Hi there, Just a quick thought, I don't have an ancestry subscription but the medal rolls they have on there finish in 1949 so though it doesn't cover Malaya it does cover Palestine. If your dad was serving in the SAS in the 1945-48 period there is a good chance he may have served in Palestine therefore he would feature on the medal roll and that would confirm SAS service. Just another avenue you could persue? Don
Hi Don When you say "the medal rolls they have on there finish in 1949" where do you mean by "there"? Are you referring to Ancestry.com? Some other site?
Hi, Yes, on Ancestry. If he did qualify for pre or post war medals up to '49 he will be on the medal roll on there. Don
Not sure if anyone will see this in an old thread or not. I went to this website but there is no phone number only a mailing address. I am interested in gathering information from them regarding my grandfather. Thanks
HI SAS grandson, If you wish to gather information then how about using the old snail mail and send them a letter - nothing ventured, nothing gained. TD
Thanks SAS grandson and TD. Glad to know I'm not the only one with these ideas. Sorry for not getting back here for so long but I'm afraid life and the "day job" has taken over. Other things get put on the back burner. I emailed SAS HQ a while ago but they didn't reply. Perhaps not surprisingly. I will be getting Dad's records back from war records by their usual paper/snail mail route. Posting to the SAS HQ as well. I hope someone can help me as I am turning up more old things home here from my dad's past and, the more I find, the more he becomes a mystry man.
Welcome back. I missed this thread the first time round so here are some thoughts: - The Guards Armoured patch would point to 2 HCR as they were attached to Gds Armd Div in Sep 1944. - Backing up singeager's findings, there is no D C Jones mentioned in their regimental history, though there is no nominal roll, just appendices of dead, wounded and honours/awards. -What was the date of his 'transfer to the SAS'? Bear in mind the SAS were disbanded in October 1945, the Territorial Army's 21 SAS did not start recruiting until September 1947 and the Malayan Scouts (the first step in the rebirth of the regular SAS) appeared in 1950. There might possibly be a link between him being in London in 1954 and 21 SAS? - As your dad was jump qualified, I would suggest starting a thread in the Airborne section, posting hs name number and qualification date (if you have it), I think there are members who may have access to para course records.
Excellent thougths there idler and thanks for the (re)welcome! I'll bear in mind all you say. Right now - and to let you know some of my difficulties - I am sitting at my office desk preparing self assessment Tax Returns for some of my "near late" filing clients. That's the "day job" I referred to before. I'm a tax professional (don't like the word "accountant" as my specialism is in tax planning etc.) so have my nose to the grindstone at this time every year. Will get back here as soon as time allows. Cheers all. Hope you have a safe, dry and warm Sunday with perhaps the odd whiskey or two to keep the cold wind out.
Having a look on Ancestry in the section All UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949 results for D Jones there are 3 x D C Jones in Palestine 1945 - 1948 and 23 D Jones - Some help on his exact regiment would help narrow it down TD Edited to add: Or his reg number would help
In another post someone mentions they had spoken to the sas ass. and they were helpful, I just had my doubts it was all mail correspondence.
Not when it comes to this sort of thing. It's unrealistic to expect a verbal response to this sort of enquiry. All they can do is take your details and get back to you. At least if you write to them they won't get those details wrong. We are also talking about a request for personal details, so it's reasonable that they at least want letter with a signature on. That's a lot less than you need to do to get a service record from the MoD so I wouldn't knock it.
In that case would also be nice if they mentioned I. Any way they were able to provide details or info to next of kin. At least the MOD has a form you can fill out. Any suggestions what information I should send, do I require proof of kinship? Must I provide all the device records, only those records which relate to his sas attachment, etc.. At least they could provide a phone number to be able to converse about the requirements. I don't think that is unreasonable. Here's what I'm looking at now, mail them inquiring what they can do for me/info they can provide. They reply, Now I gather the info they said I need to provide etc.. As opposed to: here is a request form, please fill it out provide proof of death and proof of kinship. Complete service records and wait 12 weeks.
Alex Why don't you photocopy the service records page with the SAS detachment on, send proof of death and kinship and write a lovely long letter to them . Like others say, nothing ventured, nothing gained and they will surely acknowledge receipt of the letter. As I said in my other thread, why don't you get the war diaries of the 2nd Camerons to start you off; you never know there may be something mentioned in them about men being attached to the SAS It's a long process finding out everything about our relatives, and it's an agonising wait-I am still finding out things about my father after 3 years on here :biggrin: . Have patience, I am sure it will all come together in the end (whenever that is!) Lesley Lesley
:ph34r: The SAS having a phone number :ph34r: "Hello, I have a problem with my next door neighbour, can you give me a quote" It just tickled my sense of humour, with thoughts of what types of calls the switchboard would receive TD
Absolutely Lesley. I wasn't sure exactly what to include. Wasn't sure if the one page would be good enough or al service records were better. I felt all would be excessive but. I will do as you have suggested (agonizing wait is right). I have contacted Drew with his suggestions for data requests and again will wait patiently for that. I can't imagine attempting this even 10 to 15 years ago, with out the internet, forums like this did not exist and the process must have been a true challenge. I would not have even considered contacting an SAS Association. I'm grateful for this day and age and the great input from forums such as this, perhaps I am spoiled by this instant info age. Back to basics, I'll keep everyone posted. Thanks, Alex.
Just to confuse matters 1 HCR reinforced the Guards Armoured Division in Spring 1945 ending the War in the Stade area to the west of Hamburg In Autumn 1945 1HCR/2HCR reorganised and reformed as the traditional Life Guards and The Royal Horse Guards. In 1946 the Life Guards left BAOR for the Canal Zone (Egypt) and also saw service in Palestine.
Thanks. Don't worry - this doesn't "confuse matters" because something I have recently found in dad's papers refers to him being overseas after the war as part of the BAOR. Not much concrete data though so no exact dates etc. yet. I'll keep digging and post back here when I can. You have all been so helpful and encouraging to me. It's much appreciated.
Another dad search I have reason te believe my father crossed from occupied Holland to free Holland in 1944 (after Market Garden) through the Biesbosch. After that he may have joined the SAS. There is no full story, just the odd one-liner. Historian K.Margry (After the battle) suggested a possible service in the SAS after a shortened training course to get back to mainland Europe/Holland. Does this ring any bells by anyone? Anyone any ideas how I could trace back and/or get into some archives? My father, B(erend) Bosch, was Dutch, born 22 June 1922. No further records. Your tips and suggestions are most welcome.