Army Catering Corps, Italy 1944

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Alan Fewtrell, Dec 23, 2019.

  1. Alan Fewtrell

    Alan Fewtrell Member

    I'm researching Private Albert Tonks 14505589 ACC, who died on 22nd March 1944 in Italy, he is remembered at Beach Head War Cemetery, Lazio, Italy. His death wasn't reported to the War Office until 8th April that he died of his wounds. Does anyone have access to war diaries?
    Kind regards
    Alan
     
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    My first cousin once-removed also died while serving with Army Catering Corps in Italy. He was Private William Charles Gittings 748810, previously with the Worcestershire Regiment.
     
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  3. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    For the War Diaries I think you would need to know what unit he was attached to as they tended to be spread across all units - I'm not sure if there were actual ACC units in theatre - having said that I'm not sure how you would find which unit he was with except from his service records - CWGC and casualty returns only have him as ACC.
     
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  4. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    just a minor bit of amateur analysis of the CWGC database.. of the 955 named as serving with the ACC, 567 had a named "secondary regiment" albeit a significant number of these under a general heading like "Royal Artillery"/"Royal Armoured Corps" etc.. About 140 of the ACC men were killed in Italy.
     
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  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Alan.

    I am in Beach Head Cemetery in Anzio in Mar 20 so if you would like a photo of his headstone do say.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  6. hutt

    hutt Member

    There is a reference to the death of one of the regiments cooks in the diary of 70th Medium Regiment. Pte F. Lee (A.C.C), killed when their wagon detonated a pile of lifted mines. It seems appropriate to mark that in this thread. The role was clearly not immune from the dangers of war. This was just a few days after they landed on the Italian mainland. DSC08516.JPG
     
  7. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Attached Files:

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  8. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Cooking facilities were in both wars often specifically targeted by mortars and other artillery if their location became known. If they were located sufficiently in the rear to avoid this then supplying the men in the front line with hot food became difficult and could create a morale issue particularly in the winter.
     
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  9. Alan Fewtrell

    Alan Fewtrell Member

    Frank, that would fantastic if you could.
    Kind regards
    Alan
     
  10. Alan Fewtrell

    Alan Fewtrell Member

    Is there a way of finding which regiment Albert Tonks (ACC) was attached to? I know I could possibly find this through his service record, but that will take a few months to receive. As I'm research all 65 persons commemorated on the Castle Bromwich War Memorial I don't have the funds to obtain all service records.
    The responses and information I am receiving is really appreciated.
    Alan
     
  11. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    My cousin, William Charles Gittings, was buried in Meldola War Cemetery in Italy. His secondary regiment was listed as the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Here is a picture of his gravestone. WCGittings.jpg
     
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  12. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Alan.

    You need to get a copy of his Service Record.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  13. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    It may be worth checking the local papers in case his death gets any mentions - its a long shot but it may say he who he was attached too or maybe have a photo showing a Div sign that slightly narrows it down - I think most units of decent size would have ACC attached so there are lots of possibilities
     
  14. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Another bit of top down...given the date, 22nd March '44, you might surmise that he could have been with a unit in either 1st or 5th Infantry Divs or with the RE or RA, say.. there are 13 men buried at Beachhead CWGC for that date and you can see the following units for these men:

    Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C. 1st Recce. Regt.
    Royal Engineers 245 Field Coy.
    King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 1st Bn.
    North Staffordshire Regiment 2nd Bn.
    York and Lancaster Regiment 1st Bn.
    Royal Artillery 92 Field Regt.
    Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Bn.
    Royal Artillery 67 Field Regt.
    York and Lancaster Regiment 1st Bn.
    Army Catering Corps Royal Artillery
    Army Catering Corps
    Northamptonshire Regiment 2nd Bn.
    York and Lancaster Regiment 1st Bn.

    As you can see, the other ACC man killed on 22nd March is noted as having been with the Royal Artillery.

    Doesn't really help too much but anyway... hopefully the service records can clarify.
     
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  15. Alan Fewtrell

    Alan Fewtrell Member

    Thanks Richard
     
  16. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    My father's mate Jim Sadler, Sgj HJ Sadler ACC, served with the 2nd Bn London Irish Rifles all the way from North Africa to Austria and came up with this festive smorgasbord for the battalion in the mountains of northern Italy in 1944:

    Scan 20002 (2).jpg
     
  17. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    I found a very small snippet on Albert Tonks in the Birmingham Mail - Apr 1944.

    Regards

    Bruneval
     
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