Hi, I am new to this forum and am trying to trace my father's WW2 military records. Unfortunately I do not ave any information except his name was Edwin Daniel Causer, born 1915 in Kent and I have a formal platoon photo of him and his comrades dated June 1943 headed 98th P.T.C. Gosforth. "B" Company, No.10 Platoon. I thought he would have been REME but also remember my mum telling me she helped him with his Aircraft exams and she did have his book full or equations. Sorry, not much to go on, can anyone tell me how to go about my search or even find my dad? He did survive the war and know he was for some time in the middle east and brought mum home a silver compact with word Bethlehem and a star on it. Thanks.
Hi Annette, Here he is in 1939: 1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION 8 Courtenay Cottages, Swale, Kent NAME DOB OCCUPATION Edwin D Causer 24 Feb 1915 Motor Mechanic Doris A Causer 11 Jan 1918 Unpaid Domestic Duties Sorry, this record is officially closed. When you say 'find him', did you lose track of him after the war?
PTC usually means ‘Primary Training Centre’. Gosforth is quite famous, being the origin (I believe) of Greggs, Northern Rock, SAGE accounting software, Newcastle Falcons RFC, Alan Shearer and me. I was aware that the Newcastle Racecourse (North Gosforth) was where the 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA, and certain battalions of the Royal Northumberland Fusliers, spent some of their pre-battle time at the start of WWII. I also knew from family folklore that the nearby Manor House at Melton Park had some sort of Army facility and on searching found this link: Gosforth, Melton Park, Anti Aircraft Operations Room | sitelines.newcastle.gov.uk I know that there were Yanks based there at some point. If you look at the map on the link it reveals where the now demolished Manor House was situated and that area is called Melton Park. To the north of that is the racecourse (albeit the golf courses around it are more visible), to the east is a nature reserve. McCracken Park is where the Northern Rugby Club is based and across the road is Fencer Hill Park. Gosforth Rugby Club (now Newcastle Falcons) used to be based on the land to the south of that; now built on. The first house on the right on Fencer Hill Park used to belong to my family and one of my relatives that lived there was killed in WWI. I was born opposite the racecourse on Brunton Lane (actually Middle Brunton). You will note that the A1 now cuts across Brunton Lane, but this road didn’t exist when I was born and has probably only been there 25 to 30 years. The housing is more recent. The whole Brunton area was farm land when I was growing up. The relevance of the foregoing, well, apart from the trip down memory lane, I would guess that the 98th PTC was somewhere in that area. My grandparents would know the answer, but they are all deceased. I will make enquiries via my mother/wider family and see what they know. I’ll be back ASAP on this... Best, Steve.
Thanks Clive, had already found this site but don't have my dads service number to be able to apply or his regiment if the ptc Gosforth is purely a training centre.
Thanks Clive, looks like I've got less information than ever if PTC is just a training centre as now don't have any clue at all to what regiment he was in. Being an only child and my mum dying when I was young I have no one to ask just a few grainy black and white photos of the desert with jeeps and Dad dressed in shorts. He was a very good motor mechanic which made me think REME but no trace under his name so may possible have been incorrectly transcribed. The 1939 Register had him down as Odwin rather than Edwin so very difficult at times. Start of WW2 he was still working but also in AFS based at Canterbury, Kent, and helped put out a fire at the very garage he worked in after it was bombed, according to the Archives for the garage. If you do find out anything more from your family would be marvelous and appreciate your help. Funny found loads about my granddad who was killed in WW1 when my dad was just 13 months old but nothing for him. Regards Annette
Thanks Harkness, no just meant cant trace anything for him in WW2, had found him on this register although incorrect transcribed, name and birth dates! Had to request it amended. Cant find his service number or Regiment. The closed record must have been for the evacuee they had as I was not born till years later. Best regards Annette
You don’t need his service number, you just need to provide a copy of his death certificate. No-one has ever called me Clive before. All should become clear when you obtain a copy of your father’s service records. Make sure you ask for his ‘full’ service records. If you need help deciphering the records post them on this thread and someone will be along to help you interpret them. I’ll keep a look out for this thread! Best, Steve.
oops sorry Steve for renaming you, could have been worse, at least gave your "friends" a chance to appear witty?? Will try to get my fathers full service records as you and the others have suggested. Thanks everyone.
Well thats a slap in the face for me - now I'm a friend of Steves (or is he called Clive) and of course I'm witty, just check out the avatar TD
Comedy...! Anyway, I did find a reference to the 98 PTC but the person discussing it had definitely got his wires crossed and did not say where it was located. So, more searching to do... Best, Steve (or Clive).
At least we haven’t got a Derek & Clive contributing to this topic... For our younger readers... Derek and Clive - Wikipedia Steve (it really is my given name....honestly!)
