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This data is related to World War 2
Gunner

William Trueman

Service number 1133420
Military unit 98 (The Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry) Field Regt Royal Artillery
Address Unknown
Date of birth 18 Mar 1918
Date of death 01 Feb 1944 (25 years old)
Place of birth Unknown
Employment, education or hobbies

He was a builder's labourer.

Family history

He was the son of Fred and Dinah Trueman and the brother of Martha, John Henry, Bertha, Percy, Frederick, Cyril, Ethel, Wimifred and Jennie Trueman. In 1921, they lived at 30, Vernon Street, Ilkeston Derbyshire. In 1939, he lodged with Sarah Hood, a widow, at 1, Chapel Place, Ilkeston.

Military history

MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY I, E, 4.

In February 1944, the 98th (The Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry, Queen Mary's) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery was heavily engaged in the brutal winter fighting of the Italian Campaign, operating as an elite self-propelled artillery unit equipped with American-built M7 Priest 105mm self-propelled guns.

He was killed as the 98th Field Regiment was heavily engaged on the Italian frontline, providing massive, continuous artillery cover during the brutal fighting directly following the Allies' Allied X Corps assault crossing of the Garigliano River.

Extra information

Strategic Location & Actions: February 1944The Garigliano Front: Following their vital role supporting X Corps' assault crossing of the Garigliano River in late January, the regiment spent February 1944 dug into high-altitude, treacherous firing positions.

Monte Camino Sector: Elements of the regiment's batteries (391st and 392nd Field Batteries) were positioned near Monte Camino. They provided relentless, heavy defensive artillery fire to protect the fragile Allied bridgehead across the river against continuous German counter-attacks.

Tactical Role: Because they were fully mechanised and tracked, their M7
Priest guns allowed them greater mobility in the thick Italian mud compared to traditional towed 25-pounder artillery units.Regimental Order of Battle (Early 1944)

Batteries: 391 (Surrey Yeomanry) Battery and 392 (Surrey Yeomanry) Battery.

Higher Command: Operating primarily as Corps Artillery or temporarily attached to heavily engaged infantry formations like the British 5th Infantry Division or local armoured brigades.

Photographs

No photos