did,civilians won't understand.
My grandfather Francis storey from Dublin also 2 rur survived the war, badly wounded in the battle for cambe. Died age 52 at home in Dublin.
ReplyDelete