2nd Bn Royal Sussex, later 10th Bn Parachute Regt

Hi Phil

Thanks for the photos. Yes they all members of Croydon PRA. I certainly remember Ginger on the right very well (he was MT platoon when I served). While I'm a member of the PRA I am not a branch member due to my home location. I haven't been at the Arnhem since the 50th anniversary (jumped that day in a wind gusting 20 knots - ouch - that one still stands out!) I'm looking to get over for the 65th anniversary and may book sooner rather than later in order to get local accomodation.

 

Tenth,
I'd suggest you seriously think about booking something very soon as I've heard a lot of hotels in the Arnhem/Oosterbeek area are already full for September 2009......

 

Thanks for the heads up Medic. I'll get it sorted asap. Are you going?

 

Hopefully I will be present in 2009......I'm doing a BFT with a group in June and hopefully the wife will let me disappear also in September.....

 

I was wondering if anyone had the patience to direct a rather naive 26 year old in the direction of gaining knowledge of the 10th Battalion Parachute Regiment.
My Great Uncle (John Charles Joseph Glazier) was killed in action between 18/09/1944 and 25/09/1944.
I have so far 2 photographs, a death notification sent to my great Grandmother and some patchy information from some Uncles (who I think were in contact with Philip Reinders in 2007 after sending a letter to the local newspaper in Hastings).
I need some background information to help with a research project as part of my degree programme as well as for personal interest.
I am well underway on the family history side of things but greatly desire some information of his army career... where do I begin?
Many thanks
Gemma

 

Gemma PM send

 

I was wondering if anyone had the patience to direct a rather naive 26 year old in the direction of gaining knowledge of the 10th Battalion Parachute Regiment.
My Great Uncle (John Charles Joseph Glazier) was killed in action between 18/09/1944 and 25/09/1944.
I have so far 2 photographs, a death notification sent to my great Grandmother and some patchy information from some Uncles (who I think were in contact with Philip Reinders in 2007 after sending a letter to the local newspaper in Hastings).
I need some background information to help with a research project as part of my degree programme as well as for personal interest.
I am well underway on the family history side of things but greatly desire some information of his army career... where do I begin?
Many thanks
Gemma

Hi Gemma and welcome to the forum...Have you considered getting his Service Records?

Regards
Andy

 

Hi Andy,
Well there is a bit of a complex story there.
My Uncle applied to the MOD for service records and to enquire about any medals that are being held there.
The reply was that he is not legal next of kin as John died leaving a wife and child.
After doing fairly extensive family history research I have found his daughter, but I am a little nervous to contact her, the issues maybe a little sensitive, she probably has no idea that she has a rather large extended family living in Hastings.
Am I allowed to apply to view them, or is this correct that it has to be the legal next of kin?
I am a little confused also as his death notification was sent to his Mother not his Wife?
This could have been his request after finding out the marriage was in trouble when he went to war.

I would be grateful of any advice
Gemma


Hi Gemma and welcome to the forum...Have you considered getting his Service Records?

Regards
Andy

 

The NoK is who he tells them it is as far as the Army is concerned, you fill a form (several infact) in before you go overseas and I would assume it was the same then.

As for the records sadly you need the NoK approval unless he has been dead for over 20 years I think-I think being the key bit. I'm sure I read it somewhere

I'm assuming that that rule has changed since you last applied seeing as he died in 1944. I would suggest you ring Manning and Records in Glasgow, The MoD and they will be able to confirm this.

Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

Regards
Andy

 

Thanks Drew,
That website was most helpful, it seems it is 25 years after death until a general enquirer can request information... so essentially this seems possible now.
I will start the ball rolling!
Thanks again
Gemma

The NoK is who he tells them it is as far as the Army is concerned, you fill a form (several infact) in before you go overseas and I would assume it was the same then.

As for the records sadly you need the NoK approval unless he has been dead for over 20 years I think-I think being the key bit. I'm sure I read it somewhere

I'm assuming that that rule has changed since you last applied seeing as he died in 1944. I would suggest you ring Manning and Records in Glasgow, The MoD and they will be able to confirm this.

Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

Regards
Andy

 

Hi Gemma, welcome to the Forum and I hope you can find what you are after, having looked on the CWGC website and in my copy of the Tenth all I can find is the following which I dare say you already know.SGT John Charles Joseph, age 34 service number 6397198 he is also on the roll of honour on the Paradata website who would like any more information that a family member might be able to provide. Good luck in your research and let us know what you find, all the best, Jason.

 

Hi Jason,
Thank you for your message.
Yes I used the CWGC website to clarify the copy of the death notification I have.
Without sounding completely naive, what is the Paradata website?
Gemma

Hi Gemma, welcome to the Forum and I hope you can find what you are after, having looked on the CWGC website and in my copy of the Tenth all I can find is the following which I dare say you already know.SGT John Charles Joseph, age 34 service number 6397198 he is also on the roll of honour on the Paradata website who would like any more information that a family member might be able to provide. Good luck in your research and let us know what you find, all the best, Jason.

 

ParaData | A living history of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces

And for 10th Para:

The 10th Battalion The Parachute Regiment (10 PARA) | ParaData

You have 4 documents there and one of them is about 10th Para at Arnhem

 

Sol,
Many thanks
Gemma

ParaData | A living history of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces

And for 10th Para:

The 10th Battalion The Parachute Regiment (10 PARA) | ParaData

You have 4 documents there and one of them is about 10th Para at Arnhem

 

Sol,
Many thanks
Gemma

Gemma, with his date of death being given as 18th - 25th Sept, it means that the last day that he was seen alive was the 18th, but it was not possible to confirm that he had been killed

After the end of the battle, he was not registered as a POW, so would have been listed as missing in action, which would have been changed to Killed in action when no identifable trace was found after the war.

Having no know grave he is listed on the Grooesbeek memorial panel 8

If you would like to add some information to the paradata website, especially a photograph, then you can email Tom at curator@paradata.org


Phil

 

Phil,
Thank you very much for the message.
All of the helpful information I am receiving so quickly is excellent!
I shall email the photo I have to the curator of the paradata website.
Also thank you for the attached photograph of the Grooesbeek memorial, it has reminded me to ask a relative who has some photographs of their trip to see the memorial.
Gemma

Gemma, with his date of death being given as 18th - 25th Sept, it means that the last day that he was seen alive was the 18th, but it was not possible to confirm that he had been killed

After the end of the battle, he was not registered as a POW, so would have been listed as missing in action, which would have been changed to Killed in action when no identifable trace was found after the war.

Having no know grave he is listed on the Grooesbeek memorial panel 8

If you would like to add some information to the paradata website, especially a photograph, then you can email Tom at curator@paradata.org


Phil

 

I was wondering if anyone knows of any war diaries that exist for 10th battalion?
My lecturer has suggested I research through the National Archives or the Imperial War Museum to see if any survive.
It states on the Pegasus Archive that:
Note: The 10th Parachute Battalion war diary for the period 18th - 25th September 1944 was lost when the Battalion was overrun on the 21st September 1944. As such this very brief record only notes their departure from and return to England.
Gemma

 

The war diary still "rest" at the bottom of a trench somewhere on the Johannahoeve area beig buried there by the clerck lofty Dickens, with on top of a mill36 handgrenade

 

Philip,
Seemingly by that then I shall never see them!
Can you have a look at this web page for me, at the bottom it states there is a page from the 10th battalion war diary?
Ken Smyth
Is it not actually the war diary?
Are there no war diaries at all for the 10th battalion or just the week 18th-25th September which are missing?
Also Philip, a relative has been in touch and recalls you corresponding with them about my relative John Glazier.
You confirmed you believed he was killed on a railway line? Is this the case and where could I perhaps find such information?
I apologise for all my questions.
Gemma

The war diary still "rest" at the bottom of a trench somewhere on the Johannahoeve area beig buried there by the clerck lofty Dickens, with on top of a mill36 handgrenade

 

Gemma,

Please pm with any questions you have as some years ago Harry Dicken sort of wrote up the unoffcial war diary and I have a copy somewhere......Harry in 1944 was in the Intelligence Section and also 'carried' the CO's maps IIRC.....