Hi all, I haven't done anything in pursuing information on my merchant marine grandfather (on my mother's side) but my dad wondered about HIS father on the weekend so I thought maybe I'd really try to get the ball rolling on his father. His father - my paternal grandfather - was Donald Alan Camfield. Reportedly he started out in the Tank Corps and was being trained as a driver but when something about his education came to light (he had been at Oxford studying German) he went through officer training for Intelligence and worked at Bletchley Park in translation, and my father said he was acting as Major at war's end. My father just found this in the London Gazette records: "INTELLIGENCE CORPS.The undermentioned Cadets to be 2nd Lts.,25th Oct. 1941: ? Donald Alan CAMFIELD (214512).Alan Norman PHILLIPS (214516).R.W. Fus.Denis Harcourt EDMONDS (214061).John Shaw Scotlands…" So would 214512 have been his service number? Is that all I need to request his service record?
That is his number yes. Officers had a set of numbers to themselves unlike Other Ranks whose number was in a block allocated to a particular Regiment or Corps. See the thread on ''Army Number Blocks.''
Some information on his teaching career: Teachers Registration Council Name: Camfield, Donald Alan Date of Registration: 1st March 1938 Register No: 93451 Professional Address: Emanuel School, Wandsworth Common SW11 Attainments: BA (Final Honour School of Modern Languages), Oxford University of Oxford Diploma in Education (Distinction) Training in Teaching: University of Oxford, Education Department Experience: Assistant Master (French and German), Emanuel School, Wandsworth Common SW11, 1936 -
I wrote the history of Emanuel School boys and masters in the two world wars. We also had a huge exhibition at the School in 2014. We will probably have photos of your grandfather from his time at Emanuel and anything you may know about his time at Bletchley would be hugely appreciated. I'll send you a PM with my details. Best wishes, Daniel.
MN records are at Kew for 1942 onwards (visit only as not online) and pre 1942 records are online at fmp Medal card is on the TNA discovery online site
