4th survey regiment royal artillery wwII

Hi my grandfather Robert ord bolstridge Smith served with the 4th survey royal artillery , he was reported missing from 20th June 1942 but located on 8th July 1942 in Tobruk. My grandfather spoke very little of the war but did speak of the loyalty and friendship of the fellow soldiers he fought alongside! I am looking if anyone has any information of this missing report or any information in general regarding my grandfather during his WWII campaign. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

Hi and welcome to the forum, have you applied for his complete service records from the MOD Glasgow they are well worth it, the info you obtain from them is a good start to your research


https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records


David

 

Hi thanks for reply I have received them shows he headed out to Egypt on 1st Nov 1940 and remained in the middle East for the duration of the occupation and taking of Tobruk through to the allied forces push into Germany.he ended his service in 1945 with the 7th survey as a rqms. I was hoping for one of his colleagues or a relative of a colleague to recount of my grandfathers service

 

Interesting, I think the June/July 1942 dates would mean that he went missing when Tobruk fell, but then returned to the lines of 8 Army by 8 July. There maybe an interesting story in there.

All the best

Andreas

 

I bet he was a sergeant in 1941

 

Amazing ... your grandfather is the first man of 4th Durham who we've come across on this list who sailed on that date apart from Dad Clarrie Hird. Means your grandfather was in the advanced party sailing on RMS Scythia which was still in pre war state ..Clarrie wrote about his trip in letters home and his diary.

Where and when did he join up?

 

He was a sergeant as I recall on his war records and he ended the war as RQMS in the 7th survey. I will detail all this evening for you all as Im at work at present. Im sure he wasn't captured as Im mother seems to think that he was on the run from the germans, but who with and how he did Im sure is very interesting and deeply traumatising (hence why he never spoke of it much to anyone). He was part of the TA in Gateshead prior to his call up for war, it was September 1939> he even got married 28th October 1940 3 days before he set sail, which I imagine a lot of soldiers did.Who is Clarrie Hird

 

I thought so ...He's mentioned here in the regiments 1941 war diary as the Guard Commander for the Main Barracks. Unfortunately I don't have a copy of the war diary covering when he went missing.

 

Clarrie Hird joined the regiment in Gateshead in April 1939 and served until April 1946. Joining along with two pals from North Durham Rugby Club his skill with motor vehicles led to duties with the transport and promotion to Sergeant just before the regiment sailed for Egypt in late 1940. He also qualified as a surveyor and was in the sound ranging troop which served in Eritrea in early 1941.

He was my father in law.

We have shared extracts from the documents my wife has inherited on the other thread about the 4th Durham Survey Regiment

Clarrie was promoted BQMS in 1942

His father, also Clarence E Hird was one of the organisers of the 'Welcome Home' for the regiment.


Robin

 

My grandad

 

This must have been a friend of my grandad who wrote lofty boss or Ross on the rear

 

The heroes of Tobruk was written on the rear of this one

 

More pictures

 

The sign they're holding is the signpost to the Field Police section of 21st Panzer.

All the best

Andreas

 

Andreas ... any suggestions for the date of that photo?

 

Pure guess, but I'd say after the end of CRUSADER, so late 1941/very early 1942.

All the best

Andreas

 

There is nothing on the photo unfortunately but it might be around the time he went missing, the fella with the tash appears in a few photos so they must have been close

 

What was the 21st panzar andreas

 

I forgot to say Thankyou drew for your war record you posted

 

Could that be BOAZ?