612th Field Squadron Royal Engineers

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by Mark111, Oct 2, 2017.

  1. Mark111

    Mark111 New Member

    I have recently been given a bag full of paperwork, medals, photographs belonging my late grandfather. I would love to find out more about him and his activities during the war and possibly the photographs might be of interest to others with relative that have served in this squadron.
    My grandfathers name was William Smith, No 2144570, Sapper Royal Engineers.
    If anyone can help me that would be brilliant and i can also upload photos if anyone is interested thanks
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Mark

    Welcome

    To start your research off on the right road you will need to obtain a copy of your grandfathers service record - Request records of deceased service personnel - GOV.UK - this will tell you where he was, when and with which units (he may have been moved during his time).

    After you have his service record and you know which units he was with then you can obtain thw War Diaries for those units covering the period of time he was with them - as an example

    Search results: 612 Field Squadron | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 171/9530
    Description:
    612 Fd. Sqn.
    Date: 1946 Jan.- Mar.
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

    We have members who do a very good service of copying files from Kew (TNA)

    TD
     
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  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Further to TDs post here's a complete list of what is available. Good luck with your research.

    WO 166/12181 612 Company 1943 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/15316 612 Company 1944 Jan.
    WO 171/1658 612 Coy 1944 Feb.- Dec.
    WO 171/5750 612 Field Sqn. 1945 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/9530 612 Field Sqn. 1946 Jan.- Mar.
     
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  4. Mark111

    Mark111 New Member

    Thanks for the messages and advice, I'm going to research into this and will hopefully get some results, I have a memory of my late father telling me about some of my grandfathers war stories, he was in a reconecance group for the engineers and was in Belsen when it was first liberated and I have a few photos of his group etc, this fascinates me all these stories.
     
  5. Bluebell Minor

    Bluebell Minor Junior Member

    Mark

    According to my ongoing research into the British Army in Germany in the immediate post war era 612 Field Squadron was an 11 Armoured Division asset who previously had been amongst the first British Troops to discover the enormity of the human tragedy of Belsen. Sapper units were involved in providing the emergency humanitarian aid, your grandfather's stories were undoubtedly true, based on personal experience.
     
  6. Mark111

    Mark111 New Member

    Thanks Bluebell Minor, any other information you can provide I would be utterly grateful from the 612 field squadron.
    Many thanks
     
  7. baxterwood

    baxterwood Member

    Hi Mark 111,
    My late father, Cpl. Sam Whitaker, was with 612 F.S. R.E. and I have been to Kew and copied the war diaries listed above for 43 and 44, there are none for earlier as they were 12th F.S. prior to 1/1/43. I also have a some photographs of the troops, most recently locating one hidden in a file, of 3 troop taken at Orleton School in Scarborough in March 1941. My father was called up to the town in Dec. 1940 and the unit were training in and around the North Yorks Moors being located at Keldy Castle for a time. I have yet to confirm dates until I visit Kew again and check 12th war diaries ( WO 166/3975 - 40/41 & WO 166/8391 1942). I have further made contact with the son of the CO, Maj. C.J.C. Bowen who was killed by friendly fire ( 2 Spits!) at Harharcq on 1/9/44. If I can be of help please get back to me.
    Regards,
    Peter Whitaker
     
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  8. Mark111

    Mark111 New Member

    Thanks Peter,
    I would be really grateful if you can send on any info or photos, I have found some of my papas photos and would love to send them on to you and quite possibly your father could be in these photos too. My email address if you wish to contact me is marksmith0668@yahoo.com and I will share all the info and photos with you.
    Look forward to hearing from you.

    Mark
     
  9. DAVE MARTIN

    DAVE MARTIN Active Member

    Hello Peter,
    I know it was a while ago ago since you posted on the 612th Field Squadron Royal Engineers. I am the owner of a named Territorial Efficiency Medal group to 2028509 Lance Sergeant J Parker, who was taken prisoner in Normandy on 27th June 1944 serving with the 612th Field Squadron I was wondering if you have any information on him and if you could share the war diary for the period. Thanks very Much.
    Regards
    Dave
     
  10. JDKR

    JDKR Member

    If 612 Fd Sqn’s operations in mid-April 45 are of interest then I mention these in my book Theirs the Strife. Best wishes. John
     
  11. DAVE MARTIN

    DAVE MARTIN Active Member

    Thanks John,
    I'll try and find a copy
    regards
    Dave
     

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