Hello, I'm new so sorry for any misposting. My grandfather, Benjamin Aldridge, was a tank driver with the RAC, based in Poona about 1944. So far, what research I've done has suggested he was probably with 146 Regiment RAC (formerly 9 Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regt). Owing to a huge family disagreement a few years ago, all his personal effects, including his cap badge and any details of his service, disappeared without a trace. Finding him has become a labour of love but I have now hit a brick wall. He only ever talked about driving Matilda and Valentine tanks so I'm assuming he never graduated to the Grant or saw much action in Burma.
Hi Richard - Have you considered applying for a copy of his service records? They cost £30 but they will confirm what units he served with during WW2.
Hi Drew5233. Really? Like I said I'm very new. Do you mean from MOD as his next of kin? Thanks for the tip. It would be good to confirm his unit first maybe? Like I said, I know he was in Poona, I know he drove tanks, and he said he was RAC. It looks from my research like 146th Regt. was the only RAC unit posted there but someone else might know different. He showed me his cap badge once when I was a kid. I don't remember it having the classic RAC tank device on it but this was more than 40 years ago.
Here you go, have a read through this page and download the forms. It's pretty straight forward to do. Requests for personal data and service records: a detailed guide - GOV.UK
Ah, there might be a problem, in that I have no death certificate or copy thereof, and I am extremely unlikely to get one. Oh well, in four years it will be 116 years since my Grandad was born and thus the DC requirement will be waived. Looks like I'll have to admit defeat at this point.
Would this be him? Name: Benjamin Aldridge Death Age: 54 Birth Date: abt 1907 Registration Date: Mar 1961 Registration district: Thanet Inferred County: Kent Volume: 5b Page: 1059 If not what info do you have on him?? TD
Or is it this one: Name Benjamin Aldridge Registration Year 1906 Registration Quarter Apr-May-Jun Registration district Dover Parishes for this Registration District Dover Inferred County Kent Volume 2a Page 1134 TD
Hi Tricky Dicky, thanks for your efforts. Sadly, neither is him, his middle name was Thomas, he was from Warwickshire originally and he died in 1990 aged 89. Cheers
findmypast.co.uk Sorry Richard, I didn't realise the BMD only covers deaths up to 1984 (you learn something new everyday). Tricky will likely be able to see the exact details via Ancestry for you to order it. You'll need the Districts volume number and page from 1990.
Then you must mean this one England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Benjamin Thomas Aldridge Death Age: 85 Birth Date: 15 Dec 1904 Registration Date: Sep 1990 Registration district: Northampton Inferred County: Northamptonshire Volume: 7 Page: 2428 Apply to Northampton Register of deaths for a copy - details as above TD
