The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army. 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... Combatants France Prussia Allied army: -United Kingdom -United Netherlands -Hannover -Nassau -Brunswick Commanders Napoléon Bonaparte Michel Ney Duke of Wellington Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Allies 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by about 18:00) Casualties 25,000 dead or wounded 22,000 dead... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... Carlos I, King of Portugal KG RVC (pron. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

The Regiment was formed as a consequence of Childers reforms of the armed forces, a continutation of the Cardwell reforms, by the amalgamation of the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry), forming the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Oxfordshire Light Infantry on 1 July 1881. The Childers Reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881. ... A series of reforms of the British Army undertaken by Secretary of State for War (and former soldier) Edward Cardwell in 1870. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1908 the Regiment's title was altered to become the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, commonly shortened to the 'Ox and Bucks'. 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Operations across the Empire

1st Battalion

The 43rd Foot was based in Burma when it became the 1st Battalion. In 1882 it moved to Bangalore, India. In 1887 the Battalion returned home, being based in Parkhurst, England. It moved to Kinsale, Ireland in 1893 and, having been based in other parts of Ireland, returned to England in 1898. In December 1899 the Second Boer War began and the 1st Battalion arrived in Southern Africa to take part in it. It saw extensive service in the conflict, including in the relief of the besieged British garrison at Kimberley and in the defeat of the Boers at Paardeberg in February. The war raged on for a further two years and the Regiment saw extensive service in the conflict for the duration. The Oxfordshires returned to the UK in 1902 with the conclusion of the Boer War. It moved to India the following year where it was based until the outbreak of war in 1914. 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... Bangalore (Kannada: ; pronunciation: in Kannada and in English) is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Parkhurst is a neighbourhood north-west of the town of Newport, Isle of Wight. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Market Street in Kinsale, one of the towns oldest thoroughfares Kinsale (Cionn tSáile in Irish) is a town in County Cork, Ireland. ... 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand Orange Free State, South African Republic Commanders Frederick Roberts, Lord Kitchener Christiaan Rudolf de Wet, Paul Kruger Casualties 22,000 6,500 Civilians killed [mainly Boers]: 24,000+ The Second Boer War also known as the South African War (outside of South Africa... Combatants The British Empire Boers Commanders Sir John French Colonel Kelly-Kenny Piet Cronje Strength 15,000 men 5,000 men Casualties 258 dead 1,211 wounded 86 captured 100 dead 250 wounded 4,096 captured The Battle of Paardeberg was a major battle during the Second Anglo-Boer War. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

2nd Battalion

The 52nd was based in Oxford, England when they became the 2nd Battalion. In 1884 it arrived in Gibraltar and the following year took part in the expedition to Egypt. In 1886 they were based in India, where they would remain into the 20th Century. During their stay they took part in the Tirah Expedition in the volatile North-West Frontier in 1897. In 1903 the Battalion returned home, being based in Chatham. They were still based in Britain when World War I was declared. Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) is geographically the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1903 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Location within the British Isles Chatham is an English town that developed around an important naval dockyard on the east bank of the River Medway in the county of Kent. ... Combatants Allied Powers: British Empire France Italy Russia United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Paul...

First World War (1914-18)

During the war, the Ox & Bucks raised 12 Battalions (17 in all), six of which fought on the Western Front, two in Italy, two in Macedonia and one in Mesopotamia. The Regiment won 59 Battle Honours and four Theatre Honours. Many galantry honours were awarded to the Ox & Bucks, including two Victoria Crosses -- the most prestigious honour for bravery in the face of the enemy -- that were awarded to Company Sergeant Major Edward Brooks and Lance-Corporal Alfred Wilcox, both of the 2/4th Battalion. Mesopotamia refers to the region now occupied by modern Iraq, eastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and Southwest Iran. ... A battle honour is a military tradition practiced in the Commonwealth countries of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand and is an official acknowledgement rewarded to military units for their achievements in specific wars or operations of a military campaign. ... Victoria Cross medal, ribbon, and bar. ... Edward Brooks was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... Alfred Wilcox was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ...

Western Front

2nd Ox & Bucks defeating the Prussian Guard at Nonne Bosschen. Painting by W. B. Wollen (1857-1936)

In 1914 the 2nd Ox and Bucks arrived on the Western Front as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Division -- one of the first divisions of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to arrive in France. The Battalion took part in the first British battle of the war, at Mons where the British defeated the German forces that they had encountered on 23 August. The Battalion subsequently took part in the retreat that began the following day, not stopping until just on the outskirts of Paris, then halting the German advance at the First Battle of the Marne (5-9 September). The 2nd Ox & Bucks later took part in all the subsidiary battles of the First Battle of Ypres (19 October-22 November) that saw the heart ripped out of the old Regular Army, with 54,000 casualties being sustained by the British Army. On 11 November the Germans made another attempt to capture Ypres, sending -- on the orders of the German Kaiser -- the élite Prussian Guard against the British forces. The 2nd Battalion counter-attacked them at Nonne Bosschen wood, proceeding to prevent their advance and rout them. First Ypres was the last major battle of 1914. Image File history File links 2nd_Ox_&_Bucks,_Nonne_Bosschen,_defeating_the_Prussian_Guard_1914_by_W.B._Wollen. ... Image File history File links 2nd_Ox_&_Bucks,_Nonne_Bosschen,_defeating_the_Prussian_Guard_1914_by_W.B._Wollen. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The 5th Infantry Brigade was a regular British Army formation from the First World War to disbandment in 1999. ... The British 2nd Division was originally formed in 1809 by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington for service in the Peninsula War. ... The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the British army sent to France and Belgium in World War I and British Forces in Europe from 1939 - 1940 during World War II. The BEF was established by Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane following the Second Boer War in case the... Combatants Britain Germany Commanders Sir John French Alexander von Kluck Strength 4 divisions 8 divisions Casualties 1,600 5,000 (estimate) The Battle of Mons (Flemish name for Mons is Bergen) was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in World War I. Following the surrender of the... August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... British dead at Le Cateau. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Région ÃŽle-de-France Département Paris (75) Subdivisions 20 arrondissements Mayor Bertrand Delanoë  (PS) (since 2001) City Statistics Land... Combatants France United Kingdom German Empire Commanders Joseph Joffre John French Helmuth von Moltke Karl von Bulow Alexander von Kluck Strength 1,071,000 1,485,000 Casualties Approximately 263,000: 250,000 French casualties (80,000 dead) 13,000 British casualties (1,700 dead) Approximately 250,000 total The... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... Combatants United Kingdom France German Empire Commanders John French Ferdinand Foch Erich von Falkenhayn Strength UK: 7 infantry divisions, 3 cavalry divisions France: ? Fourth and Sixth Armies Casualties UK: 58,000 France: 50,000 130,000 The First Battle of Ypres, also called the Battle of Flanders, was the last... October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Regular Army is the permanent force of the United States Army that is maintained during peacetime, as opposed to those persons who may be part of a reserve or national guard outfit. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... Ypres municipality and district in the province West Flanders Ypres (French, pronounced generally used in English1) or Ieper (official name in Dutch, pronounced ) is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. ... German Emperor Wilhelm (born Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albrecht, Prince of Prussia 27 January 1859–4 June 1941), was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (de: Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen), ruling from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. ... The Garde du Corps was the personal bodyguard of the king of Prussia and after 1871, the German emperor (in German: Kaiser). ...

Image:1st Buckinghamshire Battalion at Poziéres, 23 July 1916 by Wollen.jpg At the Battle of Festubert -- which was launched in support of the French attack south of Vimy Ridge -- in May 1915 the 2nd Ox and Bucks were part of the second wave of the 5th Brigade attack and, during the course of the battle, sustained just under 400 casualties; the largest the Regiment had suffered so far in the war, and the largest it had suffered for over a 100 years. Battalions of the Regiment also saw action at Loos in September, and the 2nd Ox & Bucks alone took part in the subsequent attack against the Hohenzollern Redoubt in October. The 1/4th Ox & Bucks took part in the First Day of the Somme on 1 July 1916, in which the British Army suffered over 60,000 casualties -- the largest casualties sustained in a day by the British Army. The Battalions of the Ox & Bucks on the Western Front saw extensive service during the Battle of the Somme (1 July-18 November), suffering heavily, including at Mametz Wood, Pozières, and at Ancre the last major subsidiary battle. Image File history File links 1st_Buckinghamshire_Battalion_at_Poziéres,_23_July_1916_by_Wollen. ... Battle of Festubert was an attack by the British army on the Ypres salient of the western front during World War I. It began on May 15, 1915 and continued until May 25. ... The Battle of Vimy Ridge was one of the opening battles in a larger British campaign known as the Battle of Arras. ... The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. The battle was the British component of the combined Anglo-French offensive known as the Second Battle of Artois. ... First Day on the Somme Conflict First World War Date 1 July 1916 Place Somme, Picardy, France Result Decisive German victory The first day on the Somme, 1 July 1916, was the opening day of the British and French offensive that became the Battle of the Somme. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia Canada New Zealand Newfoundland South Africa France German Empire Commanders Douglas Haig Joseph Joffre Max von Gallwitz Fritz von Below Strength 13 British and 11 French divisions (initial) 51 British and 48 French divisions (final) 10½ divisions (initial) 50 divisions (final) Casualties 419,654 British Empire... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières, and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of the Ancre was the final act of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ...

In March 1917 the Germans began the retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Regiment's battalions saw much involement in the Arras Offensive that began on 9 April and ended on 16 May, including at the Battles of Scarpe and Arleux. The battalions of the Ox & Bucks saw further service in many of the subsidiary battles during the Battle of Passchendaele (also known as Third Ypres) that took place between 31 July-6 November. Some of the battles that the Ox & Bucks took part in included Menin Road and Polygon Wood in September and early October. The Ox & Bucks also took part in the Battle of Cambrai (20 November-3 December) that saw the first large-scale use of tanks by the British and was the last major battle 1917. On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched the last-gasp Spring Offensive (Operation Michael) and the Ox & Bucks suffered yet more heavy casualties as part of the defence of the Somme during the St. Quentin and in subsequent battles that saw the Germans achieve significant gains. After that offensive lost its momentum, the Germans launched Operation Georgette in Apri which the Ox & Bucks defended against in the Battle of the Lys and subsequent actions. By August the Germans offensives had failed and the Allies had launched a counter-offensive against the Germans. In August the 2nd Ox & Bucks took part in the Second Battle of Albert and the Second Battle of Bapaume while the 2/4th Ox & Bucks and the 2/1st Buckinghamshires took part in the advance into Flanders, with both offensives seeing the Allies advance to the Hindenburg Line by early September. The 2nd Ox & Bucks took part in the offensive against it that saw the Allies break through the defence, taking part in the Battle of Havrincourt, Battle of the Canal du Nord and the Second Battle of Cambrai. The Regiment then took part in the last actions of the war, taking part in the Battle of the Selle and the Battle of Valenciennes. The war ended on 11 November 1918 with the signing of the Armistice between the Allies and Germany. 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in Northern France constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916– 17 during World War I; the Germans called it the Siegfried Line. ... The Battle of Arras took place from 9 April to 16 May 1917. ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ... The Battle of Arleux was a battle of World War I, fought 28-29 April, 1917. ... Passchendaele village, before and after the Battle of Passchendaele The Battle of Passchendaele, otherwise known as the Third Battle of Ypres, was one of the major battles of World War I, fought by British, ANZAC, and Canadian soldiers against the German army near Ypres ( Ieper in Flemish) in West Flanders... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... Combatants British Empire Australia Canada New Zealand United Kingdom France German Empire Commanders Douglas Haig Hubert Gough Herbert Plumer Arthur Currie Max von Gallwitz Erich Ludendorff Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties 448,000 killed and wounded 260,000 killed and wounded The 1917 Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third... Combatants British Empire Australia Canada New Zealand United Kingdom France German Empire Commanders Douglas Haig Hubert Gough Herbert Plumer Arthur Currie Max von Gallwitz Erich Ludendorff Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties 448,000 killed and wounded 260,000 killed and wounded The 1917 Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third... Combatants United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Newfoundland German Empire Commanders Julian Byng Georg von der Marwitz Strength 2 Corps 1 Corps Casualties 45,000 killed 9,000 prisoners 100 tanks destroyed 45,000 killed 11,000 prisoners The Battle of Cambrai (November 20 - December 3, 1917) was a... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during the First World War, which marked the deepest advance by either side since 1914. ... The Spring Offensive (Operation Michael) was a German offensive along the Western Front during the First World War which marked the deepest advance by any side since 1914. ... Somme is a French département, named after the Somme River, located in the north of France. ... The First Somme battle of 1918 is also known as the Battle of Saint-Quentin or the Second Battle of the Somme[1]. It lasted from March 21–April 5 1918. ... The Battle of the Lys was part of the 1918 German Operation Georgette offensive in Flanders during the First World War. ... British and Portuguese captured by German forces in the Flanders region (1918) British 55th (West Lancashire) Division troops blinded by tear gas during the battle, 10 April 1918. ... Flanders (Dutch: ) has several main meanings: the social, cultural and linguistical, scientific and educational, economical and political community of the Flemings; some prefer to call this the Flemish community (others refer to this as the Flemish nation) which is, with over 6 million inhabitants, the majority of all Belgians; a... Combatants United Kingdom New Zealand Germany Commanders Julian Byng Unknown Strength 3 divisions 4 divisions Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Havrincourt was a World War I battle fought on September 12, 1918, involving the British Third Army (under the command of General Sir Julian Byng) against German troops, including... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

Mesopotamia

The 1st Ox & Bucks, as part of the 17th (Ahmednagar) Brigade, 6th (Poona) Division, left India for Mesopotamia (now Iraq); there, the Battalion took part in the campaign against the Ottoman forces that ruled the country. Mesopotamia refers to the region now occupied by modern Iraq, eastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and Southwest Iran. ...

The Battalion took part in the march towards Kut-al-Amara with the intention of capturing it from the Ottomans. The battle for Kut began on 26 September and raged for a number of days until the Ottomans went into retreat and Kut was captured on 28 September. The Battalion then took part in the Battle of Ctesiphon (22-24 November) during the pursuit of the Ottoman forces and in the effort to capture the capital Baghdad, which ended in the 6th Poona Division being defeated by the Ottomans. The Division subsequently retreated to Kut, reaching it on 3 December, where they were besieged by the Ottomans, beginning on 7 December, with a garrison of 10,000 British and Indians. The Ottomans launched numerous attempts to take Kut, all of which were repulsed by the defenders, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The British launched numerous attempts to relieve Kut, all of which failed with heavy losses. On 26 April 1916 -- supplies had dwindled significantly and many of the garrison's defenders were suffering from sickness -- the garrison negotiated a cease-fire with the Ottomans and on 29 April the British-Indian force of 8,000 surrendered to the Ottomans, including 300 men of the 1st Ox & Bucks. Many of the Ox & Bucks taken at Kut, like the rest of the prisoners, suffered mistreatment by the Ottomans and did not survive the war; it is estimated that just under 2,000 British and upto 3,000 Indians perished in captivity. Kūt (كوت; also known as Kut-Al-Imara and Kut El Amara) is a city in eastern Iraq, on the left bank of the Tigris River, about 100 miles south east of Baghdad, at 32. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... British Expeditionary Force D, mostly made up of Indians and under the command of Gen. ... (Redirected from 22 November) November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Baghdad ( translit: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ...

A Provisional Battalion had been formed in January 1916 from reinforcements intended for the 1st Ox & Bucks, joining the 28th (Garwhal) Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division. The Battalion joined the Lines of Communication (LoC) force and the Provisional Battalion was re-titled the 1st Battalion on 6 July 1917. On 19 October 1917 the Battalion transferred to the 50th Brigade, 15th Indian Division. By then, the British had taken Baghdad and were gradually pushing the Ottomans further back. Between 26-27 March 1918 it took part in fighting against the Ottomans at Khan Baghdadi. The Ottomans signed an Armistice with the Allies on 30 October, ending the war in the Middle East. Lines of Communication is an episode from the fourth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. ... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... (Redirected from 26 March) March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... A white flag is traditionally used to represent a truce. ... October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...

Italy and Macedonia

The 1/4th Ox & Bucks and 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion were part of the 145th (South Midland) Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division that left the Western Front for Italy in November 1917 -- a member of the Allies since May 1915 -- after it suffered very heavy casualties and came close to collapsing after it was defeated at the Battle of Caporetto. The Regiment and the rest of the British forces did not take part in a major battle until June 1918 when they took part in the Battle of Asiago (15-16 June) that saw the Austro-Hungarians -- an ally of Germany -- successfully defeated in their offensive against the Allies; it was the last Austro-Hungarian offensive against Italy. On 23 October the Allies launched a successfu offensive against Austria-Hungary, with the Regiment crossing the Piave River, taking part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The Austro-Hungarians signed an Armistice with the Allies on 4 November 1918 and the 1/4th Ox & Bucks and 1/1st Buckinghamshires ended the war in Austria-Hungary. 145 Brigade is a brigade of the British Army. ... The British 48th (South Midland) Division was a Territorial Army division. ... Combatants Austria-Hungary German Empire Italy Commanders Otto von Below Luigi Cadorna Strength 35 divisions 41 divisions Casualties 20,000 dead or wounded 40,000 dead 20,000 wounded 275,000 captured Difficult Progress In Alps The Battle of Caporetto (or Battle of Karfreit as it was known by the... Combatants Italy Austria-Hungary Commanders Luigi Cadorna Conrad von Hötzendorf Strength 172 battalions + 800 guns 300 battalions + 2,000 guns Casualties 150,000 (of whom 50,000 prisoners) 50,000 – 150,000 (estimates vary) The Battle of Asiago or Battle of the Plateaux (in Italian: Battaglia degli Altipiani), nicknamed... (Redirected from 15 June) June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... June 16 is the 167th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (168th in leap years), with 198 days remaining. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Piave (from Latin Plavis ) is a river in north Italy. ... Combatants Italy Austria-Hungary Commanders Armando Diaz Svetozar Boroevic von Bojna Strength Casualties 38,000 300,000 The Battle of Vittorio Veneto was fought between 24 October and 3 November 1918, near Vittorio Veneto, during the Italian Campaign of World War I. The Italian victory determined the collapse of Austria... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ...

In October 1915 the British and French landed in Salonika at the request of the Greek Prime Minister. The British 26th Division -- including the 7th (Service) and 8th (Service) Battalions, Ox & Bucks -- landed between December 1915 and February 1916. The Regiment's time in the Balkans was mostly quiet, experiencing sporadic fighting, but it included the repulsing of a Bulgarian invasion of Greece at Lake Doiran in April-May 1917. The Regiment saw very heavy fightings against the Bulgarians around Doiran the following September, after the Allies had launched an offensive in July 1918 with the intention of ending the war in the Balkans. The war did end on 30 September 1918, with Bulgaria signing an Armistice with the Allies. The Ox & Bucks, along with the rest of the division, was subsequently employed for a brief period of time on occupation duties in Bulgaria. The White Tower The Arch of Galerius Map showing the Thessaloníki prefecture Thessaloníki (Θεσσαλονίκη) is the second-largest city of Greece and is the principal city and the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia. ... Balkan peninsula with northwest border Isonzo-Krka-Sava The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of southeastern Europe. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Inter-War

1st Battalion

The 1st Ox & Bucks arrived in Archangel, Northern Russia in May 1919 as part of the Allied force that intervened in the Russian Civil War to assist the 'White Russians' in their fight against the Bolsheviks. The Battalion left later in the year, being based in Limerick, Ireland in 1920 to assist in operations against Sinn Féin and the IRA. It moved to Shorncliffe, England two years later. In 1925 the Battalion joined the British Army of Occupation in Germany, remaining there for two-years before heading for Parkhurst, England. The 1st Ox & Bucks remained in England until the outbreak of war in 1939. Arkhangelsk (Russian: ), formerly called Archangel in English, is a city in and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Red Army (Bolsheviks) White Army (Monarchists, SRs, Anti-Communists) Green Army (Peasants and Nationalists) Black Army (Anarchists) Commanders Leon Trotsky Mikhail Tukhachevsky Semyon Budyonny Lavr Kornilov, Alexander Kolchak, Anton Denikin, Pyotr Wrangel Alexander Antonov, Nikifor Grigoriev Nestor Makhno Strength 5,427,273 (peak) +1,000,000 Casualties 939,755... The White movement, whose military arm is known as the White Army (Белая Армия) or White Guard (Белая Гвардия, белогвардейц&#1099... Bolshevik Party Meeting. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Sinn Féin (pronounced in English, in Irish) is a name used by a series of Irish political movements of the 20th century, each of which claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith in 1905. ... This article is about the historical army of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic (1919–1922) which fought in the Irish War of Independence 1919-21, and the Irish Civil War 1922-23. ... Shorncliffe can refer to: Shorncliffe railway line, Brisbane Shorncliffe railway station, Brisbane Shorncliffe (Brisbane suburb) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). ... Parkhurst is a neighbourhood north-west of the town of Newport, Isle of Wight. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

2nd Battalion

In 1919 the 2nd Ox and Bucks left the Western Front, moving to Tipperary, Ireland to, like the 1st Battalion, take part in operations against the IRA and Sinn Féin. In March 1922 the Battalion arrived in Rawalpindi, India and, in aboutr eighteen years there, saw service in the North-West Frontier, and remained there until they returned home in July 1940. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Rawalpindi (Urdu: راولپنڈی) is a city in the Potwar Plateau near Islamabad, the current capital of Pakistan, in the province of Punjab. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ...

Second World War (1939-45)

On 3 September 1939 -- two days after Germany had invaded Poland -- the British Empire, France, and their Allies declared war on Germany, beginning the Second World War. The Regiment, as in the First World War, raised a number of battalions which saw service in France, North Africa, Burma, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent. ...

North-West Europe (France & Belgium (1939-40))

The British rapidly sent the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to France in September, which included the 1st Ox & Bucks and the Territorial 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, later joined by the 4th Ox & Bucks, all of which eventually became part of the 48th (South Midland) Division, with the 1st Ox & Bucks part of the 143rd Brigade and the 4th Ox & Bucks and 1st Buckinghamshires part of the 145th Brigade. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the British army sent to France and Belgium in World War I and British Forces in Europe from 1939 - 1940 during World War II. The BEF was established by Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane following the Second Boer War in case the... In the United Kingdom the Territorial Army is a part of the British Army composed of reserve units, or part-time soldiers. ... This article should belong in one or more categories. ... 145 Brigade is a brigade of the British Army. ...

The Germans launched their invasion of the Low Countries on 10 May 1940, shattering a period of the conflict that was known as the Phony War. The German invasion of northern Belgium -- where the BEF was located -- was a diversion with the main attack being through the poorly-defended Ardennes forest. The BEF withdrew west towards the Dendre river after the Dutch Army had surrendered, and then withdrew further towards the Escaut river by 19 May. The British force, having given a good account of themselves in the defence of Escaut, eventually withdrew into France, moving towards the Dunkirk area where, on 26 May, the evacuation of the British force back to Britain began, known as Operation Dynamo (26 May-3 June). The 1st Ox & Bucks took part in the defence of the Ypres-Commines Canal (26-28 May) and was eventually evacuated, having suffered heavy casualties. The other battalions took part in the defence of Mount Cassel until 29 May where eventually, they eventually attempted a breakout though the 4th Battalion was encircled by German forces near Watou and being overwhelmed. The 1st Buckinghamshires, having also suffered heavily, made it to Dunkirk and was evacuated back to Britain. The Dunkirk evacuation was extremely successful, with over 330,000 British and French troops evacuated. The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the countries (see Country) on low-lying land around the delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse (Maas) rivers. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... British Ministry of Home Security Poster The Phony War, or in Winston Churchills words the Twilight War, was a phase in early World War II marked by few military operations in Continental Europe, in the months following the German invasion of Poland. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht) is the land forces element of the Military of the Netherlands. ... The Scheldt in Antwerp Length 350 km Elevation of the source 95 m Average discharge 120 m³/s Area watershed 21860 km² Origin France Mouth Westerschelde Basin countries France, Belgium, Netherlands The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French lEscaut) is a 350 km[1] (217 mile) long river that finds its... May 19 is the 139th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (140th in leap years). ... Combatants United Kingdom, France Germany Commanders Lord Gort Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A), Ewald von Kleist (Panzergruppe von Kleist) Strength approx. ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... Men from the French army disembark in England after evacuation of Dunkirk, France 1940. ... June 3 is the 154th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (155th in leap years), with 211 days remaining. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ...

North-West Europe (D-Day to Germany (1944-45))

1st Battalion The Buckinghamshire Battalion was part of the 6th Beach Group, landing on D-Day on 6 June 1944 as part of the beach group that organised the units on the landing beaches. The 1st Ox & Bucks landed later that month as part of the 71st Infantry Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. On 25 June Operation Epsom began that was intended to take the town of Caen -- a vital objective for the British that proved to be a formidable town to capture -- and failed in its intention of capturing Caen though, however, it did divert significant numbers of Germans away from the Americans. The Germans counter-attacked and the Ox & Bucks moved to positions around the Odon where it suffered from heavy German artillery barrages. The Allies launched further attempts to capture Caen, and the first Allied troops entered it on 9 July; by then, much of it had been destroyed. Fighting around Caen continued for much of the month, with the Battalion sustaining significant casualties. In August the Battalion took part in an advance towardsg towards Falaise, known as Operation Totalise, that saw the Allies reach and capture it. The Falaise Pocket was eventually closed, encircling two German armies, one of which was effectively destroyed by the Allies. The victory of the Falaise Pocket signified the end of the battle for Normandy. The 1st Ox & Bucks then took part advanced east, eventually entering Belgium in early September. The Battle of Normandy was fought in 1944 between the German forces occupying Western Europe and the invading Allies. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining // 1508 - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year truce and cede several territories to Venice 1513... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The British 53rd (Welsh) Division was a Territorial Army division. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... Combatants Allied Powers Nazi Germany Commanders Lieutenant General Richard OConnor SS General Paul Hausser Strength 1 armoured division 3 infantry divisions 1 armoured brigade 2 SS Panzer Divisions 5 Panzer battlegroups Casualties British VIII Corps 4,020 12th SS Panzer Regiment 324 25th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 383 26th... Caen is a commune of northwestern France. ... Commune names in France that have the name Odon: Aunay sur Odon Baron sur Odon Bretteville sur Odon There is a river in France named Odon. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... Falaise is the name of several communes in France: Falaise, in the Ardennes département Falaise, in the Calvados département This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... During World War II, Operation Totalise ( Allies, 1944) was a ground attack on 7 August 1944 by British, Canadian and Polish forces to breakout from the Normandy beachhead along the Caen-Falaise road. ... Combatants Allied Powers Germany Commanders General Bernard Montgomery General Omar Bradley Field Marshal Günther von Kluge Strength N/A N/A Casualties Canadian 18,000 American unknown 10,000 killed 50,000 captured During August 1944 the Falaise pocket (also known as the Chambois pocket, Chambois-Montormel pocket and...

On 17 September the invasion of the Netherlands began, known as Operation Market Garden in a combined land and airborne operation. The Battalion took part in the ground operation that was intended to cross through three bridges taken by airborne troops and into Germany, that would end at the furthest captured bridge at Arnhem -- taken by 1st Airborne -- though the operation ended in failure by 25 September. The 1st Ox & Bucks subsequently took part in operations around the Lower Maas that took place between October and November. On 16 December 1944 the Germans launched their last-gasp major offensive of the war in the Ardennes that became known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 1st Ox & Bucks, along with the rest of its division, was rushed to Belgium shortly afterwards to assist in the defence where it experienced awful weather conditions, some of the worst Belgium had seen in years. The Allies launched a counter-attack in early January and the German offensive was defeated later that month, by which time the 53rd Welsh Division had been relieved and returned to Holland soon afterwards in preparation for the invasion of Germany. September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland Germany Commanders Bernard Montgomery Gerd von Rundstedt Strength XXX Corps, 35,000 airborne 20,000 Casualties 17,000 casualties 8,000 casualties Operation Market Garden (September 17-September 25, 1944) was an Allied military operation in World War II. Its tactical objectives were to... Arnhem is a municipality and a city in the east of the Netherlands, located on the Lower Rhine, and the capital of the Gelderland province. ... The British 1st Airborne Division was a military unit that fought in World War II. It suffered terrible casualties, especially in Operation Market Garden. ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Meuse(Maas) at Maastricht Length 925 km Elevation of the source 409 m Average discharge 230 m³/s Area watershed 36 000 km² Origin France Mouth Hollands Diep Basin countries France - Belgium - Netherlands The Meuse (Dutch Maas) is a large European river rising in France, flowing through Belgium and... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge Combatants United States United Kingdom Nazi Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower George Patton Bernard Montgomery Walther Model Gerd von Rundstedt Adolf Hitler Strength Dec 16 - start of the Battle: about 83,000 men; 242 Sherman tanks, 182...

In February the Battalion was involved in the Allied invasion of the German Rhineland, including taking part in the Battle of the Reichswald, where it saw extensive involvement. The Battalion crossed the Rhine in late March and advanced east, seeing action at, among others, Ibbenburen in April where they saw heavy fighting against determined German defenders though, in spite of this, the British succeeded in capturing the town, and the 1st Ox & Bucks eventually reached the city of Hamburg -- captured on 3 May by British forces -- where they remained until the end of the war. The Rhineland (Rheinland in German) is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany, although some consider the lands to the east of the river culturally distinct, jovially referring to them as Schäl Sick; the bad or wrong side... Battle of the Reichswald was the action by the Canadian First Army to clear the west bank of the Rhine River, prior to the crossings of World War II. It formed phase one of the Allied campaign in the Rhineland. ... Loreley At 1,320 kilometres (820 miles) and an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second, the Rhine (Dutch Rijn, French Rhin, German Rhein, Italian: Reno, Romansch: Rein, ) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. ... Christ Church, Ibbenbueren Ibbenbüren is a town and municipality in Steinfurt District in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Hamburgs motto: May the posterity endeavour with dignity to conserve the freedom, which the forefathers acquired. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ...

2nd Battalion

Transport moving across the Caen Canal Bridge at Benouville, June 1944. The bridge was renamed Pegasus Bridge after the mythical winged horse on the formation sign of British airborne forces.

In 1941 the 2nd Battalion re-roled as an airborne, specifically an Air Landing, unit, joining the 1st Airborne Division and later the 6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division. As part of Operation Tonga just before the landings on D-Day 6 June 1944, D Company, 2nd Ox & Bucks (commanded by Colonel Roberts), as-well as Royal Engineers and men of the Glider Pilot Regiment (totalling 181 men), were to land via 6 Horsa gliders to capture the vital Caen Canal Bridge (Pegasus Bridge) and the bridge over the Orne (known as Horsa Bridge and east of Pegasus). Colonel Roberts was injured in the landings and Major John Howard led the attack. This was intended to secure the eastern flank to prevent German armour from reaching the 6th Airborne Division that was landing behind Sword Beach. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x940, 131 KB) Description PEGASUS BRIDGE, JUNE 1944 Transport moving across the Caen Canal Bridge at Benouville. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x940, 131 KB) Description PEGASUS BRIDGE, JUNE 1944 Transport moving across the Caen Canal Bridge at Benouville. ... U.S. paratroopers jump into Australia on a military training exercise. ... This article is about the year. ... An Air Landing Regiment of the British Army, during the Second World War, was any combat or support regiment (or battalion - smaller units might also assigned to the Air Landing role) which had been tasked with an airborne role, specifically a glider-borne role. ... The British 1st Airborne Division was a military unit that fought in World War II. It suffered terrible casualties, especially in Operation Market Garden. ... The 6th Airborne Division was an airborne unit of the British Army during World War II. // The division was formed in the United Kingdom on 3 May 1943, during the Second World War. ... Operation Tonga: Pathfinders synchronising their watches in front of an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle. ... Combatants United States United Kingdom Canada Free France Poland Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (Heeresgruppe B) Friedrich Dollmann () Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000,000 in... The Corps of Royal Engineers (RE), commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army. ... The Glider Pilot Regiment was possibly the shortest lived and least known unit of the Second World War. ... The Airspeed AS51 Horsa was a World War II troop-carrying glider built by the British company Airspeed Ltd and subcontractors. ... Pegasus Bridge before its replacement Pegasus was the name given to a bridge over the Caen canal, near the town of Ouistreham. ... Orne is a département in the northwest of France named after the Orne River. ... John Howard was an english major who led the occupation of the Pegasus over the river Orne. ... Combatants United Kingdom Germany Commanders General-Lieutenant Miles Dempsey, British 3rd Infantry Division Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, German 716th Static Infantry Division Hans von Luck, German 21st Panzer Division Strength 28,845  ? Casualties 600 Unknown German defense at Ouistreham. ...

Pegasus Bridge

The Ox and Bucks landed very close to their objectives at 16 minutes past midnight -- some of the first Allied troops to land in France -- and poured out of their battered gliders, completely surprising the German defenders, and taking the bridges within 10 minutes, losing two men -- Lieutenant Den Brotheridge and Lance-Corporal Greenhalgh -- in the process. One Glider assigned to the capture of Horsa Bridge was landed at the bridge over the Rives Dives, some 7 miles from where they were meant to land. They, in spite of this, captured the River Dives bridge, advanced through German lines towards the village of Ranville where they eventually rejoined the British forces. The Ox & Bucks were reinforced half an hour after the landings by 7 Para, with further untis arriving shortly afterwards. The Germans launched many attempts to re-capture the bridges, all being repulsed. Later in the day, at about 1:00pm, Lord Lovat and elements of his 1 Special Service Brigade arrived to relieve the exhausted defenders, followed by the British 3rd Infantry Division. The operation was immortalised in the film "The Longest Day". The original Pegasus Bridge Normandy (by DJ Clayworth) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The original Pegasus Bridge Normandy (by DJ Clayworth) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Lt Den Brotheridge was a British Army officer, who according to Stephen Ambrose, was the first Allied soldier to be killed in action on D-Day, 6th June 1944, during Operation Overlord. ... Ranville, pronunciation: rohn-VEEL or ROHN-veel is a commune of the département of Calvados, in the Basse-Normandie région, in France. ... The Parachute Regiment is the Airborne Infantry element of the British Army. ... Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, DSO, MC (9 July 1911 - 16 March 1995) was the 25th Chief of the Clan Fraser and a legendary British Commando during the Second World War. ... The British 3rd Infantry Division was part of the ill-fated British Expeditionary Force evacuated from Dunkirk early in World War II. It was the first British division to land at Sword beach on D-Day. ... DVD cover The Longest Day is a 180-minute 1962 war film, based on the 1959 book The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, about D-Day, the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. ...

As the first day of the landings closed, more reinforcements arrived as part of Operation Mallard, including the rest of the 2nd Ox & Bucks led by Lt. Col. Mark Darell-Brown DSO who assumed command of the Battalion replacing the injured Roberts and continued in command during the defence of the Ardennes and on the Rhine landing. On 7 July the Battalion headed for the village of Escoville where they met some determined resistance though they captured the village. Having experienced intense fighting with the Germans, the Battalion withdrew in the face of German armour, moving to Herouvillette where they took part in its defence. The Battalion subsequently held the line on Bréville ridge until August, then taking part in the British breakout and advance to the Seine that began in August, known as Operation Paddle. Along with the rest of 6th Airborne, the 2nd Ox & Bucks was withdrawn to the UK in early September to recuperate and reorganise. By then, of the original 181 men that had taken part in the Pegasus and Horsa operation, just 40 remained fit for active duty. The Battalion and the rest of the 6th Airborne were rushed back to Belgium to take part in the defence of the Ardennes shortly after the German invasion in December. The Battalion saw bitter fighting that lasted until the German offensive was defeated in mid-January. The 6th Airborne then moved to the Netherlands, before returning to Britain in late February. July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... Escoville is a commune of the département of Calvados, in the Basse-Normandie région, in France. ... Bréville is the name or part of the name of several communes in France: Bréville, in the Calvados département Bréville, in the Charente département Bréville-sur-Mer, in the Manche département Breville - manufacturer best-known for their sandwich toasters Category: ... The Seine (pronounced in French) is a major river of north-western France, and one of its commercial waterways. ...

The 2nd Ox and Bucks were once again ivolved in a glider assault known as Operation Varsity that was intended to cross the Rhine. The operation began on 24 March 1945. The Battalion, like many others during the assault, suffered heavily as the Germans met the landing gliders with ferocious fire in the air and on the ground, suffering hundreds of casualties. It saw very heavy fighting at Hamminkeln, where its objectives were the railway station and the bridge over the River Issel, having to undertake a bayonet charge to take the bridge. The Germans launched a number of counter-attacks, all of which were repelled. The Battalion subsequently took part in the advance east, including taking part in the opposed crossing of the Weser and eventually linking up with the Russians near the Baltic port of Wismar in April. The Battalion provided the Guard of Honour for the meeting between British commander Field Marshal Montgomery and his Russian counterpart, Rokossovsky, at Wismar in May. Operation Varsity was an airborne operation towards the end of World War II, intended to gain a foothold across the River Rhine. ... Loreley At 1,320 kilometres (820 miles) and an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second, the Rhine (Dutch Rijn, French Rhin, German Rhein, Italian: Reno, Romansch: Rein, ) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in leap years). ... Hamminkeln is a town and a municipality in the district of Wesel, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Weser watershed The Weser is a river of north-western Germany. ... The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. ... Wismar is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky (Russian: Константин Константинович Рокоссовский, Polish name Konstanty Rokossowski) (December 21, 1896 – August 3, 1968), Soviet military commander and Polish Defence Minister. ...

North Africa & Italy (1942-45)

Far East (1944-45)

Post-WWII (1945-1966)

In 1945 the 2nd Battalion arrived in Palestine during turbulent times there. In 1946 the 1st Battalion deployed to Trieste -- the following year the Free Territory of Trieste -- as part of the force British-American force there. The Battalion left in May 1947. In 1948, with the end of the Second World War, the British Government implemented substantial defence cuts, which including all second battalions in the Line Infantry being amalgamated with the 1st Battalions, this included the Ox & Bucks. 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Map of the territory under the British Mandate of Palestine. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Trieste ( Slovenian/Croatian Trst) is a city and port in northeastern Italy right on the border with Slovenia. ... Coat of arms Zone A and Zone B of the Free Territory of Trieste   Capital Trieste Language(s) Italian, Slovenian, Croatian Government Republic Historical era Cold War  - Established September 15 1947  - Partition October 26, 1954  - Treaty of Osimo October 11 1977 Currency Triestine lira The Free Territory of Trieste or... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...