2nd Ox & Bucks soldier (Help Required)

[J_Hall]

Hi all,
I'm trying to find out what my grandad -Cecil Joseph Hall (Joe)- did in the war, but I only have a few pieces of info to go on:

1) His pay-book says he was in the 2nd Ox & Bucks Light Infantry. But I think he moved over to this unit as he was in the Leicester regiment for a while beforehand.

2)He talked about landing in gliders and being in Belgium, Germany, Egypt, and Palestine (where he was stationed immediately after the war was over).

3) He also mentioned being involved in a bayonet charge, and the only thing I can find about that is the taking of Hamminkeln bridge during Operation Varsity. That was in Wikipedia though so i'm dubious about it's accuracy.

If anyone could help flesh this out a bit or throw in a few facts they know of i'd be very appreciative.

Many thanks
Joe

[CL1]

hello Joe
Welcome

Have a look at this link to assist you
Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

[J_Hall]

Hi CL1, and thanks.

The problem with getting his service record is that i'd need proof of power of attorney or his written consent. I don't have the former and unfortunately my grandad, whilst still alive, has dementia and so unable to give the consent. Would this stop me from recieving any info if I did send off for it?
Thanks

[CL1]

Joe
it might be worth you giving the service records office a call,they could possibly shed some more light on the situation.

[GPRegt]

Joe,

Welcome to the Forum.

The bayonet story is true. It was led by your Grandad's Platoon Leader, Lt Hugh Clark MC. The Platoon was No 19/D Company.

Steve W.

[englandphil]

Joe, 2nd Ox and Bucks where part of the British 6th Airborne Division. Heres somthing to start you off.

The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy

[J_Hall]

Thanks Phil, very interesting site, i've just had a good read of it. It seems to cover only the Normandy campaign and on looking at the roll-call list his name is not there.

I wasn't sure he was on the D-Day drop to be honest, and given that he mentioned Belgium I think he may have come into the Ox & Bucks after they'd returned to England as a replacement for all the casualties.

------

Thanks GPRegT, he mentioned very little about the war but when his dementia set in he seemed to have flashbacks and spoke to my aunt about bayonetting a German in such detail it made her ill!
I've looked all over for the bayonet charge but can't find anything about it. Do you have anymore info in it?

Thanks again,
Joe

[James Daly]

Originally Posted by J_Hall

I wasn't sure he was on the D-Day drop to be honest, and given that he mentioned Belgium I think he may have come into the Ox & Bucks after they'd returned to England as a replacement for all the casualties.

The Belgium part could be the Ardennes. I seem to recall that 6th Airborne were among the British units brought in as reinforcements, although I'm not sure exactly where they were during the Battle of the Bulge.

[wtid45]

The 2ND Ox&Bucks as part of 6th Airborne were rushed to The Ardennes after the German offensive of 16 December 44 and stayed until 24 January, during this time one of its companies supported 13 Para in heavy fighting in the village of Bure.

[52nd Airborne]

Originally Posted by wtid45

during this time one of its companies supported 13 Para in heavy fighting in the village of Bure.

C Company, lead by Major John Granville.