Hi All, I trying to research a local casualty and although i've been generally successful i'm having trouble finding anything on the action from which he was captured and subsequently died CWGC statesthe 28th field reg and his will states 3/57 Field battery I've read the post on the 4th Field Regiment who were in the same 5th Indian Division as this briefly mentions the 28th but any further help would be greatly recieved cwgc details - SHARP, FREDRICK LESLIE Rank: Lance Bombardier Service No: 5882270 (?? - this is a Northants number, he must have enlisted in these 1st) Date of Death: 29/08/1942 Age: 28 Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery 28 Field Regt. Grave Reference 7. F. 17. Cemetery TRIPOLI WAR CEMETERY Son of Herbert Loomes Sharp and Alice Miriam Sharp, of Peterborough, Northamptonshire. Another question is does anyone know what the MM reference is after his number on the document shown below (doesnt feel like the medal as although referenced on 2 of his documents its not mentioned on CWGC) Regards Nigel
No idea what that MM is. There is no Military Medal for him listed at Kew online. I think, looking where it's written, it's more to do with his rank? Out of curiosity where did you get the will from? I'm wondering if all soldiers made them and if they are in the public domain, I've never seen one before. Cheers Andy
On my phone at work just now Drew but some wills are available online for a fee will post link when I get home.
Heres a link to the wills thread. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/49321-first-world-war-second-world-war-wills/#entry580198
I found them here and it cost £6 to download, https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Account/Login I dont know the reason but they dont have them all Good luck Nigel
There is reference to 'The Cauldron' and the action that took place there with reference to the artillery in the excellent book by Tim Clayton & Phil Craig called ' The End of the Beginning' The date of the action was the 5/6 June 1942. I borrowed the book from my local library. ISBN (Hardback) 0 340 76680 ISBN (paperback) 0 340 79482 8
The Cauldron Battle was the last part of the Crusader battle as the defeated Rommel surprisingly stormed out of El Ageila to set up the disaster at the Gazala Gallop which had 8th Army retreating to El Alamein- it was Rommels last victory… Cheers
the retreat of Gazala was the last time 8th Army moved back from anywhere for any meaningful length of time Cheers
