British Unit Histories

[Paul Reed]

I have quite a lot of unit, regimental and divisional histories for British and Commonwealth units in WW2, mainly for NW Europe and Italy. Am happy to look up specific requests for info for forum members.

[MalcolmII]

Likewise for 51st Highland Division , 52nd Division, and all Bernard Fergusson's books on the Black Watch and the Chindits. Scapa Floe and Royal Oak information, Norway 1940, BEF France and Belgium 1940, War diary of the 1st Royal Scots 1939 to June 1940, the Scottish Regiments and sundry others.

Aye
Malcolm

[Joy Dean]

Do you have anything about the RAMC, please? My father, William Brooks, was in the TA, Staff-sergeant 7349297, in Dunkirk, and later in India.
Thank you.
Joy

PS May I have the English flag, please?

[MalcolmII]

Here you are. Use it for an avatar.

Aye
MalcolmII

[Joy Dean]

That's brilliant! Thankyou very much.
Joy
(Kentish Maid, born Beckenham, Kent)

[Paul Reed]

Originally posted by Christopher and Joy Dean@Mar 17 2004, 05:17 PM
Do you have anything about the RAMC, please?

I would need a specific RAMC unit; there isn't a general history of them that mentions individual soldiers. Some of the unit histories do, and of course some of the War Diaries at Kew, but I don't have copies of them all, before you ask!

My grandfather was a regular in the RAMC, served 1918-1941. He was at Arras in 1940, and then out via Dunkirk.

[Joy Dean]

My Dad, William John Brooks (7 March 1914 - 30 October 1987), served in the TA, in the RAMC, Staff-sergeant 7349297. He returned from Dunkirk - thank goodness, otherwise I wouldn't have been here! Later Dad was on a ship bound for Singapore, but Singapore fell, and the ship was diverted to India.
An extract from a letter received soon after my father's death from the Hon. Sec. 17 BGH RAMC Old Comrades' Association:
'Bill was, of course, a member of the original 1st (1st County of London) which became the 17th on the embodiment of the Territorial Army. He was with us in France and India, and I remember him playing hockey, and singing ("J'Attendrai" etc) in our Band Concerts. He also spoke in the Debating Society and never neglected a chance to bang the drum for the Boy Scout Movement!'
The photograph, taken in India, shows him standing on the far right

Joy

[MalcolmII]

Hi Christopher and Joy,
Do you know what Division he was attached to in France 1940?

Aye
Malcolm

[Joy Dean]

Thank you.
A letter from my Dad dated 29 January 1940 gives his address as no. 4 Company, 17th London General Hospital, no 4 Base Sub Area, B.E.F. Is that of any help? (hopefully!). Here's another picture of him.

Joy

[Paul Reed]

Hi,

I can't help with this one, as its a Base Hospital and they only rarely published unit histories; I suspect it was at Abbeville, Arras, or eventually in Dunkirk itself... the RAMC Museum at Aldershot should be able to help with a location, I suspect.