I'm completely new to WW2 research. What information is there available to help my research? I don't think there's as much as there is for WW1 but I could be wrong. My first project is the 8th Bn DLI and there whereabouts in May 1940. Are there War Diaries available? Thanks in advance for any replies.
Welcome to the forum . Best thing to do is start a thread in the 1940 section of forum with 8 DLI in the title. Good luck.
That really depends on what you're researching. You can extract info from War Office Casualty lists as well as POW lists, at TNA you have access to War Diaries, Missing personnel files, recommendations for Gallantry and Honours, Reports etc, at IWM there are images and interviews online, WW2 Wills are available, personal accounts can be viewed via BBC People's War, a multitude of dedicated websites run by enthusiasts ... and on here there are contributions from WW2 veterans (quite a few now sadly missed). The MOD holds still Service Records, they aren't in public domain. Using PsyWar/Lee's search engine War diaries held at Kew: 8 Durham Light Infantry | The National Archives Reference: WO 167/730 Description: 8 Durham Light Infantry Date: 1940 Jan.-June Any queries specifically relating to BEF would be best added to 1940 sub-forum DLI would be best added to DLI Forum Websites: Those who proudly served Durham Light Infantry in the Second World War 1939-1945 - The Wartime Memories Project - Good luck with your research.
Welcome to the forum. You will, I am sure get a great deal of assistance here. Following up on dbf 's post. would be the best place to start.
If you are searching for a particular soldier then the very first thing you need to do is obtain his/her service records, and as mentioned previously these are held only by the MOD, forms to request them are available on this link - Request records of deceased service personnel TD
The 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry were in 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division throughout WWII; as they were in WWI. This was the most experienced and battle hardened British Infantry Division in WWII, winning an unsurpassed 4 VC’s (WWII). I will look in on your specific postings... Best, Steve.
Thanks everyone for the very useful replies. The man I'm researching is Colour Sergeant Simon Waters Barron 4455454. He served with the 8th Bn DLI and was killed in action on the 20th June 1944. He is remembered with honour at the Bayeux War Cemetery.
From Page 257 of the Battalion history, mentioned at message # 7. The 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry were in the area of Parc de la Mare, nr Hottot, in Normandy, the latter which 231st Infantry Brigade (also 50th (Northumbrian) Division) were attacking. Best, Steve.
If you look at the Graves Concentration Report Form on the CWGC site it gives his previous place of burial as: Map 7F/1 818674 This location can be found on the map here: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/maps/europe/zoomify137851.html Using the co-ordinate translator the latitude/longitude is 49.167867279612,-0.65582015111069: Google Maps
