8th Armoured Brigade - Identification

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Chris WIlletts, Oct 26, 2021.

  1. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    Need help Identifying my Grandfather - cant find his service # - he looks like he was a part of the 8th Armored Brigade? also the Derbyshire Yoemany?

    Ralph William Willetts
    1918–1974
    BIRTH 25 APR 1918 • Chasetown, Staffordshire, England
    DEATH 02 MAR 1974 • Brownhills

    Thank you for your assistance!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Found these records - Photo looks right, but not sure if this is the correct man in the records


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    Last edited: Oct 26, 2021
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  3. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    Nice, where did you find them? Not sure about the name John....
    Do you know what the marking means on the postcards?
    is that 50th anti tank?......not sure what the rest is.

    thank you!
     
  4. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    Nice, where did you find them? Not sure about the name John....
    Do you know what the marking means on the postcards?
    is that 50th anti tank?......not sure what the rest is.

    thank you!
     
  5. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Records from Fold3.com
     
  6. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    There’s also a Ralph William J Willetts born 15 February 1916 (Kings Norton registration district), married Elsie L M Bird in Birmingham 1939 and died 1976 Birmingham.
    So maybe the tracer card is nothing to do with Chris's grandfather.
     
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  7. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    You could be right. Ralph William Willetts son of George married Sylvia Beatrice Hames.
    More people have added to this facebook group.
    Facebook Groups

    Looks like he was 147th Essex Yeomanry
     
  8. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    If you are considering applying for his service records, you don't need it.
     
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  9. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    Indeed, that process is taking a long time. But will confirm research.
     
  10. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    Update - just received two new pictures. Make me think he is RAOC in the 8th Armored Brigade 147th Essex Yeomanry. Still, no service number to confirm yet....
     

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  11. IanTurnbull

    IanTurnbull Well-Known Member

    Chris
    That is certainly an EY Sexton in the photo, which according to their Archive was taken on the 21st September 1944 near Nijmegen. I cant confirm from the cap badges which are too blurred but they certainly look like the attached

    Ian
     

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  12. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    Thank you Ian for those details. - I have attached more images that may help....
     

    Attached Files:

  13. What do you mean by "received"? Do you know how exactly these photos are related to your Grandfather? Is BRENTWOOD confirmed as his vehicle?

    Michel
     
  14. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    I was just in England visiting family (I live in the USA) so I was able to access some more pictures. I cannot 100% confirm that BRENTWOOD was his but it is in his private collection and I haven't seen this photo anywhere else. Still trying to find his service # not sure why its so hard to find....
     
  15. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Unless there is some family paperwork (to find their number) or the serviceman was an officer, gained a gallantry award or was wounded, missing, POW or killed in action then there is very little chance of finding anything on the internet and service records are the only way to ensure that the right man is being researched. Did you apply for his MOD records last year, remember that his service number is not required.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2022
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  16. Chris,

    Thank you for your reply. I have not seen this photo anywhere else either. If the photo was exclusive to your Grandfather, it may indeed indicate BRENTWOOD was his vehicle. However, since Ian said that this same photo is in the Regiment's Archive, it might just have been a photo distributed to various members of the Regiment, and not necessarily only to those related to this specific vehicle.

    Michel
     
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  17. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    Thank you, I haven't sent off for them just yet, but I will. I am just surprised how difficult it has been to find anything on him compared to other relatives. Will keep looking and asking family for any documents. THank you all for helping! Stay tuned hahah
     
  18. Staffsyeoman

    Staffsyeoman Member

    50th Anti-Tank was a Training Regiment disbanded in July 1943. There wasn't a 50th A/T Regiment.
     
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