My grandfather,s war.

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Jantyjay, Jan 12, 2017.

  1. Jantyjay

    Jantyjay Member

    I found an old photo of my late grandfather in army uniform,from the badge on his uniform I, ve found it belonged to the 78th infantry(Battle axe) Div.His name was William Johnston and as far as I know he came from Belfast.I would be grateful for any information as I do,not know anything about my grandfather and have no one to ask.
     
  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    The short answer is that the best step you can possibly take is to apply to the MOD for his service records. It won't quite reveal all, but at the very least it will name the unit(s) he was in and the dates he was with them. This will allow you to figure out his location and allow those with expertise on his unit(s) to supply more. Details are in this thread:

    WW2 Soldier Research - Tips and Links for New Researchers

    In the meantime (an application for records takes weeks to months), can you supply any more clues? Do you know his rank or whether he was an infantry man, with the artillery or on in some other role? And what part of the country was he from?

    Scanning and uploading the photo of your grandfather may also generate clues.

    Edit: I see the photograph is your avatar.
     
    4jonboy likes this.
  3. Jantyjay

    Jantyjay Member

    Thank you Charley for your reply, I literally know nothing.The only reason I even knew he was in the second world war was because of the photo,from that I looked up the badge and found the Battle axe Div.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hello and welcome to the forum. You've the best info from Charley, get his records from the MOD. The last request I made for a soldier's records only took 2 weeks to arrive.

    My father was in 78th Div too in 56 Recce. Look here for the info you get from service records. Well worth the 30 quid:)
    Ernest Illingworth, Army Records | WW2Talk

    Lesley
     
  5. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Well, it'd be easy enough to post a list of every unit that was in the 78th Infantry Division, but that's a lot of units of many differing kinds -- over 15,000 men.

    The extremely abbreviated version is that the division were involved in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in 1942, landed around Algiers and subsequently fought in the Tunisia Campaign until victory. They then moved across to invade Sicily and worked their way up Italy and saw a lot of action.

    Of course, if he was a slightly older chap, there's every chance that he could previously have served in France during the earlier phase of the war.

    Apply for his records and you'll be amazed what you'll be able to hang on these very bare bones.
     
  6. Jantyjay

    Jantyjay Member

    Thank you Lesley for the advice,I just have his name is that enough?
     
  7. Jantyjay

    Jantyjay Member

    Thank you again Charley for taking the time to try and help me.I never even thought of France or anything earlier in the war.As I asked Lesley who kindly replied would having his name just,be enough.
     
  8. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    You will need his full name and FULL date of birth-that should be enough to find his records.
    Good luck and come back to us when you have the records and I am sure we can help you more when you have the unit he served in.

    Lesley
     
  9. Jantyjay

    Jantyjay Member

    Thanks for all your help.
     
  10. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Hi Jantyjay I think we need to find out a little bit more about your grandfather before he was in the Army.
    If you can answer some of these questions we might just get lucky.
    What was your Grandmothers First names, Maiden name?
    Your mothers and fathers names?
    Where did they live?
    If you know your fathers birth year then minus 18 yrs from that year, if not then deduce 36 years from your year of birth. This will then give us the year in which you grandfather must have been born Before. (Unless he had been a very naughty boy :)) and roughly how old he was during the war.
    Do you know the year he died.

    Hopefully something might turn up.
     
  11. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    If he came from Belfast, it may well be that he was part of 38 Infantry Brigade in 78 Infantry Division.

    They had three Irish infantry battalions in that Brigade.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  12. Jantyjay

    Jantyjay Member

    Thank you Frank for helping me.As I am almost 50 now myself I realise how little I know and in hindsight regret not knowing not just for me but my children and grandchildren.Hopefully I can find something out about my grandfather and pass this on.
     
  13. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Jantyjay Now you have let your age slip. I have now found 2 William Johnston's born in Antrim in 1910. So would appear to fit your grandfathers age.
     
  14. Jantyjay

    Jantyjay Member

    RCG,I do,not know what to say .It would be great if one of these men were my grandfather.I am trying to get in contact with distant relatives to try and find out more but no luck yet,this is the best lead yet.Than you for your help I can not get over how generous people are to a complete stranger.I shall keep plugging away and will find out about my grandfather's war.Again Thank You everyone.
     
  15. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Could it be this one?

    William Johnston.

    Born 24 Sept 1909 Belfast

    Married 25th Dec 1935 to Dorothy Neil (1913 – 1996)

    Had a Family of 6 boys and 2 girls.

    Died 20th May 1991 Linlithgow Scotland.

    1911 census
    William Johnston aged 8.
    Living in Tullaghgarley Antrim
    Other household members Hugh Johnston 25. Jane Johnston 29.
    Annie 5 and Hugh 2


     
  16. Jantyjay

    Jantyjay Member

    RCG sorry I have taken a while to reply to you, I just received a letter today telling me my grandfather was born 13th August 1910 and died 15th or 16th April 1955.I am learning something new all the time and hopefully this will help with finding out more about his war.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2017
  17. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Is this him#??

    William Johnston in the Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958
    Name: William Johnston
    Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1910
    Registration district: Belfast
    Birth Country: Ireland
    Volume: 1
    Page: 428
    FHL Film Number: 101073

    TD
     
  18. Jantyjay

    Jantyjay Member

    TD this could be him.William Joseph Johnston as far as I know,born 13th August 1910.Thank you,if this is him how do i verify it,I am not the greatest on computers the easier the better.
     
  19. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Jantyjay - can you give some clue as to where he lived at various times of his life, do you know where he died? Anything helps to track him down.
     
  20. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Jantyjay

    Adding Joseph as his middle name makes the situation worse, I cannot find a William Joseph Johnston born 1910 in Belfast - the closest I can find is:

    Name: William Joseph Johnston
    Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1908
    Registration district: Strokestown
    Birth Country: Ireland
    Volume: 2
    Page: 694
    FHL Film Number: 101072


    You asked how you can verify it - well you can obtain a physical copy of his death certificate - you would need to apply to Belfast registry office who will probably charge a small fee for this service that nominally includes postage within the UK. From this you will see who registered the birth, normally the father, so if you know his name you are halfway there

    TD

    edited to add:
    I also cannot find a William Johnston who died in April 1955 either in Ireland or UK
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2017

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