Major E H Person RASC

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by jehpontin, Sep 19, 2018.

  1. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi Joel

    Some of it was on RA Attestations Database on Findmypast. Some on 1939-1945 Casualties also on findmypast. Some on online edition of London Gazette (free).

    If you have a public library nearby, ask them if they have a copy of "The Story of the Royal Army Service Corps 1939-1945" Published by G Bell and Sons for the RASC Institution, London (1955)"

    It is a massive 720 page official book on the RASC and should have some useful information about their role during D-Day.

    It might, given its age, be hidden away in a secure cabinet somewhere (as it was in the main library in Norwich). So ask a member of staff.

    You could buy a copy but they vary online from a very reasonable 18 pounds to a simply crazy 250.

    The Story of the Royal Army Service Corps 1939-1945 by Various: G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., UK Hardcover, 1st. - Hedgerow Books PBFA

    Alternatively Chapter 6 of this covers RASC operations for ww2 including OVERLORD. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wait-Waggo...537385357&sr=8-1&keywords=wait+for+the+waggon

    And it is less than a tenner to download onto a kindle.

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

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  3. jehpontin

    jehpontin Joel

    Oh gosh of course, he was from Verwood so really should have thought of that, thank you very much.

    Really thankful for your help :)

    Joel
     
  4. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

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  5. jehpontin

    jehpontin Joel

    Thank you very much, will go down to the library when I can :)

    Thanks

    Joel
     
  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Following a bit of research on this site have found

    RASC service record 'DUKW's info required

    On 7 June 1944, the O.C.299 G.T. Coy (Major Person), 2 Capts (Capt. Skinner and Capt. McAngus) and 2 Corporals were killed by direct hit on DUKW Control Post.

    What I will do is contact another member who will for sure know what a DUKW Control Post and what it did

    So this tells us which RASC company he was in

    299 Coy. | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 171/2429
    Description:
    299 Coy.
    Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew

    OR

    299 Coy. | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 171/3219
    Description:
    299 Coy.
    Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew

    TD
     
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  7. jehpontin

    jehpontin Joel

    Wow, that's incredible... quite hard to read if anything thank you very much. He's buried next to Capt. Skinner and so I assumed they might have been together at the time of their death. Incredibly sad. Appreciate you contacting someone, really thankful again for your help (sounding a bit like a stuck record, sorry)

    Joel
     
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  8. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Casualty List No. 1476 (Officers)
    Expeditionary Forces
    North West Europe
    Killed in Action
    Person.jpg

    His parents, 2 Twyford Avenue, Southamption, 29 Sept 1939
    Person1939.jpg

    Casualty
     
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  9. DannyM

    DannyM Member

    Hi,
    The page from 299 Company War Diary for the 7th June.

    Regards

    Danny

    DSCF7929  EDIT.jpg
     
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  10. jehpontin

    jehpontin Joel

    Thank you very much, he was replaced quite quickly I see but interesting that he was the O.C. Where did you find this if you dont mind me asking? Was about to send a request to the National Archives about this page.

    Thanks
     
  11. DannyM

    DannyM Member

    Hi,
    It is from the War Diary, Ref : WO 171/2429. I don’t have a complete copy of this War Diary.

    Tricky Dicky linked to it in Post #26.

    If you are thinking of getting a copy and cannot get to the National Archives yourself you could contact PsyWar.Org (Lee) or Drew5233 (Andy) on the forum who both offer a copying service that will be less than the National Archives price.

    http://ww2talk.com/index.php?members/psywar-org.2876/

    http://ww2talk.com/index.php?members/drew5233.6786/

    Regards

    Danny
     
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  12. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Been out tonight, so TD found it already, but checking the CWGC record, it shows several other high ranking RASC officers and NCO's as being killed that same day, so the DUKW amphibious landing craft control point would seem to be where that number of senior officers would be found, directing and controlling the offloading of men and supplies off the Mulberry Harbours and beach heads. As it was only the day after D Day, the Germans hadn't been pushed all that far back. The page from the War Diary gives the time as 23:30 during an air raid. Unless they were being very incautious with lighting or bright moonlight, a direct bomb hit would seem a fickle chance of fate. More likely would be that the Germans had map locations for any sizeable buildings that might be used by the attackers, and had artillery zeroed in on them in case of invasion.

    His Probate record shows he left his estate to his widowed mother, Constance, not to Eunice.Home address was Rowan Garth, Blackmoor Lane, Verwood.

    This is along shot, but was Eunice an American? They married in 1941 and potentially there is a record of a Eunice Person entering the US by ship, and a death in 1943 in New York. but that may be totally wrong...
     
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  13. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    On a technical point. The Probate Record shows to whom Probate was granted to administer the Will. It has nothing to do with who actually inherits the estate. To find that out you need a copy of the Will.

    Tim
     
  14. jehpontin

    jehpontin Joel

    Hi,

    No worries, thanks for that explanation I did think that his burial next to Capt Skinner must’ve had some explanation behind it so thank you very much again.

    As for Eunice, yes she was American. I had no idea she died however, when I asked my Uncle about her he said that he thought she went back to the US to get married, do you know how she died?

    Thanks again,

    Joel
     
  15. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Joel, Sorry, I don't have access to American records, but she died quite young, must have had some health problem, or maybe a car accident.
    Possibly explains why the probate named his mother and not his wife, if she was already dead.
     
  16. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
    Name: Enoch H Person
    Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1941
    Registration district: Fylde
    Inferred County: Lancashire
    Spouse: Eunice M P Hinds
    Volume Number: 8e
    Page Number: 1545

    TD

    searching could open up a bag of worms - for example
    Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001 Eunice Hinds

    Would need to know more about her - which a copy of the marriage certificate would provide
     
  17. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    .. but we're moving into family history, often fraught with differences to what was passed down, rather than WW2 interests ;)
     
  18. jehpontin

    jehpontin Joel

    No worries, thanks for letting me know that however, very sad for him to lose his wife and his father so close to each other before his own death.

    Thanks,

    Joel
     
  19. jehpontin

    jehpontin Joel

    I'll try and get one if I can get the funds together :)

    Thanks,

    Joel
     
  20. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

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