Fus. Leslie Victor Hortin
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Fusiliers
from:103 Hydethorpe Road, Balham, London
My granddad Leslie Victor Hortin was held at Lamsdorf between 1943 and 1945. As he died five years before I was born, and there are few living relatives left who knew much of his time at war, what I know is largely based on official records. After serving in Iraq his regiment traveled across the Middle East through what is now Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. They then transfered to fight in Italy and became a POW during fighting at Battipaglia, From there he was transferred to Lamsdorf. In early 1945 he appears to have been involved in "The March" as he was eventually repatriated at Moosberg. If anyone can help fill in some of these gaps or indeed if they knew of him, it would be great to hear from you.
Editor's Note: 1st Battalion the Royal Fusiliers. (City of London) Movements during WW2 years.
- 1937 Jhansi 5 Ind Inf Bde, 4 Ind Div.
- May 1937 converted to MG battalion.
- 23rd Sep. 1939 at sea (embarked at Bombay).
- 3rd Oct. 1939 Egypt 5 Ind Inf Bde, 4 Ind Div.
- 21st Dec. 1940 Abyssinia: Sudan 5 Ind Inf Bde, 4 Ind Div.
- 13th Apr 1941 Egypt 5 Ind Inf Bde, 4 Ind Div.
- 8th Jun. 1941 Syria 5 Ind Inf Bde, 4 Ind Div.
- 16th Jun. 1941 captured by Vichy French in Syria.
- 23rd Jun. 1941 re-formed in Palestine.
- June 1941 Palestine 5 Ind Inf Bde, 4 Ind Div.
- 15th Dec. 1941 Palestine 17 Ind Inf Bde.
- 29th May. 1942 Iraq 17 Ind Inf Bde.
- 28th Apr. 1943 Palestine 17 Ind Inf Bde.
- 31st Jul. 1943 Syria 17 Ind Inf Bde.
- 24th Sep. 1943 Italy 17 Ind Inf Bde.
- 18th Jun. 1945 at sea.
- July 1945 UK.
- 1947 converted back to infantry.
