found out my grandad served with this company during ww2 i know it was in italy '41-46 but i do not know anything other than that, i was wondering if anyone had any info or even family who served in the same unit?? found he has a few photos as well which were passed to my aunt who passed them onto my mother. (my grandfather passed away in '73)
If you're interested in getting the 19 Port Workshop war diaries, here are the National Archive references for them: WO 169/12580, 19 Port Wksp. (1943 July- Dec.) WO 170/3044, Port Workshops: 19 Wksp. (1944 Jan.- Dec.) WO 170/6556, Port Workshops: 19 Wksp. (1945 Jan.- Dec.) WO 170/8729, Workshops: 19 Port Wksp. (1946 Jan.) Lee
Can't find any info on 19 P.W. in "Craftsmen of the Army" - the war diaries will give you details of what they did, good to see war diaries for REME - theres not many around! Briefly, P.W.s would carry out needed repairs to vehicles and equipment that was necessary to get the equipment out of the port so as not to cause a hold up in the port. Things such as charging flat batteries, inflating tyres etc. and then sending them on their way to their correct destination. The war diary will give lots more info. P.W.s were often part of a larger organisation, a detachment of a Base Workshop for example.
Another thing, REME didn't come into being until Oct. 1942, so your Grandad would have been in some other unit until at least then. More than likely RAOC or RASC, but possibly could have been in any unit.
Interesting stuff. In the first photograph the cap badge doesn't appear to be REME and the beret seems overly large, reminiscent of Scots/Irish regiments. Also two chaps have medal ribbons. I;m not an expert, but I bet some people on this forum could identify the regiment and time period of the photo. Hope you don't mind - I enlarged a section of it - maybe someone could have a look? 2nd photo needs no explaining (!) and the last is a workshop envoironment I would imagine from the clothing worn, overalls etc.
not at all i do know he was awarded 1939/45 Star Africa Star + Army Clasp Italy Star Defence Medal War medal 1939/45 his service number is 10552400 & his occupation was Motor Driver
Oh and this is a WW2 era REME badge in case you hadn't seen one. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=367&pictureid=2965
Thats the same set of medals my Dad had, except Dad had the Territorial Army long service medal as well. Looks like your G/Father was in the army from the beginning of WW2? or maybe even longer?
23/4/41 i believe was his hate of joining as he did 10 years 17 days with the forces discharged 10/5/51 he was scottish as he was born & breed in alloa, clackmannanshire. our headdress is either the glengarry or the tam o'shanter
