I have a selection of envelopes sent between my mother and father in law during WW2. The letters from Dad have comments such as “passed by examiner” They mention Base 1236 and 1221, a third is identified as "Woodbrook" and finally one is marked naval censor. The envelopes are dated 1943 and are post marked variously Trinidad, Surinam and British Guiana. How can I find the locations of these bases?
Woodbrook is a district of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The U.S. Navy had a base in Port of Spain during the war. U.S. Naval bases in the West Indies were a result of the 'Destroyers for bases agreement' of 1940. Roosevelt Announces Destroyers for Bases Agreement Destroyers for Bases Agreement - Wikipedia
Thanks Guy, that helps a huge amount. Dad enlisted in Port of Spain so I know where now. He joined USED Coastguard. We think he arrived there after having survived being torpedoed at least once, although we do not know the name of the ship he arrived on nor any of those whose torpedoing he survived. Does anyone know if enlistment papers from Woodbrook survive?
I wish I knew TD!! I can tell you that he escaped singapore on the night 13/14 February. He arrived Emmerhaven aroound ten days later and then I have no record until he takes a tug called Delamar from Trinidad to Bridgetown for dry dock repairs. this must be December 1942. He married in Bridgetown on 30/1/1943. The envelopes I mention roughly trace his movements until Jan 1944. then nothing until May 1944 when he signs onto a British ship bound for the Med from Canpool Montreal.
Daisy, Have you applied for your dad's service record, this would detail his ships and destinations throughout the war? Coast Guard Records Guy
Hmmm Reading this site I wonder if there is a connection between the boat and your name "He escaped on board a water boat called DAISY with a number of civilians, one P.O and 5 ORs." TD Source - Singapore Evacuation
Hi TD Yes you hit the nail on the head that's Dad. "He escaped on board a water boat called DAISY with a number of civilians, one P.O and 5 ORs." He was one of the OR's. The US coastguard are chary of giving details and I can work out mosst of it from the letters and the boat names "Delamar" and "Wellandoc" It is the gap betweenSingapore and Trinidad that is frustrating!
Dominic Micheal Stringer 1914-1986 Stringer-Dominic-Michael The uniform and insignia looks like he was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, I believe the U.S. Coastguard have a different cap badge? Coast Guard cap badge
I took this photo to the US Embassy in London and a naval Sub. Lt. there checked up and said it was Coastguard - apparently half way through the war the US Government realised the eagle faced the same way as the German cap Eagles and promptly changed it! The sleeve insignia shows him to be an engineer. There is a huge amount of reseach under the name "Daisy1942" on the net spread across various websites. I try to keep a thread to one speciific area of research but it is not always possible. Apologies if I am confusing you
Hi Guy, I checked your link and this has changed considerably since our first attempt to get Dad's records so I will try again. though not sure how far we will get without a service number. Thank you so much!
Full name, date of birth and death certificate should suffice. Good luck and I hope it brings the answers you have been searching for. Guy
Hahaha Name date of death no problem date of birth could be another matter as he seems to have had two!