Small point but may showwhat he was employed as. CQMS (Company Quarter Master Sergeant) is an appointment not a rank In the Infantry it is usually held by the Rank of Colour Sergeant,but not exclusively. I have not come across the term UC/Sgt before.(Acting unpaid,acting and local can act up a rank) The CQMS was responsible for all Company stores and food
is this him? Casualty Details Had a chat with Rob on phone & he pointed out that the 6HB entry refers to the Holding Battalion rather than the 6th Battalion itself.
If you can tell me who you are looking for, based on the following information. A former Lincoln soldier, enlisted on 2/7/1930. He was transferred from the Lincolns on 20/6/1944 as a replacement to the DLI and died in Geel, Belgium on 9/9/1944. If so, I can post more details and the headstone photo I took in Belgium. HAZEL, LESLIE WILLIAM Rank: Serjeant Service No: 4799746 Date of Death: 09/09/1944 Age: 34 Regiment/Service: Durham Light Infantry Unit: 8th Bn. Grave Reference: Brit. Plot, grave 12. Cemetery: GEEL (STELEN) CHURCHYARD Additional Information: Son of James William and M. S. Hazel; husband of Dorothy Hazel, of Ashby, Lincolnshire
Brain just switched on. UC/Sgt :-Unpaid Colour Sgt promoted from Sergeant. If so would normally be written Colour Sergeant (Acting Unpaid)
Ramacal.That was my uncle. I too have visited the grave at Stelen Churchyard and have photos. I have his detailed army documents. Of course I also have his personal life details. What more do you have please? I am now trying to discover if he travelled to France in April 1940 because he was posted to the 6 th Battalion Lincolnshires on 18 th April that year and I understand the 6th Battalion went to France in April and quickly returned through Dunkirk. Do you have any details of those movements please? Dave
Owen, thank you. I had read that as 6thB but you are right it is 6HB. Am I right in thinking that means he was in a holding situation for the 6th Battalion. So pretty sure he did not go to France in 1940. Another problem solved Thank you Dave
Hi Dave, If you have one particular document in the service records (see attached copy - it is the same type as my Dad's). It will be marked with the theatres of war served and dates. From the records you've already posted, I don't think he went to France with the BEF. Nominal Roll photos attached. Copies of my own from Geel (Stelen) Churchyard. Regards Rob
Rob, thank you My page is not exactly the same because it started in 1930, though the info is similar. I fully agree that he did not go in 1940. Unfortunately I had misread the entry for 6HB. Now it makes better sense, and indeed there is no indication of going abroad in 1940. Leslie was my mother's half brother . There was only 15 months between them and I took her to see the grave. I used to live in Belgium, less than an hour drive from Stelen. What I am doing now is for my cousin, his daughter, who was orphaned when he died. I have more pictures of the church (Sint Apolonia Kerk) from different sides and some other angles of the graves plot. Also have clearer view of the base of the grave stone so can read the prayer there. Have a couple of pics of the Albert Canal, which is only about 100 yards away, and a bridge over it which I like to think was used for one of the two bridgeheads. What is your interest in him please? Am happy to share more if you want. Regards, Dave PS sorry about quoting all your stuff again. did not intend to do that, but could not find how to stop it.
I took some photos at Geel (Stelen) of DLI headstones for someone who was interested in the DLI, some years ago. Only recently did I copy Lincoln Reg Nominal Rolls and find a link.
Thank you to everyone who has helped me on this one. We now have a much clearer picture of his life in WW2 Dave
Did he serve in the 2nd Battalion Lincolns from june 1940 up to Normandy 1944 and then to the DLI in late june?
Not exactly. He went to Normandy with Reinforcements Holding Unit 2 days after 2nd Batt went. See sequence below Posted to 2nd 9.6.1940. Suffered injury 22.11 1942. To Y List (C?) 22.12.1942. Assume he spent significant time in hospital To 2nd Batt 19.1.1943. To 41 RHU 103 RG X(IV) list 21.4.1944. To Normandy 8.6.1944. To 8th DLI (who were at Villers-Bocage) 20.6.1944. Planning to look for hospital records to see if can find what injury was. Described in Army records as "not likely to interfere" Dave
Remembering the 'forgotten' WW2 service personnel photo on the page. On the 20/06/1944 8th DLI were just outside Hottot les Bagues. Kyle
Kyle, thank you. I was not aware of that article. Thank you also for the info on Hottot les Bagues. Amazing what info is out there if only you can find it. This is a great forum. Dave