S. Lancs. Reg - service in Palestine & Egypt

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by rushyx, Sep 28, 2009.

  1. rushyx

    rushyx Junior Member

    Hello from a newbie here!

    I'd be grateful of any tips to help find out more about late fathers service with the S. Lancs. reg. (Prince of Wales vol.) at the end of the war. My father always described his time as "peace keeping duties" but I know that he came under fire from snipers and he was very much affected by his mate standing next to him being shot dead at 19 yrs. old. This much I know:

    Mr Albert Rushmer. Army No. 14947249 L/CPL South Lancs. Regt.
    Enlisted at York on 15 Mar 1945
    Trade on enlistment: Blacksmith’s apprentice
    On active service Egypt 1945-46, Jerusalem 1946-48
    Transferred to Army reserve 7 May 1948
    Service medal clasp Palestine 1945-48 received 9 Oct 1953

    We have applied for his service record, my mother has signed it, but expect that take possibly months. I wonder is there a regimental diary for that time? I have some of his original papers from his time in Haifa & his training:
    Guide map of Haifa by Sarafond section Aug 1945.
    In & around Haifa welfare handbook for the forces
    Soldier's service and pay book
    Skill at arms record book

    Many thanks for any help.
    Regards - Paul Rushmer
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Paul and welcome to the forum.

    I'm currently doing some research into my G/F's family service with the S. Lanc's and one of them I believe (Like you we are sorting the service records) served in Palestine after the war.

    I'd be very interested in seeing the Haifa stuff you have if you could post pictures of them on here that would be great.

    Here is her family thread incase you are interested:
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/18757-family-connections-south-lancashire-regiment.html

    There's a couple of S. Lancs nuts on here that will be able to help you out - hopefully

    Regards
    Andy
     
  3. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

  4. rushyx

    rushyx Junior Member

    Thanks very much Rob. To get access I presume I would need to fill in a SAR?
     
  5. rushyx

    rushyx Junior Member

    Andy. I will scan them, but the Haifa map is quite big, so have to do a mosaic or try to reduce and stitch as one image if my computing skills allow!
    Paul
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cheers Paul I look forward to seeing them.

    Ref the diaries at Kew you have to visit unfortunately and photograph them. I suspect I may be getting all the 1st Batt's and poss the 9th's (Once I confirm their battalions) for the G/F but that won't be until next year at the earliest.

    The SAR form is for ex service men applying for their own records. (I have already made that mistake mate)

    Andy
     
  7. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Paul, I will have a look through the Regimental History when I get home tonight, and see if there is anything mentioned in there.
     
  8. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Paul, nothing in the Regimental History I am afraid, as it finishes with the taking of Bremen for NW Europe, and then Burma in 46.

    However, the ROH has the following casualties in Palestine.

    1st Battalion
    TEL EL KEBIR WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY

    GOOCH. J, 14205783 – 15/08/46 (Aged 22)
    PARSONS. ALBERT JOHN, 14839537 – 22/5/46 (Aged 19)
    TAYLOR. DONALD ARTHUR, 14834757 – 9/4/46 (Aged 21)
    WHITTINGHAM. JOHN REX, 14836561 – 15/9/46 (Aged 20)

    RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY

    KENYON. A, 14145591 – 1/3/47 (Aged 19)

    2nd Battalion
    MOASCAR WAR CEMETERY

    FELL. JOHN ARTHUR, 3661040 – 13/11/45 (Aged 35)

    From this I would say that your Father was with the 1st Battalion, which returned to the UK Late 45 after the 3rd Division had taken Bremen

    Phil
     
  9. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment Regiment was under the Command of Lt. Col.MAH Butler DSO MC. Flew out from Brussels Airport in October 1945. First posting in November 1945 in Haifa. Later posting Jerusalem 1947/48.
     
  10. rushyx

    rushyx Junior Member

    Phil - thanks for the info. on the Palestine posting dates. Andy - I have scanned the handbook "In & around Haifa - welfare handbook for the forces" & uploaded to my Live skydrive. It's a PDF file so you'll need Adobe reader, & note it's big at 11 Mb ! Let me know if you have problem accessing it as I'm new to using skydrive.
    Here's the link. I will upload the map when i can figure out how to stitch the scans!
    haifa_guide.pdf - Windows Live
     
  11. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Paul,

    Hello and welcome to the forum.

    The PDF opened up no problem, just took a minute or so to load.

    Well worth it when reading the booklet a real treasure of information.

    I somehow think that Wolfschmidt's sponsored the booklet.:D

    Regards
    Tom
     
  12. rushyx

    rushyx Junior Member

    Glad it was of interest! I am working on the map now & hope to have it uploaded in the next few days.
    Regards - Paul
     
  13. rushyx

    rushyx Junior Member

    It was easier for me to take a photo of the map, i have uploaded it with this reply. It's fairly hi-res so you should be able to zoom in quite a bit to see detail - hope it's of interest.

    I have a booklet "A short history of the South Lancs. Regiment"
    (Prince of Wales's volunteers) I could scan it as a PDF document if anyone was interested.... let me know!

    Regards - Paul
     

    Attached Files:

  14. jimatk

    jimatk New Member

    MY

    MY DAD WAS IN PALESTINE PTE STEPHEN ATKINSON. WONDER IF YOUR DAD KNEW HIM
     

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