Time to book some leave
Time to book some leave
It looks like next year my trip to Italy will become a reality. I’m hoping to visit Emilia-Romagna, specifically Faenza and the surrounding area. This will place me geographically in the correct area to explore the localities frequented by 7th Armoured Brigade during Eighth Army’s offensive in April 1945 , Operation Buckland.
My wife and daughter are keen to join me in this proposed trip. I will have to work dates around the school calendar. I am thinking perhaps the May half term, leaving our house in the safe hands of my two boys. I’m sure I can trust both of them not to trash the place in our absence ( do lads in their late teens and early twenties party these days?) First a quick roster check to ensure that no one at my place of work has booked leave for next May.
In the meantime more research can be done to detail 7th Armoured Brigades history between September ‘44 – October ‘45, the time Grandad was a member of this unit. To start this off I’ve been looking to see what information the National Archives has on this subject? There are two documents I’m keen to check out : 7th Armoured Brigade operations 1st November 1944 – 31 March and operations April 1945. Currently I’ve submitted a page check request, with the intention of receiving copies of both. This is the first time I’ve requested a War Office unit history and have no idea of the depth and detail such will contain? The service should take a month to complete, so I’ll update soon when all is laid out before me.
Now to check my work roster…..
