Following my father's death I am trying to find out more about his life in RAOC 1939 - 1946. He was a Sergeant. His call up papers ask him to report to Tidworth. The very little I know: He was sent at one time to Scotland with tropical gear - but never then needed it. He was then sent to York Ordnance depot. He went to France 1940. He also went to France D19 - tank landing. I have photos of his regiment and a group in tropical gear and would love to find out more about his service. Any help would be appreciated. Sue
Hi Drew - sorry don't know unit. Looked at my very brief notes written as he was talking to me one day. Nance - Brest - Falmouth (Red Cross boat torpedoed)?? Does this help in any way? Sue
Not really- There were lots of RAOC units in France. It sounds like he left France via the North West Coast so was amongst the last to leave France a week or so after Dunkirk. I can help with the 1940 France stuff but really need the unit to see if his unit had a diary. I would suggest you next best thing to do would be to apply for a copy of his service records from the MoD. They cost £30 but will tell you all the units he served with, where and when he served with them. Regards Andy
Andy - just went through his release papers and find that on release - January 1946 - he was a Storeman attached to 5 Guards Armoured Bde, Workshops REME. Does this help in any way?? Regards Sue
Hi Sue - welcome to the forum I can give you some brief info. Tidworth had barracks and workshops and is noted in the RAOC regimental history as being an important Command Ordnance Depot during the war as was York. It's not much I'm afraid and I agree the best thing would be to apply for his service history.
Andy - just went through his release papers and find that on release - January 1946 - he was a Storeman attached to 5 Guards Armoured Bde, Workshops REME. Does this help in any way?? Regards Sue I've found a bit about this unit in Craftsmen of The Army, but can't get Photobucket to work at the moment. Will try to upload the pics again later.
View attachment ARMOURED BRIGADE WORKSHOP REME.docx Sue, I attach the War Establishment for an Armoured Brigade Workshop and highlight the RAOC section in red. This workshop would always be close behind the armoured brigade so it should be possible to trace its movements across Europe in 1944/45. I will look further. Mike
Sue, have you tried the RLC museum at the following address: RLC Museum Princess Royal Barracks Deepcut Surrey GU16 6RW Phone: 01252 833371 They don't accept queries for research by e-mail. Dave.
January 1946 - he was a Storeman attached to 5 Guards Armoured Bde, Workshops REME. All I would take from that is that he was with that unit when his war finished. It's more than likely that he served with other units throughout the war. He certainly wouldn't have been with that unit in 1940 as it didn't exist then.
Photobucket working again for me so here is the info from Craftsmen of The Army with a reference to 5 Guards Armd Bde, REME:
Thanks to all. Lots to keep my going. Records applied for - can't wait to see what this shows. Regards, Sue
Morannes I can provide a little bit of information about the last 18 months of your father's service in Germany Historic Steve and I are currently involved in a collaborative project researching the history of the early years of the British Army of the Rhine(we have been at it four years now). I have some basic information which may be of interest. 5 Guards Armoured Brigade was part of the Guards Armoured Division, part of 30 British Corps, and ended the War on the Cuxhaven Peninsular (the area of Germany between Bremen/River Weser and Hamburg/River Elbe). The decision had been made that with the ending of hostilities The Foot Guards would revert to their traditional Infantry role and hand back their armoured vehicles. There was a "Farewell to Armour " Parade on the Airfield at Rotenburg on the 9th June attended by Field Marshall Montgomery. Your father might have been a spectator. Basically the Foot Guards Battalions drove their Tanks on to the Parade grounds and were formally inspected by FM Montgomery. They the drove past in a final Salute and parked their tanks at the side of the Parade Ground, formed up on foot and marched back on parade as a Finale. At the end of June the reorganised Guards Division moved to the south west corner of the new British Occupation Zone (roughly in the area Siegen/Bonn/Aachen/Cologne). In March 1946 the Division moved back north to assume military responsibilty for Schleswig Holsein (the area north of the River Elbe, south of the Danish border) where they were to remain till disbandment in December 1946. So far as your fathers movements are concerned Steve and I have yet to confirm exactly where 5 Guards Armoured Brigade were on VE Day (8th May) but they were definitely in the area of the port/town of Cuxhaven. 5 Guards Brigade were then given the responsibility for Cologne and its immediate area. The Brigade Workshop was definitely situated in the suburb of Ursbach. The Kiel area was the final destination for 5 Guards Brigade and the Brigade Workshop was definitely on the Airfield at Neumunster in the north west corner of the town. If you have Google Earth facility you can still see the concrete aircraft hanger built by the Luftwaffe but used by a succession of REME Workshops, backing on to the single track railway line.The RAOC Stores Section would have either worked from inside this hanger or from their vehicles parked alongside. The actual barrack living accommodation on the eastern edge of the airfield was demolished many years ago to provide much needed civilian housing. I hope this is of interest (if/when Steve or I discover the Cuxhaven location we will certainly let you know)
