Hello all, I've been a serial browser for a number of months now on the site - what a fantastic place it is. Anyway earlier this year a family member applied for my Great-Granddad's service records and after a good while they arrived the other week. This afternoon I managed to take a good look at them and it was certainly an interesting read. Now we have his records we are after a little more detail into the more specific side of his service. We know where he was in the world during the 1920's and also WW2, but what we are after is what his regiment was actually doing at that time and where they were stationed. If any of your guys could help that would be fantastic. From 23/09/24 until 18/03/30 he was stationed in India, posted to first the 11th Battery Royal Field Artillery then from 04/09/25 with the 86th Field Battery. From 1930 until 1939 he worked as a miner before enlisting again on the 21/08/39, in the Royal Artillery 12th Medium Regiment. A month later he sailed to France with the B.E.F, staying there from 21/09/39 until 13/06/40. On a photo we have with him on it states the 8th Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery? From 22/02/43 until 09/09/43 he was in the Middle East which seems to have changed on his records to have been known as British North Africa from 10/09/43, stopping their until 09/12/43. He later fought in Italy before being discharged in 1945. If anyone could help with filling in where he exactly was and various points during the War then that would be great. Scott
His itinerary matches 8 A/Tk Bty much better than 12 Med Regt which didn't exist in 1939. It might be worth posting scans of his records in case others can draw something out. There's no proper 2 Div history, but 5 Indian Div's Ball of Fire is available online to pick through.
Smithy Might be a good idea if you were to scan some of his records as it is not to clear as to how he managed to be transferred from MEF to BNAF at the time 46th Div landed at Algiers(BNAF)- and somehow left there into Italy at the December '43 when the fighting was up around Ortona and Mignano at that time Cheers
His itinerary matches 8 A/Tk Bty much better than 12 Med Regt which didn't exist in 1939. It might be worth posting scans of his records in case others can draw something out. There's no proper 2 Div history, but 5 Indian Div's Ball of Fire is available online to pick through. Smithy Might be a good idea if you were to scan some of his records as it is not to clear as to how he managed to be transferred from MEF to BNAF at the time 46th Div landed at Algiers(BNAF)- and somehow left there into Italy at the December '43 when the fighting was up around Ortona and Mignano at that time Cheers Hello both, Thank you for your prompt replies. Unfortunately a family member has the copies which were sent to us at the moment and I could only take a look at them this afternoon as she is in the process of scanning them all into her PC. I made some notes quickly so maybe I might have miss-read the copy. Would he have perhaps belonged to the 12th Medium Regiment on discharge? I'd agree about him being with the 8th Anti-Tank Battery as I said we have got a group photo which says. "Belgium & France 1939-40". If this is the case have we got any specific details of their whereabouts during that campaign? It says in his country served in section, France & Belgium 9 months, Libya 9 months, Egypt 2 months, Italy 2 months. Does this help explain the link between MEF and BNAF? Cheers, Scott
Scott You have indicated three operational areas in that France & germany '44/'45 were BLA - Lybia / Egypt were in MEF - whereas Italy was CMF - not one was in BNAF- the december data is significant as XXX corps and VIII bde were on their way home - possibly spent a couple of days in say Algiers - Tunis - Bizerta etc and would account for the ONLY two months in Italy(CMF) so he might have been in either 50th - 51st or 7th Armoured divs- who all too part in D Day along with the three Tank regiments in VIII bde They went home basically from Sicily although some of 7th AD were later Cheers
Tom, Thank you for your reply. I'm pretty sure, to my knowledge, that he didn't serve in France and Germany in 1944/45. He did though form part of the B.E.F in France and Belgium in 1939/40. From his records after this it clearly states: Middle East from 22/02/43 until 09/09/43 British North Africa from 10/09/43 until 09/12/43 Perhaps these are wrong? Unfortunately I didn't take down the Italy dates and will have to get these at a later date as it could explain a lot about the above. Scott
Scott - we are now into a guessing game and nothing will be gained until we have a good look at the records Cheers
Scott - we are now into a guessing game and nothing will be gained until we have a good look at the records Cheers Agreed. Will look to get them ASAP but in all honestly that will probably be in the New Year now. Cheers.
I have found this Order of Battle, which mentiones the 8th Anti-Tank Battery: http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/2_Infantry_Division__1939_.pdf And my input with regards to my great-uncle was to point out not to assume what you have is wrong. It is my thought that at the time being discussed the record keeping was being done in BNAF offices and so all authorities and notations were indicated as such, and did not refer to the actual location of the soldier at the time. You probably should try and get copies of the War Diary for the units concerned. This has helped me no end with my own research. Mark
8 Anti-Tank Battery were in France from Sept 1939 until June 1940 and there is a unit war diary at Kew covering this period.
I have found this Order of Battle, which mentiones the 8th Anti-Tank Battery: http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/2_Infantry_Division__1939_.pdf And my input with regards to my great-uncle was to point out not to assume what you have is wrong. It is my thought that at the time being discussed the record keeping was being done in BNAF offices and so all authorities and notations were indicated as such, and did not refer to the actual location of the soldier at the time. You probably should try and get copies of the War Diary for the units concerned. This has helped me no end with my own research. Mark Interesting Mark, thanks once again. 8 Anti-Tank Battery were in France from Sept 1939 until June 1940 and there is a unit war diary at Kew covering this period. Excuse my ignorance as I'm pretty new to all this but how would we/I go about possibly requesting a copy of this from Kew? Scott
Some links which may help: Detecting your browser settings Detecting your browser settings Detecting your browser settings Detecting your browser settings Detecting your browser settings Detecting your browser settings Detecting your browser settings And a free file from the Cabinet Papers which is about 2nd Division: The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details Mark
Thanks Mark. Andy - Having read your thread on your visit's to Kew and the service that you offer I might well be dropping you a PM in the New Year.
