I am due very soon to reschedule my visit to the National Archives and my main focus will be on 1944, and my Dad's time at a mysterious unit which is so mysterious there appears to be absolutely NO record of it anywhere. It was an annex of HMS Shrapnel, a naval training base in Southampton. There were annexes spread all over the country in farms, schools, industrial sites, railway stations, church halls, you name it. The one in question is RN Unit, Hendon. Family folklore tells that Dad was involved 'in some way' with Operation Overlord, and Dad's naval records show him at this training site from May 44 to August 44. Having spoken to the Records Bureau at Swadlincote, they tell me that the unit never had more than fifty people there at any one time, all were ratings and only five were senior rates. If anyone would know the best course of action for me to investigate this at TNA I would be very grateful as, having only had one largely unsuccessful trip there already, knowing where to look and what to ask for is the key. Thanks
