1435081 Albert George LITTLETON, MiD, 59th (The Essex Regt) HAA Regt RA

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Sarah Reay, Jul 24, 2020.

  1. Sarah Reay

    Sarah Reay Member

    I've just started to do some research into my Grandfather's war time service, I know he served with the 59th HAA Regt, 265 Battery. His name was Albert George Littleton, Bombardier, service No 1435081. From what I can work out his Regt disembarked in Algiers 21st Dec 42 Ship P55. He was in Bone (Now Annaba) 24 Dec 42 as 167 and 265 batteries proceeded for detachment to main AA defense positions in the Bone area. Oct 2nd 1943 265 Battery is mentioned as being in Bizerta area and moving to Ferryville. It appears he then left for Naples around either the 21st Oct 43 or 13th Nov 1943 and I have a couple of photos of him in Rome 1944.
    He was mentioned in desptaches in the Gazette 11/11/43 but the remaining of his 2 children have fussy memories as to what this was for. I do have info that he was recommended by AFHQ ( am I correct in assuming this stands for Allied Force HQ?) The file Number is 68/GEN/7694 (again, not sure if this means anything) If anyone can help me with any general information on any of the above that would be fantastic.
     
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  2. SteveDee

    SteveDee Well-Known Member

    I'll try to fill in any gaps in the movement of 59th (that are not already covered in my blog) over the weekend. I hope someone can help with why he was mentioned in despatches.
     
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  3. Sarah Reay

    Sarah Reay Member

    Oh thanks Steve, your blog has already been a tremendous help, I find myself going down rabbit hole after rabbit hole with finding what bits of info I can :) It's become very addictive lol
     
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  4. SteveDee

    SteveDee Well-Known Member

    Hi Sarah, I was hoping to be able to provide you with an accurate list of places & dates showing where the 59th HAA Batteries were located during the war years. Unfortunately there seem to be discrepancies between different sources. This list is taken from the DRAMA report for the Regiment...

    59thHAA_dates.png

    ...but doesn't list some places mentioned in first hand accounts, e.g. Newcastle, Bude, Cawsand (Cornwall), Locking (Weston-super-Mare), Sherborne, Yeovil. It may be possible that individual Batteries were located at these places while the Regiment HQ was somewhere else, e.g. Bristol for Locking, and maybe Blandford for Sherborne & Yeovil.

    Locations not itemised under North Africa & Italy include: Bone (Algeria), Bizerta (Tunisia), Bagnoli/Naples, Brindisi & Rome.

    Also, the above list gives a date range for Italy which ends a few days before VE Day, while Leghorn & Trieste (Julian March) are listed separately.


    I have added "59th HAA - A Brief History" by A.S.Cross to my website which may be of interest: Sergeant ACK-ACK: 59th HAA - A Brief History by A.S.Cross
     
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  5. Sarah Reay

    Sarah Reay Member

    Hi Steve, thank you so, so much for all of that. Much appreciated. I read your post on your blog on the History by A.S Cross , it was really helpful as it also gave me some more insight into what they went through at various stages. Thank you again for all your help.
     
  6. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Other than an entry in the London Gazette and the official commemorative certificate, there is generally, and unfortunately, no other documentation describing the award of an MiD. Note also that the date of any document is likely to be some time after the recommendation.

    Recipients received an oak leaf emblem which was worn on the ribbon of the War Medal 1939 to 1945.

    05 Medal War 39_45.jpg
     
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  7. Sarah Reay

    Sarah Reay Member

    Thank you so much for that info Tony, it’s very helpful
     
  8. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    By way of illustration:
    MiD letter - Copy.jpg
     
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  9. Sarah Reay

    Sarah Reay Member

    Thanks Tony, lovely to see that little bit of history :)
     

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