802762 Frederick WATTS Which Normandy beach did he land on?

802762 Frederick WATTS, Dunkirk to VE Day

Hi Everyone - Im just starting to try to research my Grandfather, Frederick Watts, war record. He was a Dunkirk veteran (I believe with I Corps, 1st Heavy Regiment, 5th Battery) who was then posted to 552 Coast Artillery near Dover, and later to the ACC as part of the British Land Army in July 44. I have his army service records, which are brief, and from his 39-45 Star award looks like he was involved with 1681 Artillery Platoon from Feb '44. He survived the war but died before I was born so I don't have any stories from him - but would love to find out a bit more about his war. Would be most grateful for any help and materials you could provide. I have attached some extracts of his army service record

 

Hi Ian

Welcome aboard

Is it possible to upload the full service record, sometimes extracts dont give the full picture and its often much better to read them in their full context. The images you have upload are difficult to read and personally I cant zoom in - that may be me, but it makes them difficult to read

Thanks

TD

 

Thanks TD - yes will try to upload the full records. Theres a 2MB file limit so (unsuccessfully) tried to shrink them!

 

Better to break the image down into smaller images sometimes rather than resize as you can lose detail

TD

 

OK, trying again to upload Frederick Watts records. hopefully legible this time

 

Are these copies of his full records?? some still seems to show partial records

FW1 - I still find difficult to read
FW2 - only shows from 1939 - 1942
FW3 - shows a medal entitlement of the 1939 - 1943 Star which later became the 1939 - 1945 star dated Feb 1944

Where are the records for 1943 - 1945?? showing which unit he was with and where??

TD

 

TD - good spot - I had missed some out. Im finding these difficult to decipher - but maybe youll be better educated on the acronyms and will have more luck? Many thanks for taking a look

 

My attempt at transcribing:

Order/Postings
2/41 / 14 C.A.G.
35/41 /Re-designate d 552 C/R 1-6-41
Coast/Ad/A/Mot 900 Trans to ACC 14/4/42
4 P.A. 552 Coast Regiment
81/42 H.Q. 203 Sect. REME, Crowborough (11 Coy) 11 Dec 42
55/43 Static W/S DET. Crowborough 7-11-43
1/44 1681 Arty Req PL RASC 24 Mar 44
admitted to 16 CCS JO x II List 7-5-45
63/45 Y List "A" 19/5/45

 

23 6 1930 - 4 10 1939 UK based eventually in 1 Heavy Regt RA - RA 1939-45 1 Hvy Rgt
5 10 1939 - 1 6 1940 - BEF France in 1 Heavy Regt RA
2 6 1940 - 13 4 1942 - Initially with 360 then re designated 552 Coastal - RA 1939-45 552 Coast Rgt
14 4 1942 transferred to Army Catering Corps (ACC) until 22 12 1945
although during this time he also appears to have spent some time in REME, RASC and with 1681 Artillery regt RASC ( see more here Please Help. 1681 Artillery Regiment Platoon (RASC))

12 7 1944 - 19 7 1945 NWE with British Liberation Army (BLA) during this time in early May 1945 he was admitted to 16 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) presume he sustained an injury or wound, then he was put on X list
THE X (ii) LIST comprises all ranks evacuated on medical grounds beyond RAP [Regimental Aid Post]. Personnel so evacuated cease to be on the effective strength of their units. Temporary or acting rank will be relinquished 28 days after being so transferred to X (ii) list. Personnel remain in X (ii) list until they are classified as fit for posting by Reception Depot (when they are transferred to the X (iv) list of their corps and marched out to the appropriate training depot), or until discharged by a medical unit direct to their original units. Personnel who, after evacuation beyond RAP are medically graded 1A or lower remain on X (ii) list until they are either (a) placed on Roll, or (b) posted to a Base establishment, or (c) transferred to X (i) list at the Base. Personnel of HQs, or extra-regimental units, may as a matter of convenience be posted direct from Reception Depot and need not be marched through their appropriate training depot. Any extra-duty pay will cease 7 days after transfer to X (ii) list, subject to the proviso that if prior replacement is made ED pay will cease from such prior date.


TD

 

Many thanks for the info, TD. Really appreciate it. I had no idea he had been wounded. I had heard he was a cook in the army - so assume they must have also got close to the action? Either that or food poisoning

 

Hi everybody, I'm finally going to Normandy at the beginning of April and am keen to visit the beach my late grandfather, Frederick Watts landed on.

He was part of 1681 Arty Reg Platoon, which from other threads I understand was attached to 319 Coy RASC and within 4 AGRA which was supporting 1 Corps as part of 1 Canadian Army. His service record lists him as joining the British Liberation Army from 12 July 1944. Can anyone please help me work out where he would have come ashore?

Thanks in advance!