2nd Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Jurgen van de Coolwijk, Nov 4, 2018.

  1. Hello everybody,

    I have a Question.
    I have been adopting a ww2 grave in Adegem Belgium.
    The soldier/grave i adopted is from
    Lance Corporal Frederick Robert Anstey.
    Died on 6 Juli 1940
    Age 30 years
    2nd Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
    Service Number 5179708

    We dont have any more information/Photo's or anything.
    Perhaps you could help me with my search to the soldier i honour a few times every year by standing still at their sacrifice and put some flowers on his grave!

    Thanks for youre time so far.

    Greetings Jurgen van de Coolwijk
    The Netherlands
     
  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Good evening and welcome to the forum.

    Lance Corporal Frederick Robert Anstey was reported as missing on 14 June 1940, along with a large number of his comrades. This was subsiquenty amended to killed in action on 6 July 1940.

    His entry with the CWGC is:
    Casualty

    It is possible to purchase a copy of his service records:
    Get a copy of military service records

    Good luck with your research, hopefully a family member will learn of your dedication to this soldier.
    Regards
     
  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Jurgen

    There are several family trees for him on Ancestry, but no photos I'm afraid
    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: Frederick Anstey
    Given Initials: F R
    Rank: Lance Corporal
    Death Date: 6 Jul 1940
    Number: 5179708
    Birth Place: Gloucestershire
    Residence: Gloucestershire
    Regiment at Enlistment: Gloucestershire Regiment
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: France and Belgium Campaign, 1939/40
    Regiment at Death: Gloucestershire Regiment
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    Presumably he died of wounds - is there a hospital near you that was used in WW2??

    I can if you wish contact the owner of a tree on Ancestry

    For info Frederick Anstey - Public Member Trees - Ancestry.co.uk
    TD
     
  4. That would be great Tricky Dicky.

    I can ask my contact in Adegem where his grave is if there was a hospital near the spot.
    Its for me 1,5 hour drive to there.
    But it's the only thing we can do, so we travel the country, i have 6 adoption
    graves so far.
     
    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Effectively the BEF had left Europe as it was by early June 1940, yet he died in July 1940, hence my thoughts that perhas he died of wounds

    I will send them a link to this thread and see what happens

    Appreciate what you do

    TD
     
  6. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    1911 Census:
    Anstey_1911.jpg

    Missing:

    Anstey_mis.jpg

    Anstey_kia.jpg
     
  7. Thats a great find. Where idd you found this?
    Thanks!
     
  8. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    Hi Jurgen, found them on the FindMyPast website:

    Sign in to your account | findmypast.co.uk

    Pleased to help. Thank YOU for what you are doing.
     
    Buteman and Tricky Dicky like this.
  9. Nice, too bad it's a paysite. Such sites should be available for everyone!
     
  10. Still no further info, unfortunatly!
     
  11. neil hunt

    neil hunt Member

    Hi I don't suppose you could let me have the complete Missing Men File from 2nd BN GR...My grandfather L/Cpl Archie Bertram Kaye will be on it. Do you have more on the Coy Rolls...am trying to collate more details and see if I can work out what Company and hopefully Platoon he was with. We think we may be able to confirm his date of death to June 2nd...due to being able to link him to the Lt Fane Group through Cpl Eldridge who witnessed his death at Malo-Les-Bains in an Air Attack. Thanks in advance.
     
  12. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

  13. neil hunt

    neil hunt Member

    Attached Files:

  14. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Going back to Lance Corporal Anstey, as has been mentioned on the Adegem Cemetery thread, he was originally buried at Klemskerke. The BEF casualties who were there are from varied units and dates which suggest a hospital, but I have a
     
  15. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Contact Andy (Drew5233) he will be happy to get you a copy if he hasnt already copied it?

    Kyle
     
  16. neil hunt

    neil hunt Member

    Thanks Kyle...Harkness has been able to send through the files I was after and Drew has previously sent through the Gloucestershire Regiment Missing Men File...am getting there, but still would like to confirm the Coy, as I only know he wasn't in A or D at this stage...as I have seen the Roll for those two. I believe it's likely he was with B...with a chance he could have been C or HQ.
     
  17. mvdv84

    mvdv84 Well-Known Member

    Anstey was first buried at Klemskerke churchyard. The other Gloucestershire Regiment (2nd Bn) member buried at Adegem is WILSON, John Thomas. He was first buried at Belgium Military Cemetery in Westvleteren.

    I'm looking for the service records of these 2 soldiers and war diary files, May and July 1940 to study and apply to my project commonwealth-adegem.com.

    web-Headstone-FR-Anstey-ph.Michael-vd-Velde.jpg web-Headstone-JT-Wilson-ph.Michael-vd-Velde.jpg
     

Share This Page