"A" Force in the desert WW2

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by AT022, May 14, 2017.

  1. AT022

    AT022 Member

    Hello all...
    Is anyone familiar with a group called A force in the desert during WW2..Im just hunting out my grandads service record which has this on. I know he was in Tobruk and Alexandria.,,
    I can provide more details if required.
    Thank you. Ron
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2017
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Ron

    I would scan and upload the info/docs that show his service records - its often better to see in context what people are searching for

    TD
     
  3. AT022

    AT022 Member

    Thank you..Ill find them shortly and upload some info if i cant get them scanned, do you think theres a chance i can find out more on here, ,,He was in the coldstream guards and went onto intel work as well as other things in the desert..i cant find anything on x force but his service record is clear..He spoke a lot about the SAS ..id love to know more
     
  4. AT022

    AT022 Member

    TD
    Got some more info,,My grandad was Thomas C Millburn , army number 2657032
    Amongst other things he was posted as follows
    6.9.41 HQ, 70th inf Div
    2.2.43 GHQ "M.E.F"
    14.5.42 Adv Hq "A Force" (sorry I said X before)
    Then there are some intelligence corps pstings..
    Hope you can help TD,,
    Thanks Ron
     
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Ron,

    Please scan and post the copies of the documents it will benefit us all in deciphering the information and hopefully answer your questions

    In the meantime A Force was the masquerade section of the MEF - Jasper Maskelyne - Wikipedia

    2 good books on this subject I have just read are

    Masquerade (the amazing camouflage deceptions of world war II) by Seymour Reit

    Trojan Horses - Deception operations in the second world war by Martin Young & Robbie Stamp

    TD
     
    Warlord and Chris C like this.
  6. AT022

    AT022 Member

    TD
    Ill try to work out how to do that and post them on here. Ive just learnt about a book called A Force by Whitney Bendeck which gives a lot of info. I cant beleive how much ive learnt in 20 minutes..He had some great stories and I have his medals. Very proud
     
  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    A Force by Whitney Bendeck

    Just remember where the author lives -

    Holding a PhD in history, she works for the International Affairs Program at Florida State University where she is an assistant instructor, as well as the Director of Undergraduate Studies. She lives in Crawfordville, FL.

    TD

    edited to add:
    If you 'edit' your post number 1 then that should allow you to change the title of this thread, which i think needs to read A Force - that may attract others more easily
     
  9. AT022

    AT022 Member

  10. AT022

    AT022 Member

    That should have worked TD
     
  11. AT022

    AT022 Member

    One thing I remember my grandad saying was that he recalled that in 1941 there were only 3 Coldstream guardsmen fighting in Tobruk at the time. Major Disellers,,guardsman Madge and himself. He was always accurate with his details. I hope these facts I can put on here are kept for history.
     
  12. AT022

    AT022 Member

    TD. Can you read those OK ? Thanks
     
  13. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    a little difficult to read - probably better if they were flat and the camera horizontal

    TD
     
  14. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    As you probably know 3rd CG weren't involved in 1941 Siege of Tobruk - having narrowly escaped the advancing Africa Corps at Halfaya Pass, Sollum in late May 1941

    Operation Brevity - Wikipedia

    Operation Skorpion - Wikipedia


    They were engaged on R & R, refitting and training in the area of Derna until Operation Crusader in November 1941. My father said one of the less pleasant sights at Daba in summer 1941 were the number of corpses washed up on the beach - casualties from Crete.

    Your grandfathers recollections were probably correct that he was one of the few CG within the Tobruk Perimeter in 1941.

    Different story in June 1942 as almost whole of the Battalion were captured at the surrender there......

    Do you know which Company your father served in prior to his move to 70th Division?

    My father joined in January 1937 was in Number 2 Company CG until his capture at Antelat, Libya December 1941. I have a picture of Number 2 Company in Mustapha Barracks at Alexandria in March 1940.

    You may be interested in "No Dishonourable Name" by D C Quiter an unofficial history of 2nd & 3rd CG in WW2.

    Steve Y
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2017
  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949
    Name: T C Millburn
    Campaign or Service: Palestine
    Service Date: 1936-1939
    Service Location: Palestine
    Regiment or Unit Name: Coldstream Guards
    Regimental Number: 2657032
    31794_221591-00853.jpg

    Don't forget - if you 'edit' your post number 1 then that should allow you to change the title of this thread, which i think needs to read A Force - that may attract others more easily

    TD
     
  16. AT022

    AT022 Member

    Good morning. Ive changed the title as it should be. I dont know which Company my grandad was in prior to the move to 70 Division Im afraid. I still have his Coldstream tunic, his medals and some photos and papers and even a very small covert compass. This has been great learning and Im pleased to be able to give me dad some information about his dad. Its really opened my eyes.
    Im really pleased for your help TD and Steve Y.
    Ronny
     
  17. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Ronny

    Are these details for your grandfather?

    Name: Thomas Crawford Millburn
    Birth Date: 29 May 1911

    TD
     
  18. AT022

    AT022 Member

    No.
    He was Thomas Cooper Millburn born 23.5.1915,
     
  19. AT022

    AT022 Member

    Enlisted at Lancaster 27.5.1935
     
  20. AT022

    AT022 Member

    Also on his service record after A Force are
    Posted I.C Depot and F.S Wing 8.9.1942
    Medical category A1
    Transferred to Intelligence Corps 25.10.1943
     

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