King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Second World War

1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment, in Italy
collection of Private Edward Rathbone

Bren Gun Carrier 'Mary' with some members of the Carrier Platoon, 1st Battalion, King's Own, Arezzo, Italy, September 1944.
Centre rear is Private Edward Rathbone, and it is believed that left and centre of the kneeling group is Privates Dan Kinvig and Bernard Karren, both from the Isle of Man.
The 10th Indian Division badge can be seen on the front of the carrier above the number '67'  To the right of that appears to be a badge of the Isle of Man.
Accession Number KO2741/114

Carrier Platoon, 1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment, Arezzo, Italy, September 1944.
Private Edward Rathbone is 13th from the left in the middle standing row.  Private Robert Huddleston, from Windermere, is fourth from the left on the back row.
Accession Number KO2741/115

Members of the Carrier Platoon, 1st King's Own, in Rome, 1944.
Left to right, rear row, Privates 'Wac' Walters and Bert Corlett.
Left to right, middle row, Privates Billy Varey, Ernie Morris and Oliver Kelly.
Left to right, front row, Privates Bernard Karren, Bob Gee and Don McKellar.
KO2741/116

Four unknown soldiers of the 1st Battalion King's Own in Rome in 1944.
KO2741/120

Private Edward Rathbone, Italy, 1944/5.  'Ted' served with the 8th Battalion King's Own in Malta and remained with the battalion when it was re-designated in Palestine in 1944 to the 1st Battalion of the King's Own.  The 1st King's Own then served in Italy in 1944 and 1945.
His collection of photographs were acquired by the museum by purchase at auction in August 2008.
Accession Number KO2741/117

Private 'Jock' Liddle, 1st King's Own, Rome, 1944.
KO2741/118

Private 'Wac' Walter, 1st King's Own, Rome, 1944.
KO2741/119

This soldier is only described as 'Joe, My Mate Killed, Italy, 1944'.  The photograph appears to have been taken whilst he was in Malta.
KO2741/125