4271948 Kenneth ALLAN, 2nd Battalion RNF: WW2 & Korean War

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by Billy Allan, May 8, 2020.

  1. Billy Allan

    Billy Allan Member

    Hi
    I’m looking for information on where my father was engaged in WW2 and the Korean War . His Name was Kenneth Allan his service number was RNF 4271948 f.u.s according to one of his Korean medals .
    He sadly died in 1985 aged 65 yrs of age .
    can anyone help?
     
  2. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

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  3. Billy Allan

    Billy Allan Member

    Thank you I’ve got these but to be quite frank, they are not very detailed and the section with his medal awards is faulty . Example he was in Italy in 1945 and got the Italy star , but no info on this in his service records
     
  4. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Can you post what you've got so members can see fir themselves and possibly help you more?

    Is it a typed sheet of paper or copies of the original documents?

    Steve
     
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  5. Billy Allan

    Billy Allan Member

    copies of original will have to resize to upload
     
  6. Billy Allan

    Billy Allan Member

    here goes 14 pages of my dads original service records if it helps
     

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  7. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Thanks for posting the so quickly.

    I can make out the usual post WW2 Army Medal Office stamp in P4 of the records but I’m afraid most of the text in alot of the pages is too blurred for me to read on my iPhone. I’ll try on my iPad later but I expect they will be equally difficult to make out.

    Steve
     
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  8. Billy Allan

    Billy Allan Member

    sorry about that here is a different version of the same service record hopefully easier to read ,
    not in any particular order . Just the way it was scanned .
     

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  9. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Thanks the second lot are fine.

    Steve
     
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  10. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    His records say he was in Sicily & Italy and Greece with 2nd NF so is entitled to Italy Star. What sort of information did you expect to see in his service record to support Italy Star?

    The striking thing for me is he appears to have been awarded the France & Germany Star but as 2nd RNF didn’t service in North West Europe post D Day that appears to be an error.


    Steve

    EDIT TO ADD

    Forum member Gus gmyles has an interest in British forces in Greece 44/45 so may be able to assist.

    PS

    Which particular parts of the record are you having difficulty understanding?
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2020
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  11. Billy Allan

    Billy Allan Member

    Thank You Steve for the info as I couldn`t work it out .
    I thought the France and Germany star was wrong .The WW2 medals he had were: the Africa Star, the Italy Star,the 1939 -1945 Star , the 1939-1945 War Medal and the Defense Medal . He also received the Dunkirk Medal in about 1965 or so .
    What I would like to know is where he would have fought in Africa and Italy .
    I think he was only in Greece before disembarking back to the UK .
    Again Thank you , any further information would really be appreciated
     
  12. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Billy Allan.

    2 NF were the Machine Gun Battalion for 4 Infantry Division from Mar 44. They provided all the heavy weapons for the Division’s three Infantry Brigades - 20mm Oerlikons, 4.2 inch mortars and Vickers Medium Machine Guns.

    They deployed with 4 Infantry Division to the hills around Cassino in Mar 44 then took part in the Fourth Battle of Cassino in May 44. The Division then pushed north, fighting all the way, and took part in the Battle of the Gothic Line at Rimini in Sep 44. They were then deployed to Greece in Nov 44 to suppress the Communist insurgency.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  13. Billy Allan

    Billy Allan Member

    Frank
    Well thank you for your quick response , I didn`t know about the Greece communist insurgency fighting .
    The information you have given me really helps me to understand a lot more . Was the 4th Infantry Division a part
    of a larger unit or army in Africa or Italy or Both?
    Kindest Regards
    Billy
     
  14. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Your welcome.

    From his record he doesn’t appear to have an entitlement to Africa Star either. Dunkirk Medal wasn’t issued by UK MID - it’s a commemorative medal.

    The detail of what his unit did will be in 2nd RNF War Diaries kept at UK National Archives.
    A couple of members offer a look up and copying service - try Drew Drew5233 or Lee PsyWar.Org

    You could look for the Regimental WW2 history at your local library as an alternative.

    HISTORY OF THE ROYAL NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR - Naval & Military Press

    Steve
     
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  15. Billy Allan

    Billy Allan Member

    Steve
    He got the Italy Star but not the France and Germany Star . Dunkirk Medal was awarded by the Dunkirk defenders association in France . Originally awarded to the local french defenders , then awarded to UK and commonwealth veterans of the Dunkirk evacuation in the sixties.
    Thank you again
    Billy
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks for the nudge Steve. Hi Billy, I have four 2 RNF diaries covering 1944 in Italy. Drop me a private message if interested in obtaining copies-All my fees are donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund until the National Archives opens again....Soon I hope :lol:
     
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  17. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    2NF, part of 4 Infantry Division, went to Greece at very short notice arriving at Piraeus Docks on 18 December 1944 on board a variety of ships including HMT Cameronia.

    4th Div was dispatched to Greece to help quell the communist insurgency by ELAS.

    2 NF were ordered to establish a force big enough to defend RAF Kalamaki, just south of Athens.

    They formed BUTTERFORCE, consisting of 2NF, 2908 and 2906 squadrons of the RAF Regiment and elements of all four Royal Artillery regiments of 4 Division (22 Fd, 30 Fd, 77 FD and 14 AT) turned into one infantry battalion, known as the 4 RA Inf Btn. The force was about 1000 strong.

    Also available if required was 6 Armoured Cars of No.4 (Armoured) Flight of 2771 Squadon in Glyfadhia, a settlement just a mile south of Kalamaki.

    BUTTERFORCE was led by Lt-Colonel Butterworth, OC 2NF.

    I've put his Service Number through FMP and nothing found, which means he wasn't ever wounded. So his time away on 'x lists' was more likely to be from an illness.

    If you want more info send me a private conversation using inbox at the top with your email address and I'll send you what I have.

    I am recovering from a operation at the moment so it may take a while.

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2020
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  18. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Billy.

    An Infantry Division came under command of a Corps - three Divisions normally made up a Corps.

    At Cassino, 4 Infantry Division came under command XIII British Corps along with 8 Indian Division, 78 Infantry Division and 6 Armoured Division.

    On the Gothic Line, 4 Infantry Division came under command I Canadian Corps along with 5 Canadian Armoured Division and 1 Canadian Infantry Division.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  19. Billy Allan

    Billy Allan Member

    Hi
    My father was also in Korea 10/10/1950 to 26/10/1951 and that`s about all I know , except
    he may have been in a different Battalion of RNF and that he was no longer a l/cpl .
    Would appreciate if anyone knows anything about this period of his service .
    best regards
    Billy
     

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  20. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi Billy,

    It’s always worthwhile searching google first.

    1st RNF served in Korea - see below link

    Battle of the Imjin River | National Army Museum

    I haven’t searched your Dads record in detail about Korea but he may have been present at the above famous action.

    I did note he was discharged while the Korean War was ongoing. As a regular soldier he had committed to 12 years service in Dec 1938 but with a proviso that he could serve up to an extra year if serving overseas on the 12th anniversary if his enlistment.

    He served in Korea as an infantryman November 1950 until July 1951 when he appears to have suffered an injury/illness. On his recovery he commenced his return journey to UK in mid September 1951 in advance of his discharge to Class Z Reserve in late November 1951.

    Steve
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2020
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