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- 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards



   2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards went to France with the British Expeditionary Force, returning in June 1940. They served in North Africa and North Western Europe.

   location map

20th Sep 1939 On the Move

20th Sep 1939 On the March  


THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (BEF) IN FRANCE 1939-1940

2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards marching through Cherbourg. IWM (O 87)



20th Sep 1939 On the March

14th Oct 1939 Appendix E  location map

10th Nov 1939 Practice Makes Perfect

11th Nov 1939 Armistice Day

12th of January 1940 War Diary - Couin  location map

11th May 1940 Plan D

12th May 1940 On the March

13th May 1940 On the March

14th May 1940 Holding the Line

15th May 1940 Constructing Defences

16th May 1940 Constructing Defences

17th May 1940 Moving Back

18th May 1940 A New Line

19th May 1940 A New Line

20th May 1940 Digging In

21st May 1940 Under Fire

22nd May 1940 Withdrawal

23rd May 1940 On the March

24th May 1940 Platoon Under Fire

25th May 1940 Quiet Day

26th May 1940 Quiet Day

27th May 1940 Withdrawal

28th May 1940 On the March

29th May 1940 Confusion  location map

30th May 1940 Holding the Bridges

31st May 1940 Under Fire

1st Jun 1940 Withdrawal

2nd Jun 1940 Withdrawal  location map

4th Jun 1940 With the Wounded  location map

8th Jun 1940 On the Move

22nd Jun 1940 On the Move

23rd Jun 1940 Digging In

24th Jun 1940 Costal Defence

25th Jun 1940 Officers and Men rejoin

25th June 1940 Defence Instructions  location map

25th June 1940 Conference  location map

26th Jun 1940 CO Visits Company

27th Jun 1940 Defences Strengthened

28th Jun 1940 Reorganisation

29th Jun 1940 Costal Defences

30th Jun 1940 Work Continues

30th June 1940 Communication  location map

30th June 1940 Signals  location map

1st July 1940 Hot Weather  location map

1st July 1940 Erection of Defences  location map

2nd July 1940 Operational Order  location map

2nd July 1940 Exercise  location map

2nd July 1940 Defensive Fire  location map

3rd July 1940 Defences  location map

3rd July 1940 Operation Orders  location map

3rd Jul 1940 Erection of Defences  location map

4th July 1940 Air Raid  location map

4th July 1940 Conference  location map

5th July 1940 Quiet  location map

6th July 1940 Defences

6th July 1940 Instructions  location map

7th July 1940 Defences  location map

7th July 1940 Fit for duty  location map

7th July 1940 Instructions  location map

8th July 1940 Posting  location map

8th July 1940 Defence Instructions  location map

9th July 1940 Posting  location map

10th July 1940 Posting  location map

11th July 1940 Defences  location map

12th July 1940 Quiet  location map

13th July 1940 Promotion  location map

14th July 1940 Church Parade  location map

15th July 1940 Rain  location map

16th July 1940 Rain  location map

17th July 1940 Quiet  location map

18th July 1940 Quiet  location map

19th July 1940 Duties  location map

20th July 1940 Routine  location map

21st July 1940 Concert  location map

22nd July 1940 Leave  location map

23rd July 1940 Reorganisation  location map

24th July 1940 Routine  location map

25th July 1940 Quiet  location map

26th July 1940 Routine  location map

27th Jul 1940 On the Move

27th July 1940 Quiet  location map

28th July 1940 Entertainment  location map

29th July 1940 Quiet  location map

30th July 1940 Visit  location map

31st July 1940 Visit  location map

1st Aug 1940 Wounded Moved

5th Oct 1940 Escape

17th Oct 1940 In Hiding

31st Oct 1940 Report to the Consul

22nd Nov 1940 On the Move

1st Jan 1941 Snow

2nd Jan 1941 Frost

3rd Jan 1941 Assault Boats

4th Jan 1941 Courses

5th Jan 1941 Lecture

6th Jan 1941 Exercise

7th Jan 1941 Quiet

8th Jan 1941 Training

9th Jan 1941 Visit

10th Jan 1941 Training

11th Jan 1941 Training

12th Jan 1941 Meeting

13th Jan 1941 Training

14th Jan 1941 Exercise

15th Jan 1941 Training

16th Jan 1941 Conference

17th Jan 1941 Exercise

18th Jan 1941 Conference Cancelled

19th Jan 1941 Snow

20th Jan 1941 Snow

21st Jan 1941 Snow

22nd Jan 1941 Lecture

23rd Jan 1941 Lectures

24th Jan 1941 Ice

25th Jan 1941 Postponement

26th Jan 1941 Church Parade

27th Jan 1941 Lectures

28th Jan 1941 Exercise

29th Jan 1941 Training

30th Jan 1941 Training

31st Jan 1941 Report

1st Feb 1941 Competition  location map

2nd Feb 1941 Drums  location map

3rd Feb 1941 Conference  location map

4th Feb 1941 Advance Party  location map

5th Feb 1941 On the Move  location map

6th Feb 1941 On the Move  location map

7th Feb 1941 On the Move  location map

8th Feb 1941 Training  location map

9th Feb 1941 Training  location map

10th Feb 1941 Training  location map

11th Feb 1941 Training  location map

12th Feb 1941 Training  location map

13th Feb 1941 Exercise  location map

14th Feb 1941 On the Move  location map

15th Feb 1941 Influenza  location map

16th Feb 1941 Divine Service  location map

17th Feb 1941 Training  location map

18th Feb 1941 Training  location map

19th Feb 1941 Recce  location map

20th Feb 1941 Air Raids  location map

21st Feb 1941 Exercise  location map

22nd Feb 1941 Back on British Soil

22nd Feb 1941 Air Raid  location map

23rd Feb 1941 Church Parade  location map

24th Feb 1941 Snow  location map

25th Feb 1941 Conference  location map

26th Feb 1941 Exercise  location map

27th Feb 1941 Exercise  location map

28th Feb 1941 Conference

1st Mar 1941 Training  location map

2nd Mar 1941 Aircraft Downed  location map

3rd Mar 1941 Reorganisation  location map

4th Mar 1941 Reorganisation  location map

5th Mar 1941 Dance  location map

6th Mar 1941 Dance  location map

7th Mar 1941 Training  location map

8th Mar 1941 Rain  location map

9th Mar 1941 Party  location map

10th Mar 1941 Exercise  location map

11th Mar 1941 Routine  location map

12th Mar 1941 Conference  location map

13th Mar 1941 Exercise  location map

14th Mar 1941 Exercise  location map

15th Mar 1941 Training  location map

16th Mar 1941 Church Parade  location map

17th Mar 1941 Training  location map

18th Mar 1941 Exercise  location map

19th Mar 1941 Exercise  location map

20th Mar 1941 Exercise  location map

21st Mar 1941 Routine  location map

22nd Mar 1941 Conference  location map

23rd Mar 1941 Courses  location map

24th Mar 1941 Training  location map

25th Mar 1941 Training  location map

26th Mar 1941 Exercise  location map

27th Mar 1941 Snow  location map

28th Mar 1941 Dinner Party

29th Mar 1941 Football  location map

30th Mar 1941 Church Parade  location map

31st Mar 1941 Training  location map

14th Mar 1943 Reliefs  location map

7th of January 1945 Orders

10th of January 1945 Orders

11th of January 1945 Message

20th of January 1945 Appendix F

22nd of January 1945 Recces

22nd of January 1945 Orders

23rd of January 1945 Patrol

23rd of January 1945 Orders


If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.



Those known to have served with

2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Alcock Charles.
  • Alcock John. L/Cpl.
  • Bambury William.
  • Cook Thomas. Gdsmn. (d.23rd-25th Dec 1942)
  • de_Knoop Wilfred Jersey. Major.
  • Eldridge Arthur Bertram. Gdsm. (d.23rd Apr 1945)
  • Goss Reginald John.
  • Green Robert Goodwin. L/Sgt. (d.17th Feb 1944)
  • Hall George Henry. Gdsm.
  • Horrocks Albert Edgar. Pte.
  • Laird Robert. Gdm.
  • Laycock Laurence Garforth. Sgt.
  • Lyon John. Sgt.
  • Potter Edward John. Pte.
  • Rushton Frank.
  • Sargeant Donald Charles. Sgt.
  • Thomson James. L/Cpl
  • Tingle George. Pte.
  • Weeks William John Arnold. Gdsm.
  • Whaley Charles Peter. Lt. (d.19th April 1945)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards from other sources.



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Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards?


There are:1676 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Sgt. John Lyon 2nd Btn. Coldstream Guards

John Lyon

My father John Lyon lived in Chester, he served in the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards during the Second World War.

Mrs John Lyon



Pte. Albert Edgar Horrocks 2nd Bt Coldstream Guards

Albert Horrocks

My father, Albert Horrocks served in WW2 guarding Buckingham Palace. He was based in Wellington Barracks. He told me that one cold night he put his rifle inside his sentry box to warm his hands up, but was caught by his sergeant. The penalty might have been 7 days in the guard house.

Diane Robinson



Major. Wilfred Jersey de_Knoop 2nd Btn. Coldstream Guards

For some reason I thought that my grandfather=, Wilfred Jersey de Knoop did not serve during WW2, so I was surprised to find out that he was a Major in the Coldstream Guard. According to a record found I believe that he was in the 2nd battalion. Unfortunately, I have no further information. My late father, in the 1980's had stored old family possessions, including old photo albums, with Pickfords in London, but there was a warehouse fire and all was destroyed. My father said that the most painful loss were the photo albums!

Nicolas de Knoop



Gdsm. George Henry Hall 2nd Btn. Coldstream Guards

George Hall served with the 2nd Coldstream Guards. He was captured and became POW No.7111 held at Stalag XVIIIA at Wolfsberg, Austria.

Sarah Hall



L/Cpl James Thomson 2nd Btn Coldstream Guards

My Grandfather, James Thomson, was in S Company, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. I have a print from Italy 1944-45 to commend them of their fighting spirit and splendid record.

Garry Thomson



L/Sgt. Robert Goodwin Green 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards (d.17th Feb 1944)

Robert Green served in North Africa. He moved from Algeria to Italy in February 1944. He took part in the Battle of Ornito and was a footguard, rank of Lance Serjeant (do not know which company or platoon). He was killed in action at The Battle of Ornito on 17th of February 1944 aged 24.




Sgt. Donald Charles Sargeant 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards

Donald Sargeant was a machine gunner. He served throughout the War in North Africa and Italy. He ended up in Gorizia, on the Yugoslav border, where he met and married my mum in 1945.

Robert Sargeant



Lt. Charles Peter Whaley 2nd Btn. Coldstream Guards (d.19th April 1945)

Peter Whaley of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards was killed in action in the Battle of Argenta Gap in Italy. He was ny Uncle Robert Laird's Platoon Commander.

Robert Laird



Gdm. Robert Laird 2nd Btn. Coldstream Guards

During the battle of the Argenta Gap in April 1945, my Uncle Robert Laird's Platoon Commander, Peter Whaley was killed in action. My Uncle was shot in the same action.

They were ordered to attack and capture a strong enemy position which was holding up the advance and had already beaten off two previous attacks. They made a reconnaissance under heavy shelling and small arms fire, Major Toler, repositioned the company, and tanks, under his command and led an assault. In a decisive victory over the dug-in Germans 80 prisoners were taken. Major Toler was awarded the MC.

My Uncle was treated and returned to his unit, and his war service ended in 1946 as the battalion was rushed up to Trieste after the war ended where they confronted Tito's forces who were trying a land grab.

Robert Laird



Gdsm. Arthur Bertram Eldridge 2nd Btn. Coldstream Guards (d.23rd Apr 1945)

I never new Great Uncle Arthur Eldridge but as I understand it my Mum said he was full of fun. His death was a great loss to my Nan, she had already lost her eldest brother, Tom in WW1 in March 1917. Now her youngest brother was also taken from her and the family. His death date like so many others was the hardest to take as it was so near to the end of WW2, 23rd of April 1945.










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