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Welcome to Guns and Bugles. Updated 15 May 2002.
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My
name is Don Neal and I'd like to introduce you to
my book.
My book contains a story you will not find in a single
location, anywhere else.
I'm told by those leaving their MESSAGES,
that my book contains the 'human', rather than the
'sanitised' aspect of war. The book has had good
reviews, including the one to be found HERE.
As you'll see from the 'Photo Galleries' and the 'UNTOLD
STORIES ' sections, this
site and my book are about the personalities of those
that were in the thick of it, more than anything else.
It has been almost 12 months since my book
was released. Since that time I have received many
flattering and moving letters from those featured
in the book and those related to them.
Read them
HERE
I continue to hear from around the
country from those whose Fathers/Grandfathers were
in 181 Field Regt.
These SUPERB
PHOTOS were sent to me by Iris
Hughes from Northants.
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It’s very satisfying that after more than ten years my web site is still helping people learn what their Father’s/Grandfather’s did during the war, and it is with their help that the history of this great Artillery Field Regiment is still being built. So I’m very grateful to Wendy Austin whose late father Peter Frederick Kirk was a signaller with B Troop 177 Battery, and spent much of his time in the Forward Observation Post (FOP), and the end of the fighting Peter was awarded the Military Medal for his hard work, steadfastness and determination throughout the campaign This is an award that I missed during my research leading up to publication and makes me wonder how many more will come to light in the coming years. Wendy has sent me many fine and important photographs relating to 177 Battery a couple which have been reproduced below. John Bramald was the signaller who was with Capt. Julian Cory-Wright when he was killed at St.Mauvieu.26.06.44
 A well earned rest L/R unknown signals Sgt. John Bramald. ? Laycock, Peter Kirk,Walter Temple – Catterick 1944.
 Group – A super group photograph of the signallers of 177 Bty taken with their C/O Donald George Munro Peter Kirk is seated front row extreme left.
 Old comrades reminisce L/R Peter Kirk John Bramald, Walter Temple – Catterick 1994 – 50 years on.
I would also like to thank Mark Smith, whose own Father Bill, fought alongside my Dad for his generosity he has been with me from the beginning doing a brilliant job building my web site and putting these stories up. |
 Those of you who have read "Guns and Bugles" will know of the tragedy that befell C Troop on 25 June 1944, when A Sub gun pit took a direct hit from a German shell. This left three men dead and three severely wounded. Recently I had a very interesting E-mail from Ron Curtis, his Father Frank was one of those who were severly wounded along with Gnr. John 'Ginger' May and Gnr Hawin. Amazingly Frank had never told him of this harrowing incident which hospitalized him for five months, and left him with shrapnel in his back.
I think this indicates how much many of our old soldiers were traumatised by their war time experience. It was a very humbling experience, to be able to tell Ron the circumstances and events leading to this tragic start. Frank was posted to 181 Field Regiment from a home based Coastal Defence Regiment for service abroad, with Charlie Troop. He must have known my Dad as they both served on the same gun crew for some time. Many thanks to Ron for adding another piece of the jig saw.
My archive of photographs and stories continues to
grow. To see the latest, click the image below.
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Published
in November 2001, the book is based on the exploits and War
service of my father's Regiment. It is the result of six years
of research and includes both interviews with the men who were
there and letters from other members, which have arrived from
all parts of the UK, as well as a
gallery of over 120 photos. These are only part of the complete
collection, more of which I shall put on the photo gallery pages.
I'm pleased to say the book has received an endorsement from
the Regimental Museum in Shrewsbury.
The book is roughly divided into three parts: -
- The
formation of the 6th Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry
in June 1940 and its training and coastal defense duties
on the North East coast.
- The
conversion of the Battalion on 01/03/42 to the 181st Field
Regiment RA. and its Artillery training in the Melton Mowbray
area of Leicester and the Yorkshire Moors.
- The
Regiment at war in North-West Europe, to its disbandment
in January 1946.
When the
6th Bn. K.S.L.I. was formed just after the Dunkirk evacuation,
it consisted of mainly conscripted men who were trained, in
Sherwood Forest, by a core of regular and ex-Regular Officers
and NCO's.
They were posted to the Lincolnshire coast where they guarded
a 27 mile stretch of coast as part of 204 (Home) Brigade.
Here they waited for the German invasion which was expected
at any time in the weeks following the Dunkirk evacuation.
After 18 uneventful months and with the threat of a German
invasion almost gone, many Infantry Battalions were converted
to Artillery Regiments - this was the destiny of 6 K.S.L.I.
484 NCO's and O/R's plus 18 Officers of the Battalion, were
transferred to the Royal Artillery.
After arriving in Melton Mowbray for their initial training
the Regiment was brought up to strength by an influx of Artillery
Personnel, many of whom wore, with pride, the riband of the
North Africa Campaign.
After about 3 months they were posted to the Yorkshire Moors,
to continue their training - here they came into the battle
order of the 15th Scottish Division, one of only two units
of Sassenachs, the other being the 1st Bn Middlesex Regiments
(the "Die Hards"), which was the Machine Gun Regiment.
Intensive training with the Jocks in the following 18th months
brought the two nations together under the sign of the Rampant
Lion.
By the end of the War, the Gunners referred to "Our Infantry"
and the Infantry referred to "Our gunners" when talking
of their exploits.
The book tells the story as remembered by those that were
actually there. It tells of the horrors they faced and the
strong sense of comradeship it engendered. I feel honoured
to have been able to speak personally to men who were the
real heroes of the war, those on the front line, to fill the
pages of my book.
One thing
I was really hoping for when I had my book published was that
I might hear from ex-members of the Regiment or maybe their
relatives.
Imagine
how pleased I was when I had a call from Ian Prutton, particularly
so because my knowledge of F Troop was scant indeed. Ian's
Father was Capt NW Prutton MC and he was F Troop leader, 179
bty. You can read all about Capt Prutton on page 76 of the
book.
I now have marvellous portrait photo of Capt Prutton, which
I have put on the site and also a photo of F Troop which I
shall endeavour to get named. These are in Photo
Gallery 5. I now have a photograph of all the Troops,
with exception of 'A' and 'E' Troops. I was saddened to hear
that Nigel died when he was only 55 years old. Among the photographs
Ian sent was one of his Father's wedding day. The best man?
None other than Major
Dudley Shaw. My thanks to Ian and his wife Dianne
for all their help and interest. |
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| TRAGEDY
AT THE GHEEL BRIDGEHEAD. |
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of the few glimpses I had of my Dad's war experiences from
his own lips was the tragedy that befell Charlie Troop at
the Gheel Bridgehead.
As children
we had a close neighbour who too had fought in the war. His
name was Vernon Thomas, when my interest in military Research
developed in later life I interviewed him at length on his
war service. He served in the Guards Armoured Division, 1st
Battalion Welsh Guards. He was a sniper and his war was "very
personal" as he told me. Amazingly, he and dad fought in the
same arena on many occasions. Read MORE
about the tragedy here. |
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Click
the image on the right to see a larger picture.
(ISBN 1 85858 192 3) |
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