Anyone require War Diaries or other files from the National Archives?

Andy sent you a pm

 

Hello
My Uncle was John Martinus Koppens 3247420 2nd Bn Cameronians died 27/05/1940 buried Esqueimes War Cemetery, have just joined and would appreciate any help. I read a few posts and written excerpts you put on and it was extremely interesting. I was able to read them over the phone to my father his brother. And it is the first time we had any information about what happened. I am not sure if there is more information available.
Sorry I did not know how to personally message you.

 

Hi Andy (Drew5233) what do you need to get stuff from Kew? Thanks

 

Just a Private Message to start with

 

Just received my War Diaries. Excellent service from Andy. Quicker than expected and very cheap. Saved me the expense and trauma of a drive to London.
Regards,
Bryan

 

Me too!!

Got my disc containing the final report from the Military Attache in Belgrade in the run up to the German attack in April 1941 and looking forward to rummaging through it at the weekend. Good prices, excellent service, what's not to like?

Regards

Tom

 

Andy,

Just shot you a message mate, re your next visit to Kew

 

Hi Andy,
My name is Tony Edgeley my father was L/Cop LJC Edgeley RAMC 129th Field Ambulance Bge I would be interested in any war diaries on the 129th Fld Amb you can find and any commanding officers three monthly reports. My father was enlisted in Aug 1941 and i know he was billeted with an elderly couple in a village called Rolvenden Kent. He went to France on the 18th June 1944. how do i get payment to you and how do you send info to me.
Regards Tony Edgeley

 

Just by way of a update in case anyone is interested I started running a special offer the beginning of this month and it will run until the end of September 2017...

It's a very simple offer in that if you order any one war diary from the WO 167 or WO 171 series (France 1940 and North West Europe 1944) you get a second from the same series (the cheapest of the two) for free. You can order as many diaries as you like under this offer as long as they are in either of the two WO series.

Cheers
Andy

 

Andy,

I'm curious as it happens. You have been taking orders for a number of years now and I'm sure that you've done everything from the War Cabinet to the Women's Auxiliary Balloon Corps, but what units/theatres/locations/dates keep coming up again and again?

Off the top of my head, I might guess that it's the files that overlap with the big European & N. African battles: Arnhem, Alamein, Cassino, Normandy Landings etc...

 

NW Europe mate 1944 is the main area followed by WO 166 Home Forces and WO 169 Middle East/North Africa. WO 172 Far East and WO 170 Central Med are the least popular of the main campaigns.

The most diaries I have are in the BEF series, around 650 ish but these are copied mainly for personal use.

 

Andy
Just sent you a pm.
Steve

 

Interesting--surprised you don't get more Chindit interest.

Is it all army?
I've seen people here ask you about RAF files, but never RN.

 

Very little RN related stuff...A few Log Books from certain ships but mainly ADM files related to Op Neptune off the top of my head. I also get a around 6 to 10 RAF Op Record Books a year but most of these are online now to download.

 

Andy, are the war diaries just of a campaign, (i.e. BEF in Northern Europe), or do they go throughout the war, (i.e. 1939 to 1945). Thinking about Sussex Yeomanry, 391 battery, 98th Field Regiment RA.

 

They run all through the war and slightly beyond (many make it into 1946 if the unit was still in existence).

98 Field Regt (In order: Sept 1939 to May 1946)

98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery | The National Archives
ROYAL ARTILLERY: FIELD REGIMENTS: 98 Field Regiment. | The National Archives
ROYAL ARTILLERY: FIELD REGIMENTS: 98 Regiment. | The National Archives
Royal Artillery: 98 Field Regiment (Fd Regt) | The National Archives
Royal Artillery: 98 Field Regiment (RA Fd Regt) | The National Archives
Field Regiments: 98 Fd. Regt | The National Archives
98 Regt. | The National Archives
98 Regt. | The National Archives

And there's a separate diary for 391 Battery for (just) September 1943 (I assume they were temporarily detached--anybody?): Edit: this was the date of the regiment's move to Italy; I'll bet 391-bty went first.

Royal Artillery: 391 Field Battery (RA Fd Bty) | The National Archives

Be careful because there is also a 391 searchlight battery, which is a different unit.

 

Thanks Charley, much appreciated!

 

Andy,
Received your c-d today.(building up quite a collection) finally managed to track down the movements of my fathers unit.
I can now move on and continue my research.
Great service, and very good value.(just placed another order for you)

Cheer's........Graham.

 

Andy
Sent you a p.m. re my order.
Steve

 

Andy
Disk received today. Latest diaries have provided some interesting aspects from a command point of view and also tie in with individual unit's diaries.
Many thanks again for your service.
Regards
Steve