After his basic training, Francis Daubney was assigned to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for 6 months until October 1943 when he was transferred to the Gordon Highlanders.
On 14th of October 1943 he was sent to join the 1st Battalion, London Scottish. When Francis joined them, they were in the area of Monti Camino, Italy, where they faced fierce German opposition and were forced to halt their advance. During November and December, they were in continual contact with German forces as they tried to push north.
By the beginning of 1944 they were preparing for the assault on German positions at Monte Cassino.
On 8th of January 1994, he was taken POW during an engagement with the Germans and was held as a POW at Stalag XIA in Saxony, PoW number 143133.
Stalag XI-A was liberated on 3rd of May 1945 and he returned to the UK on the 9th of May, the day after the war in Europe officially ended.
After some home leave he rejoined the Gordon Highlanders in Aberdeen, in January 1946, he was then sent to Germany to join the 1st Battalion in the Shiel Barracks at Verden and then to the Meeanee Barracks in Essen.
After home leave from May to September 1949 he rejoined the 1st Battalion in Essen until 1949 when they were moved to the Montgomery Barracks in Berlin.
In January 1950, he returned to the UK where he was transferred to the Army Reserve.
On 1st September 1950 he was recalled and relisted in the Army and joined the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and was shipped to Korea.
After returning from Korea, he returned to civilian life on 14th of February 1952.
For his war effort, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the War Medal(1939-45) and the United Nations Korean Medal.
I would also like to thank the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen for furnishing this and other information about Francis' history during WWII.
