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- 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers



   2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers served with 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division and saw action in the Battle of France and were evacuated from Dunkirk. After a spell on Home Defence Duty they saw action in North Africa, Italy and Greece.

   location map

5th Oct 1939 On the Move  location map

6th Oct 1939 On the Move  location map

3rd Dec 1939 Orders

4th Dec 1939 Training

5th Dec 1939 Training

6th Dec 1939 Inspection

7th Dec 1939 Advance Party

8th Dec 1939 Orders

9th Dec 1939 Orders Issued

10th Dec 1939 On the Move

11th Dec 1939 On the Move

12th Dec 1939 In Billets

14th Dec 1939 Recce

16th Dec 1939 On the Move

17th Dec 1939 On the Move

18th Dec 1939 Guard of Honour

20th Dec 1939 On the Move

21st Dec 1939 Reliefs

3rd Jan 1940 Wrong Station  location map

18th May 1940 Enemy Penetrate

18th May 1940 Withdrawal  location map

19th May 1940 Air Raids  location map

20th May 1940 Road Blocks

21st May 1940 Digging in

22nd May 1940 Heavy Shelling

23rd May 1940 Holding the Line  location map

23rd May 1940 New Positions

25th May 1940 Flank Exposed

26th May 1940 In Action  location map

27th May 1940 In Action  location map

28th May 1940 In Action  location map

31st May 1940 Heavy Fighting  location map

12th May 1944 Difficult Obstacle

12th May 1944 Move Forward

13th May 1944 River Crossed

14th May 1944 Reorganisation

14th May 1944 In Action


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, Royal Fusiliers

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Beauchamp .
  • Bevan George.
  • Bevan George.
  • Cochran William Cochran. 2Lt.
  • Coyle John James. Pte.
  • Francis Basil Leonaed. Pte.
  • Haynes Ted.
  • Jarman Frederick Thomas. Pte. (d.19th Oct 1945)
  • Price George Edward. L/Sgt. (d.11th July 1944)
  • Songhurst Charles John.
  • Thomas Wilfred Owen. Cpl. (d.11th Nov 1944)

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, Royal Fusiliers from other sources.



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Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers?


There are:1357 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 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.


Pte. John James Coyle 4th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry

My father Jack Coyle volunteered for service on the 25th of June 1943 at Acton Recruitment Centre London age 18 years 1 month. He joined reserves on 5th of August 43 then transferred to 2nd Bat. Royal Fusiliers on the 16th of September 1943 for training as a Bren Gunner, until 10th of July 1944.

He was posted to North West Europe Reinforcement Holding Unit on the 11th of July 1944. RHU was assigned to 4th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry on the 14th of July. He took in all action involving the 4th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry from the 14th of July until he was wounded on the 30th at a village called Bricquessard. He suffered a gunshot wound to the upper arm and while lying wounded under a hedgerow received wounds to the head from shrapnel from a landmine triggered by another soldier. Evacuated to a Field Hospital later on the 30th of July, he was then transferred back to Hospital in England on 2nd of August to recuperate. Wounds were so severe he was invalided out of the Army on 26th of December 1945.

Chris Coyle



Beauchamp 2nd Btn. Royal Fusiliers

My father and uncle served with 2nd Btn Royal Fusiliers during WW2.

Bruce Beauchamp



George Bevan 2nd Btn. Royal Fusiliers

My grandfather, George Bevan, enlisted in the 2nd Btn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Rgt) prior to 1942 and was sent to Newbury and Scotland for training. He then went to North Africa with his friend Eddie Tudor.

Nicky Stepney



George Bevan 2nd Btn. Royal Fusiliers

My grandfather, George Bevan, served with the 2nd Btn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). He fought in North Africa, but I don't know where he went after that. Any information would be welcome.

Nicky Stepney



Cpl. Wilfred Owen Thomas 2nd Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.11th Nov 1944)

I don't know a huge amount about Wilfred Owen Evans, Just that he was my Great Uncle on mum's side. He was serving in Italy in 1944 with the Royal Fusiliers 2nd Battalion and whilst on patrol came under fire. He was apparently the last JNCO killed in the Battalion in Italy. The patrol despatched to look for Wilf's patrol also came under fire. The Lt and Sgt killed in the subsequent action were the last Officer and SNCO killed.

If anyone can expand on this, or if anyone knew Wilf Thomas.I'd love to hear from you

Andrew Pritchard









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