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- 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment



   At the outbreak of the Second World War, 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment were in England. They saw action during the Battle of France in 1940 and across North Western Europe from mid 1944 onwards.

   location map

2nd Oct 1939 Orders

14th of November 1939 Preparations

16th of November 1939 Preparations

17th of November 1939 Preparations

18th of November 1939 Memorandum

20th of November 1939 Defences

22nd of November 1939 Air raid

23rd of November 1939 Conference

24th of November 1939 Recce

26th of November 1939 Church parades

27th of November 1939 Conference

30th of November 1939 Bad weather

3rd December 1939 Air Raid Warning

13th December 1939 Exercise

14th December 1939 Exercise

15th December 1939 Exercise

19th December 1939 Exercise

20th December 1939 Exercise

21st December 1939 Exercise

22nd December 1939 Cleaning up

27th December 1939 Conference

29th December 1939 Visits

31st December 1939 Recce

6th January 1940 Conference

14th January 1940 Message

16th January 1940 Preparations

18th January 1940 Orders

19th January1940 Orders

19th January1940 Instructions

28th January 1940 Snow  location map

30th January 1940 Orders

10th February 1940 Engineering

11th February 1940 Position

17th February 1940 Conference

19th February 1940 Conference

21st February 1940 Arrangements Complete

22nd February 1940 Exercise

23rd February 1940 Exercise

1st March 1940 Moves

1st March 1940 Instructions

1st March 1940 Orders

1st March 1940 Orders

2nd March 1940 Orders

2nd March 1940 Operational Order

5th March 1940 Conference

6th March 1940 Exercise

7th March 1940 Exercise

7th March 1940 Exercise

7th March 1940 Orders

8th March 1940 Move

10th March 1940 Training

11th March 1940 Conference

20th March 1940 Conference

20th March 1940 Precautions

22nd March 1940 3rd Division H.Q.

25th March 1940 Orders Amended

25th March 1940 3rd Division H.Q. Operation Instruction No 0754

25th March 1940 3rd Division H.Q. Operation Instruction No 0754

25th March 1940 Orders

25th March 1940 Orders

26th March 1940 Operational Order

28th March 1940 Conference

29th March 1940 HQ Moves

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Exercise

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Route

30th March 1940 Instructions

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Exercise

30th March 1940 Orders

30th March 1940 Orders

31st March 1940 On the Move

1st April 1940 Orders

1st May 1940 Orders

2nd May 1940 Operational Instructions

5th May 1940 Football Matches  location map

6th May 1940 Defences

7th May 1940 Training

8th May 1940 Experiments

9th May 1940 Instructions

10th May 1940 On the Move

10th May 1940 Orders

10th May 1940 Air Raids

10th May 1940 Advance

10th May 1940 3 Div Operation Order 13.

11th May 1940 In Defence

11th May 1940 Move

11th May 1940 Line Established

11th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

12th May 1940 In Defence

12th May 1940 Petrol

12th May 1940 In Position

12th May 1940 On the Move

13th May 1940 Movement

13th May 1940 Rumours

13th May 1940 Refugees

13th May 1940 Into Position

14th May 1940 

14th May 1940 Shelling

14th May 1940 Contact

14th May 1940 Shelling

14th May 1940 In Action

15th May 1940 In action

15th May 1940 Civilians

15th May 1940 In Action

15th May 1940 Civilians Evacuated

16th May 1940 Fighting Wthdrawal

16th May 1940 Withdrawal

16th May 1940 Fighting Withdrawal

16th May 1940 Withdrawal

16th May 1940 Withdrawal

17th May 1940 Conference

17th May 1940 Withdrawal

17th May 1940 Congested Roads

17th May 1940 Withdrawal

17th May 1940 Orderrs

18th May 1940 Fighting Withdrawal

18th May 1940 Enemy Penetrate

18th May 1940 Heavy Fighting

19th May 1940 Fighting Withdrawal

19th May 1940 Withdrawal

19th May 1940 Withdrawal

20th May 1940 Fighting Withdrawal

20th May 1940 Enemy Attacks

20th May 1940 Supplies

21st May 1940 Supplies

21st May 1940 Shelling

22nd May 1940 Ammunition in Short Supply

22nd May 1940 Orders

22nd May 1940 Withdrawal

23rd May 1940 New Positions

24th May 1940 Short Rations

24th May 1940 Attack Made

25th May 1940 Cellars

26th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

26th May 1940 Field Ambulances Move

26th May 1940 Enemy Aircraft

25th May 1940 Rations

26th May 1940 On the Move

27th May 1940 Defensive Positions

27th May 1940 New Line Occupied

28th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

28th May 1940 Withdrawal

28th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

28th May 1940 Orders

29th May 1940 Vehicles Destroyed

29th May 1940 Withdrawal

29th May 1940 In Action

30th May 1940 Bombardment

30th May 1940 Delays

30th May 1940 La Panne

30th May 1940 Policy

31st May 1940 Embarkation  location map

31st May 1940 Air Attacks  location map

14th June 1940 Inspection

28th Apr 1942 Exercise

29th Apr 1942 Exercise

6th Jun 1944 Beach Group

6th Jun 1944 Landings

22nd of November 1944 Orders  location map


If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.



Those known to have served with

2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Clarkson Leslie. Pte. (d.10th May 1940)
  • Day John Francis. Pte. (d.16th May 1940)
  • Durkin Charles James Louis. L/Sgt.
  • Eagle Leonard Arthur. Cpl.
  • Gage MID. Sydney John. Sgt.
  • Harrison Cyril Herbert. Pte. (d.1st June-30th August 1940)
  • McNeill Alan. Cpl.
  • Moore John Leslie. Pte. (d.12 Jul 1945)
  • Nelson Christopher. Pte (d.6th June 1944)
  • O'Brien Robert. Sgt.
  • Reeves Peter John. Pte.
  • Richards Albert Edward. Pte.
  • Sale Stanley George. Pte.
  • Salmon Philip Sidney. Drmr. (d.31st May 1940)
  • Samuels Leslie Samuel. Pte.
  • Walshaw William Henry. Pte.
  • Wood James William. L/Cpl.
  • Young Arthur Leonard. Pte.

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, Middlesex Regiment from other sources.



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Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment?


There are:1481 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 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.


Sgt. Sydney John Gage MID. 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment

Sydney Gage joined up in 1932, he was unemployed at the time. In the army he learnt trades and excelled in sports, particularly boxing. He became a Reservist in early 1939, was recalled at the outbreak of war and went to France with the BEF. He recalled that he Owed his life at Dunkirk to Major Bazalgette during evacuation from beaches. He landed in France again on DDay. He had a lifetime friendship with boxing mate Sidney Smith. He served with his brother in law Charles Potter, who Dad carried to safety of a first aid unit when he was wounded. Dad was Mentioned in Despatches. He had fond memories as batman to Major Bazalgette who was later cashiered for debts! He died aged 101yrs in 2014 in Poole, Dorset.

Graham Gage



Pte. Cyril Herbert Harrison 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment (d.1st June-30th August 1940)

Cyril Harrison was killed at Dunkirk between 1st of June and 30th of August 1940. He was my 2nd cousin once removed, the grandson of my paternal great aunt.

Barbara Sheridan



Pte. Albert Edward "Tich" Richards 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment

There isn't much to tell as my father, AlbertRichards, never hardly spoke of the war. All I know is that he was at Dunkirk in 1940 as part of the after guard and spent the war in Prisoner of War camps in Poland. I wish I knew more about his experience so I could understand the man he was better.

Keith Richards



Sgt. Robert "Baby Face" O'Brien 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment

Bob O'Brien was the Regimental Middleweight Boxing Champion of the 2nd Middlesex Regiment, he worked his way up the ranks and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1945. He enlisted at Mill Hill in November 1937. He was in France with the BEF from September 1939 to June 1940, evacuated from Dunkirk and later went to West Africa, India and Burma. After the war he was with the 3rd Battalion, Gold Coast Regiment.

Michele O'Brien



L/Sgt. Charles James Louis Durkin 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment

My father Charles Durkin served with the Middlesex Regiment between 1939 and 1945. He was a reservist and was called up on the outbreak of the war and reported to his regiment's depot at Mill Hill. He had served with the regiment before the war in India and, I believe, in the Sudan.

He went to France with the BEF and returned to England via Dunkirk on a destroyer HMS Malcolm. He returned to France on D Day, I believe plus 4. He had shrapnel wounds but served with his unit until the end of the war.

Jim Durkin



Drmr. Philip Sidney Salmon 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.31st May 1940)

Philip Salmon was my uncle. All I know is that he was in the Middlesex Regiment and was recorded as missing, presumed dead at Dunkirk. I believe he was about 21 at that time and was a PE instructor and a pole vaulter. If anyone has any information I would love to hear it.

Evelyn Critoph



L/Cpl. James William Wood 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment

Whilst we knew James William Wood (Grandad Jim) was evacuated from Dunkirk, we failed to realise that he also took part in the D Day Landings almost exactly 4 years later. We have only just obtained his records and these show that that he was wounded in August 1944 and returned to the UK spending 4 months in hospital and 2 months compassionate leave before returning to duty.

Mandy



Pte Christopher "Jim" Nelson 2nd Btn Middlesex Regiment (d.6th June 1944)

Christopher Nelson was my Mums first husband who seems to be known as Jim. I would like to know more about him.

Carol



Cpl. Alan McNeill 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment

My Father was Cpl. Alan McNeill who served with the 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment from D-Day to Bremen in No 1 Platoon A company.

The names of the members of the platoon are as follows: Lt Fendick, Platoon Sgt Charlie Freshwater, Sgt Faircloth (KIA), L/Sgt Eric Wilson(KIA), Sgt Bob Boyle, Sgt "Nish" Garnish, Sgt Chester, Cpl Trotman, Cpl McNeill, Cpl Obee, LCpl Byron O'Down, LCpl George Hickling, LCpl "Bud" Flannigan, Jimmy Little, Pte Kenneth Seaman (KIA), Pte William Hatherley (KIA), Pte Edward Holmes (KIA), Pte Rooney, Pte Gibbard, Jimmy Denholm, Jimmy Mason, Pugsley (medic), "Bogey" West, Hewson, Hully, Mason, Quarmby, Cleary, Bramston, Cook, Akam, Bennet (cook), Wright.

Keith McNeill



Pte. Arthur Leonard Young 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment

My Father, Arthur Young, was a machine-gunner and range-taker with the Middlesex Regiment from 1942 - 1946. Before that, he served from 1940 - 1942 with the Royal Artillery. He was involved with the D-Day invasion, supporting the invasion of Sword Beach on 6th June 1944. He was injured in August 1944, and repatriated to England for treatment. He then saw service in Germany, where he was again injured and was again repatriated for treatment.

Martyn Young









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