Airborne Training Corps - research queries

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by DPritchard, Aug 11, 2021.

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  1. DPritchard

    DPritchard Member

    Hello, This is a gt uncle, whom I knew little about. He was a Joseph Harold Grant - known as 'Harry' and born in 1914. From this photo I can see he was in the ATC and a sergeant? He emigrated to Tasmania after WW2. Other than applying to MOD for his records (which can only usually be done by direct descendants I believe)
    1. Is there any way I can find out more about him? Which ATC? His movements in France?
    2. I know the ATC landed before the 44 invasion began, can you give me more info on what they did please?
    3. Also the photo below comes with the label attached that says 'Harry Palestine'. It may have got mixed up with a Harry on a different side of the family. Would anyone know the background for this?

    Thanks
    upload_2021-8-11_7-28-53.png

    upload_2021-8-11_7-37-58.png
     
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  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

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  3. DPritchard

    DPritchard Member

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  4. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    The badge on his Sergeant’s stripes indicate that he was a member of the Army Physical Training Corps (APTC). I am reliably informed that he is 2049207. CSM/I. J.H. Grant who did Parachute Course 117, 21 May - 8 June 1944 (his Parachute Jump Instructors comments: 'Good NCO and first rate performer, morale high'), and after successful completion of that course he was posted to the A.P.T.C. at the Depot & School Airborne Forces. Sadly no further details of his service are known although it is clear that he was promoted from Sergeant to Company Sergeant Major.
     
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  5. DPritchard

    DPritchard Member

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  6. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    On the assumption 'Harry' joined the Parachute Regiment, possibly on secondment from the APTC and so wore the red beret a photo taken in Palestine is useful. From Wiki:
    For a little more see: Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia and the more detailed: 6th Airborne Division in Palestine - Wikipedia

    As for the APTC it is unclear whether Wiki's description of the route to being an instructor applied in WW2. See: Royal Army Physical Training Corps - Wikipedia

    There is a large file: Photocopy of report on Army Physical Development Centres and handbooks for the A.P.T.C. instructors which contains the APTC handbooks 1944-1945 (not looked at, so may have nothing of value).
     
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  7. DPritchard

    DPritchard Member

    horsapassenger - so from the dates of the parachute course, I can rule out that he was nothing to do with the parachute drops prior to d-day and that initially he was some kind of parachute instructor, but as davidbfpo suggests, it is possible he was seconded to the Parachute regiment from the APTC due to the links with Palestine.
     
  8. DPritchard

    DPritchard Member

    davidbfpo thank you for all this information, I will have a read!
     
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  9. DPritchard

    DPritchard Member

    I came across this among some photos I was given from family. Interesting perspective whoever took the photo. Apparently Harry is on the left! Does 'Weatherhead 'mean anything in the para context does anyone know?

    Harry on the left.jpg
     
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  10. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Hello DPritchard.

    The words written on the edging of your photograph are (for me) the names of the chaps in the "stick" pictured, "Weatherhead" being the feet!

    A search on the names here (link below) may be fruitful.

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

    Good luck with all.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
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  11. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Get a copy of military service records
    chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1000981%2F20180524-request_service_details_NOK_part1_v6.2.pdf&clen=121217&chunk=true

    The NOK form provides various levels of NOK - even down to 'Other'
    Spouse / Civil Partner
    Son / Daughter
    Grandchild
    Father / Mother
    Brother / Sister
    Nephew / Niece
    Grandparent
    Other (specify)
     
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  12. DPritchard

    DPritchard Member

    JimHerriot Ah yes! Makes perfect sense now! Sometimes you can overlook the obvious in photos! Thanks for link too - will check it out.
     
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  13. DPritchard

    DPritchard Member

  14. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Alas no, on a search on 'weatherhead' on the photo I could not identify a link. There is a post-war school school in Wallasey, Merseyside and a farm near Silverstone. Given the wartime circumstances a parachute training course may have used fields for landing in, rather than within a RAF station. Hopefully others can help.
     
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  15. DPritchard

    DPritchard Member

    JimHerriot says it was the name of another parachutist if you look at the photo and how the other names are written.
     
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  16. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Noted, and the CWGC only have three Weatherhead who died in WW2 and none were paratroopers.
     
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  17. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    They may well be other chaps from course 117, hopefully "horsapassenger" (John) has the complete list and will be able to confirm and/or come up with more than my guesswork.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
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  18. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Maybe worth contacting the RAPTC association/museum too.

    Contact Us – RAPTC Association

    RAPTC Museum – RAPTC Association

    (Museum curator email address is at the bottom of the webpage in the above link).

    Notwithstanding the data protection side of things I'm sure they would check to see if they hold any information re your great uncle.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2021
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  19. David Woods

    David Woods Active Member

    Are these the same men? Young and older.
    Joseph Harold Grant..jpg

    If they are, then the man on the left is S.I. J. H. Grant, A.P.T.C. 9th Parachute Battalion. Photo taken at Bulford barracks, late 1943.

    He is not seen in the photo of Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess of the 9th Parachute Battalion, taken early 1944.
     
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  20. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    If the second (palm trees) photo proves to be your great uncle in Palestine immediately post-war (1945-1948) you may read more about the Parachute Regiment side of things here (n.b there's much to wade through);

    Palestine | ParaData

    Plus, if indeed so, and he met the relevant criteria, he should have been awarded the General Service Medal 1945-1948 (Palestine), and I'm sure there are members on the forum who will be able to check the GSM medal roll for you.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2021

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