Have just received my fathers (Jack Curtis) war record - so I'm off on my quest !! His service started in Egypt with the 177/14th Coast Regiment - June 1941. Shorlty after this he is posted to X List (ii) (July) he returns to duty (August). Then is evacuated and spends time in hospital (Sept) Returns to duty Nov 1941. He is then posted again to X List (ii) from 179/14 -and spends another month in hospital. Does anyone have information on what what was happening during this time or has details of this regiment. I hope to find out as much as I can - but having been helped greatly originally by other member here - this is my first port of call. I apologise if I haven't written things correctly. Thank You !!!
Get to Kew & read the war diaries. Here are the catalogue numbers are for 14 Coast Regt. WO 169/1499 14 Coast Regt. 1941 Sept.- Dec. WO 169/4662 14 Coast Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/16229 14 Coast Regt. 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/19962 14 Coast Regt. 1945 Jan.- June WO 169/9679 14 Coast Regt. 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/18314 14 Coast Regt. 1944 Jan.- Dec. dunno if this any use ? WO 169/150817/14 Coast Bty.1941 Jan.- Mar., July-Dec.
Get to Kew & read the war diaries. Here are the catalogue numbers are for 14 Coast Regt. WO 169/1499 14 Coast Regt. 1941 Sept.- Dec. WO 169/4662 14 Coast Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/16229 14 Coast Regt. 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/19962 14 Coast Regt. 1945 Jan.- June WO 169/9679 14 Coast Regt. 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/18314 14 Coast Regt. 1944 Jan.- Dec. dunno if this any use ? WO 169/150817/14 Coast Bty.1941 Jan.- Mar., July-Dec. Thanks Owen !!! Not just a Grumpy Old Moose - a very helpful one !!! This is such an important search for me - I'm only just beginning - but already I realise this will be a long journey !! Cheers !
He stayed with the 14th until early 1945 - when in February he was posted to the Army Catering Corps - Bomb Disposal - then a month later to the 5 Air Formation Signal - returning a month later to Bomb Disposal. He returned to the UK in July 1945. I think this is accurate but this is a new language to me - and sometimes even understanding the writing is difficult. Cheers
Voice 45 It would appear that your Father lived in interesting times in the desert between June - December 1941 - Rommel entered the fray earlier and pushed his way eastwards - the East Africa campaign was finishing- but the Syrian French were playing up and had to be sorted out - then Greece and Crete -Operation Battleaxe - Wavell was fired back to India - Auchinlek then took over with Gen. Cunningham in charge - the Gen. Ritchie in the Crusader battle..until he was fired but by then 8th army was also heading East until they stopped at El Alamein in July '42 - then Monty took over and we headed West once more - as I say - Interesting times with much to-ing and fro-ing- pity your Father missed a lot of it being in hospital so often Cheers
Have you seen this? RA 1939-45 14 Coast Rgt Thank you Moose !!!! Yes found that link last night - I think it could be a visit to Kew !! Cheers !!!!