249th (Airborne) Field Company RE

My wife's grandfather, Lieutenant/Captain G L Woodcock was in 249 Field Company RE attached to 6th Airborne. We think he was 2IC of No.3 Platoon. We have applied for his service record but we're hoping to visit Normandy soon and we wondered what information is available if his service record doesn't arrive in time.

The Pegasus Bridge Museum has a listing for G Woodcock piloting a glider in Operation Mallard but they suggest the listing is for a sergeant and his 'L' initial is missing. I've studied another 249 thread which suggests that Normandy may have been split among gliders and landing craft.

Can anyone shed a bit more light on G L Woodcock and where he may have been based in the UK and what his role was during D-Day.

Thanks in advance, Lee

 

249th Field Company RE on D-Day and Battle of Normandy

 

Thanks CL1, that's a great piece on 249. I read it through before posting including the attachments. Sadly, my wife's grandfather isn't mentioned in that post and it was there that I found that 249 were split on their way into Normandy with some arriving by glider and others by landing craft. I'm hoping someone has a few more details so we can piece his history togther

 

Hi Lee Davey !
What a fantastic news !
I return to you soon.
Xavier P.

 

The 3rd platoon landed at Juno Beach.
Xavier

 

I am in contact with some familles of soldiers of the 249th. I will sent you a private message...

 

Thank you Xavier! If you have any information as to where he may have been based in the lead up to D-Day, as well as after, that'd be great.
We have recently discovered maps and photographs that may be of interest to the families of 249, which I'd be happy to share copies of

 

May be you know this picture :
The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy

An extract from this picture :

Left to Right :
Captain Thomas John HIRST, commander of the 1st Platoon.
Lieutenant G L WOODCOCK, second in command of the 3rd Platoon.
Captain “Jock” Henry Russell Kinloch NEILSON, commander of the 2nd Platoon.

I think Lieutenant G L WOODCOCK joined the unit the 7th February 1943.

Thank you to Bryan Chatham (The son of sapper Dennis Chatham, 249th RE) for this excellent picture.
We wish him a speedy recovery.

Xavier P.

 

Thanks Xavier. That is indeed my wife's grandfather and my 17-year-old nephew looks exactly like him!
Thanks for posting it