New guy

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by mice00ca, Feb 13, 2021.

  1. mice00ca

    mice00ca Member

    Hello everyone from Montreal Canada!
    I’m Chris and I’m so happy to have found this message board. I’m looking to find more info on my Great Uncles lost Lancaster and my Grandfather’s Cheshire unit. See you in the boards. Cheers!
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  3. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Welcome aboard.
     
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  4. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum. Always good to see another Canuck on board.
     
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  5. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Welcome to the forum.
     
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  6. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Which battalion of the Cheshire Regiment was your grandfather in?

    Regards

    Frank
     
  7. mice00ca

    mice00ca Member

    Hi Frank. Looks like he was in the Second battalion. I found a casualty record dated July 27th 1942 for him and was going start there.
     
  8. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello mice00ca,

    The 2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment joined the 50th (Northumbrian) Division as its MG battalion on 1 February 1941. It stayed with it for the duration.

    I have the regimental history, which includes that of the 2nd Bn.

    Anything you would wish me to look up?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
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  9. mice00ca

    mice00ca Member

    Steve, that would be amazing!
    Here is a link to a casualty report I found.

    http://ww2talk.com/index.php?attachments/17d293e3-7d82-4125-935d-0e5f984938d8-jpeg.292203/

    GH Caldwell highlighted I'm thinking is him. His name was Geoffrey Harold Caldwell (1912-1961) Any info would be very helpful. I have been trying info on him for a while now and my father never met him.

    Thanks in advance!

    Chris
     
  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Geoffrey Harold Caldwell
    1912–1961
    BIRTH 19 FEB 1912 • Birkenhead, Cheshire
    DEATH MAR 1961 • Surrey North eastern, Surrey, England

    1939 England and Wales Register
    Name: Geoffrey Caldwell
    Gender: Male
    Marital Status: Divorced
    Birth Date: 19 Feb 1912
    Residence Year: 1939
    Address: 84c
    Residence Place: Wandsworth, London, England
    Occupation: Radio Mechanic Comm Photographer Carpenter
    Line Number: 30
    Schedule Number: 222
    Sub Schedule Number: 1
    Enumeration District: AXPO
    Borough: Wandsworth
    Registration district: 24-4.
    Household Members: 1

    A jack of all trades it seems

    Ancestry has 5 family trees for him

    TD
     
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  11. mice00ca

    mice00ca Member

    Amazing info Tricky,

    Thank you for looking it up.

    I appreciate it very much!

    Chris
     
  12. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    If you need anything else just ask - seems life was a little turbulent for him around 1939/1940

    TD
     
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  13. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Looks like it !!!

    Caldwell.jpg
    Norwood News, Friday, November 30, 1934
     
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  14. mice00ca

    mice00ca Member

    Wow that’s an incredible find Tony.
    Im guessing this could be a reason why my grandmother left for Canada in the early 1940s with my father and divorced Geoffrey. She also never said much about him to my father.

    Thank you very much!
    Chris
     
  15. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Hasn't been mentioned so far but, if you really want to trace his history, you should start with his official service records, only available here:
    Get a copy of military service records: Apply for the records of someone who's deceased - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    Unfortunately there is rather a long wait for service records at the present time, you should allow about 12 months, unfortunately they do not take plastic or online payments, so will have to be a cheque/money order in £s.


    You don not need any military details to apply, but you will need a death certificate, these are the details you need:
    Name: Geoffrey H Caldwell
    Death Age: 48
    Birth Date: abt 1913
    Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
    Registration District: Surrey North eastern
    Inferred County: Surrey
    Volume: 5g
    Page: 601

    Can be ordered online:
    General Register Office (GRO) - Official information on births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths
     
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  16. mice00ca

    mice00ca Member

    Thanks again Tony,

    It was definitely on my to do list for him.

    Looks like the sooner the better.

    Appreciate the help!
    Chris
     
  17. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    There is no mention of your grandfather in the regimental history: 'The History Of The Cheshire Regiment In The Second World War' (Crookenden), Chris.

    Going off the date of his wounding, he was likely involved in, either, the fighting at Taqa Plateau, near Himeimat Ridge or in the area between Ruweisat Ridge and the sea (Operation Manhood), both Egypt, depending on which Company he served with.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
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  18. mice00ca

    mice00ca Member

    Thank you very much for your help in looking up his info Steve,

    It has given me some more places to look. At this point Im going to apply for his records as mentioned by Tony above and see what I get.

    I will report back with what I find.

    Thanks again and have a nice weekend!

    Chris
     
  19. Peter Hayes

    Peter Hayes Member

    Sorry to jump on this thread, but do you know if there Is a digital copy of ‘The History Of The Cheshire Regiment In The Second World War' anywhere??, I’m trying to trace my Great-Grandad and his brothers steps throughout the war. Both signed up firstly for the Cheshire Regiment then ended up in different regiments as the war went on. TIA
     
  20. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    No problem.

    I am not aware of if there is a digital copy, but would have thought it unlikely given the year of publication.

    The Cheshire Regiment Museum should be able to confirm: https://www.cheshiremilitarymuseum.co.uk/contact-us/

    As you have read, I do have a hard copy of the stated book and I would be happy to help with your research. Contact me by PM if best for you!

    Best,

    Steve.
     

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