1st Bn KRRC

Hello,
I wondered if any member had access to war diaries for the King's Royal Rifle Corps?
My uncle Joseph Smalley was attached to the1st battalion from the Rifle Brigade when he was reported missing on the 26th of October 1944 and was held POW and died December 44.
I am very interested to know in which area he was captured.
I would much appreciate any help with this enquiry.

On his service record it said he was reported missing whilst attached to the 1st battalion KRRC but he was in the Rifle brigade 10th bn.
hope this helps.
many thanks, Steve

 

Another thread?

Expect the same answers as last time.

Best solution then was to get yourself round to Kew or, if that was too difficult, give them a call to copy the files and send them to you.

 

Thank you for the replies.I'm not far from kew but under the circumstances [covid] it will be difficult but getting them copied would certainly be an option.Many thanks Steve.

 

Have you considered contacting - KRRC Association

TD

 

Thank you, that’s certainly a good lead.

 

Here is a page from the regimental history of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, Volume 7:

Mills, G. H. and R. F. Nixon. The Annals of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, Vol 6: 1921-1943. London: Leo Cooper, 1971. (D.Ryan)
Mills, G. H. The Annals of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, Vol. 7: 1943-1965. Winchester: Celer et Audax Club, 1979. (D.Ryan)

It explains the circumstances of your uncle's capture and death:

 

Here are some more details from another regimental history:

Wake, Sir Hereward. Swift and Bold; the story of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in the Second World War 1939-45. Aldershot: Gale and Polden, 1949. (NYPL)(D.Ryan)

 

Hi Dryan 67,
Thank you for this information, it’s really kind of you to share these pages.
This record ties up the loose ends in my research and it is good to see him actually mentioned in the diary. He was POW in stalag V11a and indeed died there in December 44.
Thank you very much again, Steve

 

I have a copy of the 1944 Battalion Diary. Drop me a private message if you'd like a copy.

 

Hi Joseph,

It appears in mid-October he was attached to 1 KRRC from 2 CRU for 'training':

 

Hi Gary,
Thank you very much for the records.
Very interesting information with dates etc.
Thanks again, Steve