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2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry was in Palestine in 1939 and was moved to Egypt following the outbreak of war. It played a leading part in the battle of Keren. After a period in Egypt, Syria and Cyprus, 2 HLI went to the Western Desert, fighting at Fuka, Knightsbridge and the Cauldron. Returning to Britain in the latter part of 1942, the Battalion took part in the landings at Sicily, 1943. Later retaining as a mountain battalion, fought in Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. Early in 1945 it was sent to Italy for the final advance in the North, where it remained until the end of the War.
24th March 1945 In Action
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Aspell Robert Osborne. L/Cpl. (d.1st Aug 1944)
- Aveyard Herbert. L/Sgt. (d.29th July 1944)
- Barr Alexander. Pte. (d.29th July 1944)
- Bennett Harry. Pte.
- Bottomley Ernest. Pte
- Casey John. Pte. (d.29th Jul 1944)
- Cooper George. L/Cpl. (d.25th Mar 1945)
- Gillan Joseph. Pte
- Green Thomas. Pte.
- McBratney William. Sgt.
- McGill James. Pte. (d.2nd February 1945)
- Mcintyre James Townsend. Pte.
- McShane John. Pte.
- Melvin Martin. Pte. (d.7th Apr 1943)
- Nelson John Murdoch McGilvray. Pte.
- Ricketts Bernard Francis. Private
- Sennett Alan MacDonald. Lt. (d.29th July 1944)
- Smith Norman John. Pte.
- Smith Robert Pyburn. Pte. (d.30th Jul 1944)
- Swanney Norman. Pte. (d.29th Jul 1944)
- Tobin William. Pte. (d.26th March 1945)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry from other sources.
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Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry? There are:1320 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Private Bernard Francis Ricketts 2nd Battalion, 16th Platoon, D Company Highland Light Infantry Does anyone remember Bernard Francis Ricketts, my dad, who was a prisoner at Stalag 11b, liberated 16th April 1945 with the appearance of tanks of the 8th Hussars? Or do you know anyone who was in his regiment: 2nd Battalion Glasgow Highlanders, the Highland Light Infantry, 16th platoon, D.Coy? Forward platoons of D Company were taken prisoner and sent to Stalag 11B, Fallingbostal. His best friend's name was Cassidy, also held at Stalag 11b, and also served in the same regiment. Please, if anyone knows any info on my dad, his regiment, or Stalag 11B I would be truly grateful.
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Pte. Harry Bennett 10th Btn. Highland Light Infantry My grandfather, Harry Bennett served in India and Palestine prior to the outbreak of WW2. His service record then states he served in Egypt and Sudan up to January 1944. He was then returned to the UK for 6 months before landing in Normandy on 18th of June 1944. Research shows that it was 2nd Battalion HLI that served in India, Palestine, Egypt, Sudan and Italy at the times shown on his record. He has an Italy Star, so it is safe to assume he moved from Africa to Italy with 2nd Battalion HLI, as their records state. We get a little lost here though. Records say that 2nd Battalion HLI went right up through Italy, Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece, taking part in the final advance into Northern Italy. However, at some point in January 1944 he returned to the UK, and then landed in Normandy on 18th of June 1944. On 8th of August 1944 he was injured and listed as missing. On August 24, he surfaced in a hospital. He recovered and re-joined 10th Battalion as they moved across Europe and into Germany.
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Pte. John Murdoch McGilvray Nelson 2nd Btn. Highland Light Infantry John Nelson served in the East African Expeditionary Force, was taken a prisoner of war at the Battle of Keren. He died in Glasgow in 1949 aged 36.
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Pte. James Townsend Mcintyre Durham Light Infantry James was at Maryhill Barracks with the 2nd Highland Light Infantry,
he was only a boy soldier and was way too young to depart with the Regiment at the outbreak of the 2nd World War.
He was transferred to the Durham light Infantry, and later he volunteered for the Parachute Regiment.
James served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and the South of France.
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L/Cpl. George Cooper 2nd Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.25th Mar 1945) I have recently discovered that George Cooper was my great grandfather.
His son, my grandad, was born in April 1945. It was only 11 months later that George Cooper was killed in action, aged 37 years old.
His parents were Thomas and Margaret Cooper, of Edinburgh.
I would love to find out any more information and will continue to try and research about my great grandfather.
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Pte. Norman John Smith 2nd Btn Highland Light Infantry My father, Norman Smith, volunteered and joined the 2nd HLI after having been in hospital in Barri, Italy in 1944. He transferred from the Northamptonshire Regiment having come with them through North Africa, Sicily and Italy at Monte Casino and Anzio.
He was trained as a mountaineer in Italy but they were never used in this capacity. They were also trained in skiing and parachuting. They were sent to the Island of Vis in the Adriatic off the coast of Yugosalvia.
The 2nd HLI was in a special service brigade and whilst there he took part in raids along the coast supporting commandos and SAS. Later they were sent to Greece and back to Italy. At wars' end he was in Austria based in Klagenfurt where he said they were used to track down Nazis who were in hiding.
They were later sent back to Greece in 1945 where they fought against the communist forces there.
After a stint in the regimental police, he was eventually demobbed in 1946 and thereafter served in the TA.
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Pte. William Tobin 2nd (Glasgow Highlanders) Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.26th March 1945) William Tobin was my mother's first cousin. My mother was almost four years old when he died. He was 18 when killed. I don't know much about my relative and would love to know which battle he was killed in and any other information anyone may have.
Such a dreadful young age for a lad to have his life taken from him. God rest all their souls! May they rest in peace.
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Pte. Norman Swanney 2nd Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.29th Jul 1944) Norman Swanney was 24 when he died and is buried in the Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery,Albania. He is remembered on Special Memorial "E" his grave having since been lost.
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Lt. Alan MacDonald Sennett 2nd Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.29th July 1944) Alan Sennett was the son of Noel Stanton Sennett, and of Nan Sennett (nee Macdonald), of Chelsea, London. He was 23 when he died and is buried in the Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery , Albania. He is remembered on the Special Memorial E his grave having been lost.
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Pte. John Casey 2nd Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.29th Jul 1944) John Casey was 22 when he died. He is buried in the Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery in Albania.
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