Does anyone know where the records for this unit are located and the level of detail in said records? I'm trying to track one particular vehicle (ex 3RTR A34 Comet T335335) which was sent to 171 Vehicle Park in about July 1945 and it's a question of where it went next. Long shot I know!
There are only 14, 15, 16, 17, 163 and 165 Veh Park Coy listed at the National Archives that I could see.
A Google search for 171 Vehicle Park Hamburg shows they were based on the Hamburg-Lubeck Autobahn and had thousands of vehicles in store. This destination for 3RTR Comets is also mentioned in an Order of which I have a copy (origin I believe to be 3RTR War Diary or similar).
It maybe they didn't have a diary, it was lost or their diary is in another units or larger formations diary. Or I couldn't find it.
Interesting; I guess I'm in the 'the impossible simply takes longer' territory! Thanks as always for the input.
Any idea what a C.O.O. is? WO 171/6987 C.O.O. Veh. Coy. 1945 Oct.- Dec. WO 171/10211 Vehicle Companies and Parks C.O.O. 1946 Jan.- June The WO 171 file series is NWE
My last effort: There is a 171 Coy RASC (3 diaries 44-46) that would be a good idea to look in. Some files at Kew have incorrect names.
Would be good if the 171 series had a section about another 171! My first date of interest is 01Aug45 which is when the first batch of 3RTR Comets were actually handed in.
Bouncing this thread. It turns out that 171 Vehicle Park was part of 17 Vehicle Company RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps). My questions are therefore: Did 17 Vehicle Company keep a War Diary? Did 171 Vehicle Park keep a War Diary? Did either or both of those keep inventories detailing Vehicle movements? The reasons for my enquiry are detailed in post #1.
Hi, I have the 1944 War Diary for 17 Company and unless they changed the compiler of the War Diary then the information you want will not be in there. Sample page below. The references for 1945/46 are : WO 171/6991 Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Vehicle Companies and Parks. 17 Veh. Coy WO 171/10215 . Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Vehicle Companies and Parks. 17 Coy Regards Danny
Thanks Danny. As mentioned in a previous post, it's a long shot and that sample page appears to confirm that. Hope I'm not asking too much but do you have any details for the period around 1st August 1945? Note: if I've read your post correctly, your answer could well be 'no'.
Danny, My father was in the 17th Vehicle Company. If you have moment can you have a look for any references to activities in the village of Kontich which is between Antwerp and Brussels. The dates would be around October to December of 1944. It would be massively appreciated. Best Regards Allan