Good morning, this is my first thread so I hope I don't run afoul of the rules. Since Grandad passed in 2017, I've found pictures, documents, medals, papers relating to his ww2 service. It wasn't until later in life he started dropping anecdotes here and there. So I have a lot of the pieces, but I also am missing a lot of pieces. I'm going to outline what I know in the hopes someone can shed some light on formations, events, anything I know he was Royal Signals from his paybook and other documents. A resume I found from later in life states he was a tank driver/mechanic. He said he was a runner for "some engineering outfit" before Dunkirk and when I asked him if he had to wait on the beaches in the last days he just smiled and said "I had a motorcycle". Then he just sat up at Catterick where he was the bantamweight regimental boxing champion (Thats another long fruitless record search) before embarking for India I have a shellback card from December 1942 Giving his unit as No 5 A.A.S.C. I know from what he told me, they stopped in Newfoundland, Liberia (or Ghana, one of those places), and disembarked in Bombay from where they went to "show the flag" in Iraq and Iran (may not have been in that order). I think he mentioned Damascus but I could also be assuming he was Habforce. Then onto 8th army. He told me he was at Alamein, Tobruk, Tunisia, Malta, Sicily, Italy. Monte Cassino. (I know Malta wasn't a battlefield, nor is this list all inclusive, I have a photo with "Benghazi" written on the back and there may have been others). I've got a Mentioned in Despatches certificate for June 1943, and have found the corresponding entry in the London Gazette, but it is only an entry with name and regiment, not details of why it was awarded. His paybook seems to have been a replacement as it is only seems to be half full, but it lists his unit as NO 1 ASSU. I have found that the only No 1 ASSU in Italy was a Canadian formation. Handwritten in the margins are barely legible Italian place names such as Ortona and Montefiascone, which I recognize as Canadian AOs. I've written historians, authors, museums, RAF, Army, Signals organizations and have gotten little back, not much seems to exist about these units. The T/OE posted here for ASSU's was very detailed and helpful, Does anyone have insight on these two units? Specifically, where I might find a war diary or details on these units movements. I'm American, so it is unlikely I can make it to view records in person anytime soon.
Hello Keith and welcome Firstly it might be an idea to post the docs you have and his name on here to allow forum members to assist you further Also do you have his full service records link here a long wait but worth it Get a copy of military service records for info ,have a read through the threads below AIR SUPPORT SIGNALS UNIT and SPECIAL SIGNALS GROUP Air Support Signals Units Air Support Signals Section, 11th Signals Battalion, Polish II Corps The Royal Corps of Signals Regards Clive
