I am struggling to find details of my grandfather's service records - his name was Walter Edward Overman. He passed away in 2006 and talking to my aunt and uncles he was reluctant to give them any details, there is a story within the family that whenever he did get home on leave, he would not be seen in uniform. From a family history file that I have received from a distant relative I have the following details; Walter was called up into the army in 1940 serving in the Royal Engineers as Private later Corporal 215....... in 49 ME Section & 614 Road Construction Company serving in the U.K. France Belgium Holland and at the end of the war in Europe was posted to Palestine. His Company went to France on D.Day plus 3 and helped to build the Mulberry Harbour and then they followed the front line building air strips for Army Cooperation aircraft "tank busters" I do know that he was involved with guarding POWs in Germany at the end of the war, and was posted to Palistine later. If anyone can assist me, I would be grateful - Ancestry military records do not bring up any details. Thanks
Welcome Chris There appears to be a R.E. Tracer Card held by FMP - W E Overman 2151351. This would be a copy of the Central Index card held by R.E. Records Office but would only give outline of his service. However I am unable to download a copy of the record card. You really need to obtain a copy of his service records from the MOD using the following link - Get a copy of military service records - as these will give chapter and verse of his movements between units during his period of service. From there you could obtain copies of the various War Diaries relating to the units with which he served and which record that unit's activities during the periods he served with each unit. Steve W
Steve, Thank you for this - I have been struggling to get his serial number. Can you tell me how to view the R.E. tracer card Regards
Hi Chris Find My Past (FMP) have been digitising the Royal Engineer Tracer Cards although not all records appear to have done (I think they were doing them in batches). You will need to register on their forum and also pay to download the details. This is the only page that I could download - see my reply above.
Can help post VE Day 614 Road Construction Company RE – 8 Corps from 11 Jun 45 8 Corps District 1 Jun 45 – Scharbeutz to Timmendorfer Strand 12 Sep 45 both north-east of Lübeck 5 Nov 45 – last record 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
Thanks for this - I am aware that they were at the mulberry harbour on D Day+3, and there is a story that the unit lost a lot of their heavy equipment when the harbours were hit by a storm. They replaced the lost equipment by requestioning what was needed, and this was used up to VE day.
The story continues....it appears that the requestioned equipment was "sold off" post VE day. My grandfather did admit to running into their Captain at some time in the 1950's who asked what ever happened to his share of the proceeds....
