i know this pre-dates ww2 but would any body know what regiments were based on bere (or could be spelt bear) island in 1929 i am trying to find where my grandfather is buried and all i have is that he was based there in 1929 i have a pic and i think it says "RE" on his right shoulder(would that mean royal engineer???? any help at all would be great thanks all
There is a Bear Island, which is part of County Cork. click here for map. Do you know when he died and if he was still in the army at the time?
thanks people that island is the same (bere/bear)there was a british army regiment based there up till 1938... i dont know where my grand father died (this is what i am trying to find out)what i do know is that he was based there in 1929 all i have is his name ... i need a regiment and army number for KEW to do the search... would any body be able to tell me if they know what regiment was based there ....OR a list of army numbers from then would be great(haha) any thing at all people i'm getting desperate ...so many dead ends thanks
Hi Robb - Bere Island is in the mouth of Bantry Bay, and was the armed fortress island protecting Berehaven, one of the three "Treaty Ports" the British were allowed to retain control of for some years under the 1921 Anglo-Irish Agreement. They were returned to the Irish in 1938, and the Irish Coastal Defence Artillery formed to man them instead. There were several forts on Bere Island - as of 1937 the defences consisted of two 6-in guns, two 12-pdrs, and five MGs. At it's largest between 1921 and 1938, Bere was manned by 866 men.
thanks .. would you know what regiments were based there ..i know there was royal engineers +royal artillary but would need to know which companies... keep up the good work
Seems that 33rd (Garrison) Company R.E. was at that time stationed at at Fort Camden in Queenstown (Cork) with detachments at Bere Island and Lough Swilly. 21409 (1852720) Company Sergeant Major Reginald George Burbidge, Royal Engineers
