Find Out Which Regiment My Grandfather was In.

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by Stephen Cundall, Sep 11, 2022.

  1. It is regarding my grandfather, Harry Mervyn Cundall as an RSM and WO 1 at some point (4608537) I have his service book and his medals, but don't really have a clue on his war time actions. I know he was in the Duke of Wellington Regiment from 11/12/25 TO 10/12/37 and then the Duke of Wellington RAC from 11/12/37 to 17/2/44. He was in North Africa 18/2/44 to 15/5/46, but not sure which regiment. He seems to have started in the 43rd Northumbrian and changed regiments a few times. He was also in Italy he has the Italy Star as well as the Africa Star and 1st Army clasp. At some point he was mentioned in Dispatches. I was lucky enough to talk to him in the 70's before he passed and he said he was in Churchill tanks and that his "Bat Man" was killed right next to him. He seemed to be quite lucky as he told me they had set up camp somewhere, but he had been called away to a meeting and when he returned in the morning the Germans had unknown to the British had also set up camp on some high ground and had wiped out most of the company. Obviously I cannot confirm any of this, but why would he lie? I think he ended the war in an Italian woman's prisoner of war camp. Anyway I would really appreciate it if somebody could help me find out which regiments he was actually in and what they did.

    HC1.jpg
     
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  2. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

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  3. Thank you Kyle. I will print that out, would love to know what he did.
     
  4. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Kyle.

    You really need to get his Service Record.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  5. I have this but it starts from 44
     

    Attached Files:

  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  7. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    At:
    Converted units: WW2
    dbf lists the following DWR battalion conversions to RAC:
    2/6 Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) = 114 Regiment RAC
    2/7 Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) = 115 Regiment RAC
    8 Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) = 145 Regiment RAC
    9 Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) = 146 Regiment RAC

    145 Regiment RAC saw action in North Africa and Italy, which seems a likely fit for you; a synopsis with other info is at:
    145th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps - Wikipedia
    including some references that might be helpful for concurrent research activity whilst awaiting records?

    6 Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was morphed into 43 Royal Tank Regiment (6 (City), Royal Northumberland Fusiliers), which seems to have undertaken a specialist largely UK test/demo role:
    43rd Royal Tank Regiment - Wikipedia
    and it may have been possible that your grandfather was attached to them at some time, but again his service records would confirm this, or otherwise.
     
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  8. I will send for his military service record and see what that comes back with.
     
  9. It this any help?
     

    Attached Files:

  10. EmpireUmpire

    EmpireUmpire .........

    Screen Shot 2022-09-12 at 9.49.59 pm.png

    There was a Sergeant H Cundall, wounded in North Africa with 51 RTR. Different number but the rest matches up - was 4608537 his post war number I wonder?

    A point to note is that to be awarded the 1st Army Clasp to his Africa Star, he must have been in theatre before the 1944 in his red book. 51 RTR fought with 1st Army which matches up.
     
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  11. EmpireUmpire

    EmpireUmpire .........

    Am I right in saying that he was awarded an MBE in 1975 - Administrative Assistant and Instructor, North of England Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Association.
     
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  12. Yes he got the MBE for services to the Army Cadet Force I think.
     
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  13. EmpireUmpire

    EmpireUmpire .........

    The London Gazette gives his occupation as "Administrative Assistant and Instructor, North of England Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Association.", which would have covered the Army Cadet Force.
     
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  14. EmpireUmpire

    EmpireUmpire .........

    Also, I would email the Royal Tank Regiment museum and request his Tracer Card. It will tell you an high level overview of his wartime movements - providing opportunities for research until you can obtain his full service records from the MOD.
     
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  15. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    The following is from the book Strick by Tim Strickland, about then-Lt Col Eugene Strickland, commander of 145 RAC in Italy for much of 1944. (There are about 130 pages of the book about his time commanding 145 RAC and their actions in battle.) Bolding is mine.

    Life at Presenzano was pleasant: The RHQ was in very good heart - it was impossible not to be with the verbose cheeriness of Captain Owen and the dynamic personality of CSM Cundall.[27] On June 17 Strick held a conference with his squadron leaders...

    27. 145 RAC Appendix O to War Diary June 1944​
     
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  16. Thank you Chris, that is amazing
     
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  17. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Glad to help!
     
  18. Hi, got these from the Tank Museum, can anybody explain them to me please. He was definitely in the 145 RAC and was mentioned in their war dairy. Thank you.
     

    Attached Files:

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  19. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    After the end of World War II, 43 RTR remained a Territorial Army unit of the Royal Tank Regiment, based at Newcastle, until 1956 when it converted back to infantry under its old designation of 6th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.

    It looks as if your Grandfather was posted to 7 RTR at Bovington for discharge. It would have been a busy time there; in August 1950, the composite 29 Commonwealth Bde was assembled and dispatched as part of a UN force in support of the South Korean Army, which was opposing a Chinese-backed invasion by North Korea. C Sqn 7 RTR, hastily equipped with Churchill flame thrower tanks, was included in the force.

    Came across these:
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/43611/supplement/3189/data.pdf
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46419/supplement/12155/data.pdf
    which you may know already, extract of latter below:
    Durham
    Lt. H. M. CUNDALL (466237) resigns his commn., 30th Aug. 1974, and is granted the hon. rank of Capt.
     
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  20. No, never seen that one, looked at the 145 RAC diary and found he was in the 1943 Tunis victory parade.
     
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