1064497 Gunner John NEWELL,169th Battery, 57th LAA Rgt, Royal Artillery: 03/02/1942

Was hoping some here would be able to point me in the right direction. I only know the very basics(name,marriage,rank, where he is buried and death) of my great-grandfather. He served in the 169th Battery, 57th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery before being kia in 1942, leaving his wife alone in Belfast, NI. Would really love to learn more about him(I'd be especially ecstatic if I would find a picture as we don't have any), can anyone give any research tips or things that I should maybe look into?

 

Hi Megann
Welcome to the forum.

Has anyone in the family applied to MOD for copy service records?
Request records of deceased service personnel
These will supply information not available anywhere else and you can track his service, transfers, medal entitlement etc through them.


Good luck with your research. (I see he's from the Shankill. My grandfather was from there too - ended up BSM in RA.)


Full CWGC details, for the record
Casualty Details | CWGC
GUNNER JOHN EDWARD NEWELL
Service Number: 1064497
Regiment & Unit: Royal Artillery, 169 Bty., 57 Lt. A.A. Regt.
Date of Death: Died 03 February 1942
Age 37 years old
Buried or commemorated at KNIGHTSBRIDGE WAR CEMETERY, ACROMA
Grave Reference: 3. B. 17.
Location: Libya
Additional Info: Husband of Esther Newell, of Shankhill, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Personal Inscription: FAR FROM HIS NATIVE LAND HE SLEEPS ALWAYS MOURNED BY HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN


These other threads might have some relevant info, haven't checked them though. There are bound to be others if you use search engine.
57 light anti aircraft regiment ra | WW2Talk


This is the reference for war diary, held at National Archives Kew. Perhaps some forum member might have a copy for relevant timeframe?
Royal Artillery: 57 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (RA LAA) | The National Archives
Reference: WO 169/4896
Description: Royal Artillery: 57 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (RA LAA)
Date: 1942 Jan.- Dec.

Without copy records there's no way of knowing if he spent his whole service with them, but at least it will cover the time leading up to his death.

 

Thank you so much!! I'll have to get out and visit my grandpa at some point to see if he'd apply for the records, no one else in the family is interested in knowing more unfortunately but hopefully we can get records!

 

If you do apply to MOD be aware that their response times have slowed down recently Some folks are now resorting to sending undated cheques rather than risk being timed-out...
Service Records application - MOD response timescale


Also you might need a little bit of help in deciphering the entries in the paperwork. There's a sub-forum here just for that:
Service Records

In meantime check to see if any relatives kept letters which might have been sent home or other memorabilia: all adds to the big picture.

 

He was firstly reported 'Missing - 3.2.42' in Casualty List No. 765 Dated 7 March 1942 and subsequently 'Previously reported missing now presumed killed in action - 3.2.42' in Casualty List No. 1051 Dated 5 February 1943. The lists provide no additional information on the circumstances.