New user - researching Border Regiment/CMP - McNulty

TD, Yes you are right, Busy Lizzies in group photo.
I was thinking of the flowering bush in WA0001.jpg

 

Having green fingers helps

 

RCG - thats the one - Nerium Oleander - also native to Sri Lanka

Ayurvedic Plants of Sri Lanka: Plants Details

TD

 

I have more information gained from Fred's daughters when I visited them.

• Fred was in B Company, 9th Battalion Border Regiment
• He has four medals: 1939-45 star; Burma star; Defence medal and War medal

I will upload the photos when I have reduced the image sizes

Stormin

 

Hi
I have now received Fred's service records - took about 2 weeks
Confirms he was in the 9th Battalion Border Regiment - found a very good book called "B" Company - One man's war in Burma by Raymond Cooper that follows the battalion through initial training, travel to India and the war.
When he was transferred to the CMP(I) it was to 61 LofC unit. I have deduced that LofC means Lines of Communication but cannot find any reference to 61 provost unit? Also, what did LofC units actually do?
Thanks in advance for any help with this
Regards
Norman

For those horticulturalists among you he did not go to Ceylon. He landed at Bombay and travelled by train to Calcutta

 

Lines of Communications, is the route that connects an operating military unit with its supply base. Supplies and reinforcements are transported along the line of communication.

Only guessing, but 61 Provost unit may actual be a section, designated for a certain operation
As here
102 Beach Sub-Area (Attached 3 Cdn Div) (Juno Beach)
242 (HQ) Pro Coy, CMP (59, 60, 61, 62 Pro Sections) - No.7 Beach Group.
244 (HQ) Pro Coy, CMP (67, 68, 69, 70 Pro Sections) - No.8 Beach Group.
So you really need to find which HQ he was under at the time.

 

Thanks RCG
Attached are the service records for Fred McNulty (took just over two weeks from requesting) - I would be grateful if anyone could help me explain the provost units and where I might find any further information about them.

PS the reason he has an RAMC serial number is because he joined the corps in 1931 when he was only 16 (serving for less than 6 months) so when he joined The Border Regiment his Border Regiment number was crossed out and his RAMC number used.
Thanks in advance

 

Hi Norman,

I am sorry I can't help you deciphering the records but here is a page from Tried and Valiant, the story of the Border regiment.

Regarding the 9th Bn Borders.

One thing I am really interested in the service records was that he was stationed in Cockermouth (my home town) I wonder what they were doing there, I know my granda who was in the 8th Bn Borders was also in Cockermouth at a time as this is where he met my grandma. And I have never found out why I may need to get in touch with the Border museum to find out.

Regards Mike.

 

Hi Deacs,
This is a similar record from the Border Regiment 1939 - 45 War Journal that I found on this site. It would appear that they were being trained in beach defence because in 1940 it was believed thet Hitler was about to invade Britain. After reorganisation the 9th moved to Northumberland. At this time it was not envisaged that the Battalion would serve overseas.
Regards
Norman