Private David Ward - Reconnaissance Corps

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by CandiceB, Nov 15, 2021.

  1. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    Hi there,

    I've been trying to find a little more information from the 2 newspaper snippets I've found handed down to me.

    The article alludes to Private David Ward along with this brother being missing in action.

    I believe David was in the Reconnaissance Corps and missing in Singapore/Malaya. Originally from Manley Street/Wigan.

    Would really appreciate any further insight into him/and or his brother (also mentioned)

    Thank you in advance for reading this far.

    C
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Just a question to see if the info I have is for the same man. Did he leave army to become a coal miner in 1943?
     
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  3. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

  4. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    From British Army Cas Lists1939-1945 on FMP.

    upload_2021-11-15_10-48-5.png

    upload_2021-11-15_10-48-46.png

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
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  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Bolton Rifles - Wikipedia

    18th Battalion Reconnaissance Corps
    In January 1941 the Reconnaissance Corps was formed to provide reconnaissance ('recce') units for infantry divisions. A number of existing motor-cycle infantry battalions were transferred to the new corps, and 5th Loyals joined 18th Division as its recce battalion. It was redesignated 18th Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps on 26 April 1941.[65][66] The basic equipment of the new battalions was Humber Light Reconnaissance Cars, Universal Carriers, and 15-hundredweight light trucks, though much of the early equipment used in training was improvised, such as Beaverettes in place of the Humber LRCs.[67]
    18th Battalion was the first unit of the new Recce Corps to see action. Along with 18th Division it had been shipped from England bound for Middle East Command, but while in the Indian Ocean it was diverted to the Far East following the Japanese invasion of Malaya. After staging in India, it followed the main body of the division to Singapore, landing on 5 February 1942. Having lost the bulk of its weapons and equipment when Japanese dive-bombers attacked its troopship Empress of Asia, the unit hastily re-equipped as an infantry battalion and moved into the northern sector of the defences of Singapore Island.[68][69] Two companies were detached to 54th Bde, the remainder were with divisional HQ.[70]
    The British commander, Lt-Gen Arthur Percival, considered that the village of Bukit Timah was the key to the defence and on 10 February he ordered 18th Division to form an ad hoc force to occupy it. Commanded by Lt-Col L.C. Thomas, it was known as 'Tomforce' and consisted of 18th Recce Bn, 4th Bn Royal Norfolk Regiment, 1/5th Bn Sherwood Foresters, a battery of 85th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, and a battery of 5th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Japanese tanks were attacking Bukit Timah and the village was in flames. Tomforce was ordered to send 18th Recce Bn forward but the position had been lost by midnight, so the battalion was disposed across the road, supporting an Australian road block.[68][71]
    Tomforce counter-attacked on 11 February, with 4th Norfolks on the right, 18th Recce astride the road in the centre and 1/5th Sherwood Foresters on the left, but it was facing two Japanese divisions and was driven back. That afternoon it came under 'ferocious aerial and artillery attack', which it held off with support from the heavy coastal artillery (9.2-inch and 6-inch guns) at Connaught and Siloso Batteries.[68][69][72][73]
    By 13 February the whole force was defending a perimeter covering Singapore city, with the remnants of Tomforce still holding the Burkit Timah road. The battalion continued to hold its positions, and carried out counter-attacks until the surrender of the whole British force in Singapore on 18 February. 18th Recce Bn had suffered 55 officers and men killed, and a further 264 died as prisoners of war before the end of the war.


    Tomforce

    Some useful maps here - http://worldwartwodaily.filminspector.com/2019/09/february-11-1942-tomforce-fails-on.html

    David Ward doesnt seem to appear on POW records or FEPOW records or CWGC - strange hes not on either unless he escaped somehow
     
  6. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    Wow thank you so so much Gentlemen!

    Yes he became a coal Miner in Wigan I believe.
     
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  7. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

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  8. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    Yes I believe he did. Wigan.
     
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  9. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

  10. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    I am truly speechless, thank you for you kind and quick research.

    I will start to go through the documents from WO 361-221 shortly.

    How on earth did he manage to escape?!

    It's such a shame also as his wife (my great grandmother) died in 1945 and he was a father of 5 children.
     
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  11. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    Just spend a few hours reading the information in your link, it's really touched me and cannot even imagine what they went through.

    I've found when he was in ww1 and seems to be in Wellington Barracks (Dublin) in 1921 so seems like he served in both wars.

    I have no idea what Regiment he would of been in for Wellington Barracks in Dublin do you?
     

    Attached Files:

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  12. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    Service number 3646005 was within the batch allocated to the The Prince of Wales' Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) in 1920. The batch was 3644001 - 3701000 so he had the 2004th number making it probable that he was either serving with them when the whole regiment was renumbered from that sequence in 1920 or joined very soon afterwards.

    A posting in Dublin would tally with the 1st Battalion South Lancs:

    1st Battalion spent almost the entire inter-war period in England, barring a three-year spell on garrison duty in Dublin from 1920 and a year as occupation troops in Germany in 1928. 2nd Battalion spent two years in Palestine from 1920 and then remained in India from 1922 to July 1940.
    The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers) | National Army Museum

    Travers
     
  13. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    Ah he would of been around 20/21 when he served in The Prince of Wales' Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment).

    I'm glad he did as he met my Irish Great Grandmother there and I never would of existed.

    Thank you again.
     
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  14. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    Just to let you know I received my GGF D Wards Military records if anyone would like me to post them.

    35 pages worth.
     
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  15. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Hi Candice. Go ahead & post.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
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  16. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    I only received it today so will try and decipher the overall picture.

    Feel free to comment on anything that stands out in your opinion.

    C
     

    Attached Files:

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  17. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Did you get the file from MOD Glasgow or UK National Archives London?

    You appear to have received material that was usually withheld by MOD - medical and discipline papers - and should have been withheld by NA.

    Steve
     
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  18. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    Hi Steve
    ,
    From the MOD National Archives.

    I guess it clearly slipped through the cracks.

    Have you had a look at the documents?

    Anything stand out at all.

    I wish I understood it more.

    Kind regards
    C
     
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  19. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    I’ve had a look through the papers. I surmise you obtained so many pages as he was born over 116 years ago.

    The pre discharge medical form - Page 19 - mentions previous service in The Manchester Regiment as part of his military service 1918-1921. My interpretation is that he was conscripted round about his 18th birthday in 1918 but wasn’t deployed overseas before the end of the war (unless you know different from family information or possession of WW1 Campaign medals). He may have served a short time overseas post November 1918 but would likely have been demobilised in early 1919.

    He appears to have enlisted into South Lancashire Regiment in August 1919 on a 2 year short service enlistment. As the war time army was being reduced in size there was still a need to maintain numbers to “Police the Empire” and for active service in diverse places including Ireland, Afghanistan, North & South Russia and Iraq etc. Men who had previous service could re enlist on favourable short term enlistments with previous service being allowed to count for pension purposes - rather than as new recruits on a standard 12 year enlistment commitment.

    Both his Manchester Regiment & South Lancashire Regiment service records would have been stored with the bulk of the WW1 era service records that were destroyed during a German air raid on the storage warehouse in London in 1940. Those that survived are available on Ancestry and findmypast so you may want to search their databases.

    His Loyal Regiment Territorial Army service papers have survived. There is an awful lot to go through so more to follow later about his TA and wartime service unless others contribute in the meantime.

    Steve
     
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  20. CandiceB

    CandiceB Member

    Wow Steve.

    Such knowledge, Thank you again.

    I'll have a proper read this evening.

    C
     
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