My introduction

[Owen]

Army number, 4399392 , shows he enlisted into the
The Green Howards 4379001 - 4435000 .

[spidge]

A book on the subject:

Amazon.co.uk: SAS Operation Bulbasket: Amazon.co.uk:: Paul McCue

[read46]

Many thanks for everything.
Back home in the UK (as previously mentioned I live and work in western China now) I have many many photographs taken by my father during the war.
He served in the RAF as ground crew and spent much of the time in maintenance units in the north of England, Scotland and the Middle Esat.
There are many pictures of him recovering aircraft from crash sites in the Middle East and some particularly good ones of German aircraft in various states of 'destruction'.
I will endeavour to scan these and put them on the website for others to enjoy.

One point of interest that I remember from my fathers service records is that he served with 2TARU, with my limited skills in 'cyber' research I can find no reference. This would have been served at a base in Egypt, perhaps Kabrit or Kasfareet. Could I assume it refers to a Transport Repair Unit?

One story that my father used to tell me, time and time again.
Before the war he grew up in a small hamlet/village in Northumberland. His best pal, John Younger ' Harry' and he were about the same age.
My fathers family were friendly with a prominent local woman, Constance Leathart who used to take my father with her to Cramlington airfield where she flew.(she later made a bit of as name for herself delivering aircraft during the war) My dad used to help the mechanics there and enjoyed working on aircraft.
As war beckoned my father anticipated the 'call up papers' and enlisted in the RAF and was sent off to Padgate and then Hednesford.
Harry remained in employment and sure enough, after war was declared, he was called up.
They kept in contact until finally my father was posted abroad, via Bombay, Iraq and Palestine he ended up in Egypt.
One particular day, while on leave in Cairo, he heard his name being shouted from amongst the throng of servicemen who were trudging the bazaars..
To my dads absolute surprise it was his pal, Harry. They had photographs taken together and parted company promising to keep in touch.

but they never did............................................... ............

Name:YOUNGER, JOHNInitials:JNationality:United KingdomRank:PrivateRegiment/Service:Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersUnit Text:8th Bn.Age:23Date of Death:16/05/1943Service No:2987024Additional information:Son of William and Margaret Younger, of Downham, Northumberland.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:12. G. 36. Cemetery: El Alia

I fully realise there must be hundreds of such stories to be told but never the less, that is one of mine.

I hope the CWGC don't mind me copying the info they hold!

[spidge]

In the RAF:

Transport Aircraft Repair Unit

[Owen]

To my dads absolute surprise it was his pal, Harry. They had photographs taken together and parted company promising to keep in touch.

but they never did.....

Lovely but sad story.
RIP Harry.
Just one thing, have you a date for this episode?
As 8th Argylls would not have been in Egypt, they landed in Algeria with 78th Div, 1st Army.
I wonder if he was posted to them after being wounded with Argylls in the 8th Army.

Date Harry died 8th Argylls were on Hill 667 north-east of Medjez-El-Bab.

[read46]

Originally Posted by Owen D

Lovely but sad story.
RIP Harry.
Just one thing, have you a date for this episode?
As 8th Argylls would not have been in Egypt, they landed in Algeria with 78th Div, 1st Army.
I wonder if he was posted to them after being wounded with Argylls in the 8th Army.

Date Harry died 8th Argylls were on Hill 667 north-east of Medjez-El-Bab.

Owen, thanks for the informative reply and for the interest, I greatly appreciate it.

My father, from information that was given to Harry's mother regarding the circumstances, lead me to believe that Harry contracted an illness/disease and or was wounded and didn't recover.

I would love to find out more and dearly wish that as a youngster I had listened more attentively to those first hand stories of WW1 and WW2 that were told during family and friend get togethers during the early 50's.

[read46]

Originally Posted by spidge

In the RAF:

Transport Aircraft Repair Unit

Thanks for that confirmation. I have a medal ~'Geneifa Cricket League Winners 1944' ~ engraved with my fathers name


Geniefa Cricket League Winners 1944
R Dawson
No 2 T.A.R.U

I wonder where, near Geneifa, they were stationed/based?
He did talk about building sailing boats, playing cricket, trips to Ismalia, the pyramids and making brass ashrays engraved with palm trees!!
I miss him!!

[von Poop]

Snippet from the web:

No 161 MU
Formed 11 May 1943 from No 5 (Middle East) Aircraft Repair Unit at Fayid. Redseignated No 2 Transport Aircraft Repair Unit on 1 March 1944.

111MU & 161MU [Archive] - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums

Though I currently can only find a reference to No.3 TARU here:
Stations-H
(RAF organisations definitely not being my thing .)

[read46]

Originally Posted by Von Poop

Snippet from the web:

111MU & 161MU [Archive] - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums

Though I currently can only find a reference to No.3 TARU here:
Stations-H
(RAF organisations definitely not being my thing .)

I have found out more information in a few days, from everyone here, than I can ever imagine.
Many thanks for taking the time to help.

[Jonathan Saunders]

Dont frequent this board very often as I study the other war but came on to do a search on "Bulbasket".

I was at Rom at the end of September. A member of our party had been the girlfriend of Eddie Adamson!!

Regards,

Jonathan S