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- 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment



   1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment served with 8th Brigade, 3rd Division and saw action during the Battle of France in 1940. After a spell on home defence duties they went on to serve across North Western Europe.

 

10th Sep 1939 Equipment

12th Sep 1939 Training

14th Sep 1939 Excerise

15th Sep 1939 Exercise

16th Sep 1939 Reliefs

16th Sep 1939 Orders

19th Sep 1939 Visit

19th Sep 1939 Orders

20th Sep 1939 Orders

21st Sep 1939 Ammunition

21st Sep 1939 Advance Party

22nd Sep 1939 Road Party

22nd Sep 1939 Advance Party

23rd Sep 1939 Recce

23rd Sep 1939 Lack of Transport

24th Sep 1939 On the Move

25th Sep 1939 Billets

26th Sep 1939 Conference

26th Sep 1939 Billets

27th Sep 1939 Billets

28th Sep 1939 Reliefs

28th Sep 1939 Billets

28th Sep 1939 On the Move

29th Sep 1939 Billets

30th Sep 1939 Transport Issues

2nd Oct 1939 Orders

3rd Oct 1939 Advance Party

4th Oct 1939 Advance Parties

5th Oct 1939 Conference

5th Oct 1939 Orders

6th Oct 1939 Preparations

7th Oct 1939 Conference

8th Oct 1939 Rail Parties

9th Oct 1939 Divisional HQ

10th Oct 1939 Arrivals

11th Oct 1939 Espionage

12th Oct 1939 Recconaissance

13th Oct 1939 Reliefs

14th Oct 1939 Front Line

15th Oct 1939 Entrenching

16th Sep 1939 Orders

16th Oct 1939 Digging in

17th Oct 1939 Difficulties

18th Oct 1939 News

19th Oct 1939 Poor Weather

20th Oct 1939 Recconaissance

21st Oct 1939 Recreation

22nd Oct 1939 Recreation

23rd Oct 1939 Front Line

24th Oct 1939 Recconaissance

25th Oct 1939 Visit

26th Oct 1939 Shortages

27th Oct 1939 Conference

28th Oct 1939 Work Required

29th Oct 1939 Exercise

30th Oct 1939 Exercise

31st Oct 1939 Exercise

14th of November 1939 Cutting of Brushwood

14th of November 1939 Preparations

16th of November 1939 Preparations

17th of November 1939 Preparations

18th of November 1939 Memorandum

18th of November 1939 Machinery

20th of November 1939 Defences

21st of November 1939 Preparations

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

11th Dec 1939 Reliefs

13th December 1939 Exercise

14th December 1939 Exercise

15th December 1939 Exercise

16th Dec 1939 Reliefs

29th December 1939 Visits

31st December 1939 Recce

7th January 1940 Move

14th January 1940 Message

16th January 1940 Preparations

18th January 1940 Orders

19th January1940 Orders

19th January1940 Instructions

30th January 1940 Orders

2nd February 1940 Rail Parties

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

16th March 1940 3rd Division H.Q.

19th March 1940 Exercise

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 Visit

1st May 1940 Orders

2nd May 1940 Operational Instructions

6th May 1940 Defences

7th May 1940 Training

8th May 1940 Experiments

9th May 1940 Instructions

10th May 1940 Orders

10th May 1940 Air Raids

10th May 1940 Advance

10th May 1940 3 Div Operation Order 13.

11th May 1940 Move

11th May 1940 Line Established

11th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

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

14th May 1940 Shelling

14th May 1940 Contact

14th May 1940 Shelling

15th May 1940 Civilians

15th May 1940 In Action

15th May 1940 Civilians Evacuated

16th May 1940 Withdrawal

16th May 1940 Fighting Withdrawal

16th May 1940 Withdrawal

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 Divisional HQ Moves

29th May 1940 Vehicles Destroyed

29th May 1940 Withdrawal

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

1st Jun 1944 Preparations

1st Jun 1944 In Camp

1st June 1944 Marshalling Camp

2nd Jun 1944 In Camp

2nd June 1944 Strength

3rd June 1944 Embarkation

3rd Jun 1944 Embarkation

4th Jun 1944 Delays

4th June 1944 Poor Weather

5th June 1944 Orders Received

5th Jun 1944 Signal

6th of June 1944 Landing  location map

6th Jun 1944 In Action  location map

6th June 1944 Assault Made  location map

6th June 1944 Officers

6th Jun 1944 Beach Group

6th Jun 1944 Landings

7th June 1944 In Action

7th June 1944 Reorganisation

8th June 1944 Defences

9th June 1944 Reliefs

9th June 1944 In Action

10th June 1944 Reliefs Complete

11th June 1944 Shelling

12th June 1944 Civilians

13th June 1944 Ammunition

14th June 1944 Minefield

15th June 1944 Patrols

16th June 1944 Air Raid

17th June 1944 Communication

18th June 1944 Quiet

19th June 1944 Report

19th June 1944 Patrols

20th June 1944 Recce Patrol

21st June 1944 Orders Received

22nd June 1944 Attack Made

23rd June 1944 In Action

23rd June 1944 Press Visit

24th Jun 1944 Reliefs

24th June 1944 Le Mesnil

24th June 1944 Cazelle

25th June 1944 Orders

26th Jun 1944 Under Fire

26th June 1944 Preparations

27th June 1940 Shelling

28th June 1944 Attack Made

29th June 1944 Enemy Sighted

30th June 1944 Artillery Active

7th Aug 1944 In Support

8th Aug 1944 In Support

9th Aug 1944 In Support

10th Aug 1944 Orders

11th Aug 1944 In Action

22nd Sep 1944 Advance

23rd Sep 1944 Advance

23rd Sep 1944 Defence

24th Sep 1944 In Action

25th Sep 1944 Artillery Support

27th Sep 1944 Targets Engaged

27th Sep 1944 On the Move

29th Sep 1944 Moves

1st Oct 1944 In Action

3rd Oct 1944 Reliefs

3rd Oct 1944 Attacks Made

8th Oct 1944 Targets Engaged

12th Oct 1944 Attack Made

12th Oct 1944 In Action

13th Oct 1944 Attack Made

14th Oct 1944 Advance Continues

15th Oct 1944 Flank Secured

17th Oct 1944 Gains

17th Oct 1944 In Action

18th Oct 1944 Defences

19th Oct 1944 Holding the Line

25th Oct 1944 Preparations

25th Nov 1944 Attack Made

29th Nov 1944 Enemy Withdraws

19th of December 1944 Preparations for move

19th of December 1944 Orders  location map

20th of December 1944 Relief

20th of December 1944 Move Order No 17  location map

5th of January 1945 Op Instruction No. 17  location map

5th of April 1945 Attack plan  location map

13th of April 1945 Patrols gathering information  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

1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Hayes Victor John. L/Cpl.
  • Hughes Charles Frederick. L/Cpl. (d.3rd Jan 1945)
  • Waters Robert Henry. 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 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment from other sources.



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Want to know more about 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment?


There are:1599 items tagged 1st Battalion, Suffolk 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.


L/Cpl. Victor John Hayes 1st Btn. Suffolk Regiment

Victor Hayes signed up with the Army Reserve in November 1938 at age 19 having done an apprenticeship in his local garage as a mechanic. On 2nd of October 1939, his unit (1st Suffolks), which was part of the 2nd Brigade, 55th Division, disembarked in France and entered the war. He participated in the Battle of Dunkirk. On 11th January 1940, he was posted to the 136th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. He then served with the 1st Suffolks (now part of the 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division) Army Field Workshop and went on to become a motor vehicle technician with the Royal Artillery Ordnance Corps at Arborfield. On 1st October 1942, he transferred from the R.A.O.C to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, became a Craftsman, and was promoted to Lance Corporal. In June 1944, he took part in the Normandy landing at Sword Beach. On 17th February 1946, he entered the reserves of the occupying British Army of the Rhine. He was then released from service on 20th February 1946. He never wanted to speak about his service, except to say that he was good at dodging bullets, and that the R.E.M.E. were the last to leave the invasion beaches as they had to disable all the abandoned equipment.

Janice Darton



L/Cpl. Charles Frederick Hughes 1st Btn. Suffolk Regiment (d.3rd Jan 1945)

I did not know my Uncle Charles Hughes who was born in 1922. His older brother Edward was killed at Dunkirk in 1940 and my dad was the only brother who survived the war, he was a Royal Marine.

Lin Corker



Pte. Robert Henry Waters 1st Btn., B Coy. Suffolk Regiment

Bob Waters was my father. He was conscripted in 1939 and trained as a gunner in the RA. He was transferred as an infantryman with 1st Suffolk Regiment and landed in Northern France with the regiment on 6th June 1944.

He was hit by a mortar bomb on the approach to Chateau la Ronde on 26th June 1944 and was invalided after the loss of the foot on one leg and the calf of the other and internal injuries. He survived until the age of 71 yrs.

All he recalls is losing all his close mates and the utter confusion when landing on the beaches. They lost a lot of men when a DUCK hit the sand banks and the men were told to jump into the sea. Lots drowned as they were carrying large packs.

Stuart Waters









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