Did any of your family serve during WW2; if so what did they do?

Hi all,

My grandfather William Reilly served in the 10th RA Regiment for WW2 - He was called up on his 18th birthday. I know he was active from 1945-1948 and I remember him telling me about being based in Cyprus/Palestine. I have attached a photo of him in the army with others and it would be amazing if anyone on here recognised their loved one. I have attached his tracer card also as I would love if anyone could share any info they know. I am in the process of trying to retrieve his service record and his medals for my father. But would love to find more info on the other regiments mentioned - I see the 41st and 195th mentioned on his tracer card.
Thank you in advance

 

My father, Cyril Clark, served in the RAF from 1939, qualifying as a Sgt Observer in March 1940. Posted overseas in Jul 1940, he joined 211 Squadron RAF in the Western Desert, then Greece, then Palestine, from Sep 1940 to June 1941, for 40-odd ops in all on Blenheim Is and IVs. The Squadron was then stood down for a period of aircrew training in Sudan, eventually becoming 72 OTU there in late 1941. By then he was a navigation instructor and in Jan 1942 posted as such to 47 Air School at Queenstown South Africa, where he saw out the war, commissioned then repatriated to the UK in March 1945.

My mother was an ARP volunteer in 1940, and became engaged to my father before his overseas posting. In 1942 she enlisted in the ATS, first as a Telephonist, later as a Cypher operator, leaving the ATS prior to their marriage in April 1945.

In the 1990s Dad wrote some laconic notes of his service with 211 Squadon, in brief Log Book form, as a corrective to some less accurate published information. His longhand foolscap notes and photographs led me to find a way to record them, firstly in booklet form (1996) then from 2001 as my website www.211squadron.org, since very much expanded.

CFR Clark 1916-2003
BR Clark nee Hawkins 1921-2010

 

My blood family that served on my father side:-

Paternal
Great Grandfather (First World War Veteran, Home Defence with Berkshire Regiment WW2)
Great Uncle (Infantry, Battle of France, Dunkirk, KIA during Run on Tunis 1942)
Great Uncle (RASC, served Palestine, Egypt, Sicily and Italy)
Great Uncle (Royal Marines /Infantry, served in Burma)
Great Uncle (Royal Navy, Minesweepers)
Great Aunt (ARP)
Great Aunt (ATS)

Maternal
Great Grandfather (Career soldier, Pre war Palestine, D-Day/ NWE Campaign, Post War Palestine)
Great Uncle (RAF, Bomber Command, DAF and KIA in 1943)
Great Uncle (Pre War Fireman, AFS, NFS)
Great Uncle (First World War veteran and career soldier, served in Ministry of Defence Police in London during Blitz)

My blood family that served on my mothers side:-

Paternal
Grandfather (Career RAF, served in the Middle East in Armoured Cars for 10 years during the 1920s, Blitz in London, Rear Air Gunner, FRU in NWE Campaign, Canal Zone in the 50's)
Great Uncle (First World War RNVR veteran, Canadian Army during the Second World War)
Great Uncle (NFS 1940, Home Guard 1941-44)

Maternal
Great Grandfather (First World War MC veteran, career officer, served at CDES Porton during WW2)
Great Great Uncle (First World War veteran, career prison officer, served as an ARP warden at HM Prison Durham WW2)
Grandmother (Nursing Sister)
Great Uncle (Royal Artillery)
Great Uncle (Royal Artillery)


Cheers
Emps

 

Louis Andrew Makinson, born 1921, DLI TA (4453730) Searchlight and Light AA, survived the war, re-enlisted immediately after de-mob into Royal Signals (22527754) serving in Far East and Germany, I remember living in Essen, Oldenburg and Luneburg, his service finished in 1957, sadly passed away in 1986 before drawing his Old Age Pension.
Every day is remembrance day.

 

Dear Louise, My name is Anny Huberts. I am researcher and web publisher of the Overloon War Chronicles Foundation. We care for all the servicemen who are buried at Overloon War Cemetery and are dedicated to find photographs and background stories of the soldiers.

We have already found through you some information through WW2talk.com from a few years ago.

I believe you have been in touch with our foundation a few years ago. In the mean time I joined since a few years and do a lot of research for the foundation and also my main work is to publish all the information we have found on our website. Since a few weeks I launched it in both English and Dutch which is received very well amongst the English families. I have tried to compose a little text from what you have written. I hope you will see this message and will have a look at the biography page which i published silently today. Please do let me know if anything needs to be changed and of course we really would like to have a little more information about this extraordinary life of this family and Alexander. With many thanks and best regards, Anny Huberts, Overloon War Chronicles Foundation.


Cadman Alexander Ernest - Overloon War Chronicles

 

Anny,

Welcome. Missy aka Louise Horn has not logged on since January 2013. In a moment I will send her a private message (called a Conversation here), it depends on whether the email address used at registration remains valid. You can only conduct a Conversation after five posts.

 

Hello Patron, thank you very much. I hope she will see your message. Thank you Anny

 

Hello Anny,
Louise here. I've had to re-register for a new account as I couldn't remember my login details.
I've only recently thought about coming back to this forum. I think the fact that my class at school are studying WW2 as their History topic, has prompted me to visit again.
I originally posted on here for my son, who, 10 years ago was studying the same topic at the same school and needed to interview a grandparent who lived through the war. None of his great grandparents were alive at this time so I found this site by chance. I cannot tell you how amazing everyone was in answering his questions and in giving me information on my great uncle Ernie (Alexander Ernest Cadman), who was the brother of my nan.
Since that time, I have done a lot of family research and it appears that Ernie was probably not the son of George Patrick Collins but up until now, I still don't know who his father was; I'll probably never know. He was, however, adopted (not sure if official) by his uncle, Charlie Cadman, his mother's brother. Charlie is listed on Ernie's marriage certificate to Nancy Barnsley, as his father. Ernie and Nancy had a daughter named Barbara who unfortunately died from Cancer when she was 16.
I'm currently searching for any mention of Ernie in KSLI war diaries.

Louise

 

Welcome back Louise and after such a long absence too. In a moment I shall send a PM to Anny, who has not logged on since February 2023 that you are back.

 

Thank you Patron for alerting me!

 

Hello Louise, thank you so much for replying and welcome back to ww2talk.com. The biography page of your great uncle has been published and I will wait further information from you to update it with the newest information. Any information about his life before he went to the war is very welcome. But also of course what has happened to him while he was serving during the war. In case he was adopted by his mothers brother, his family might have additional information? I hope to hear from you again. Many thanks in advance, Anny.
Cadman Alexander Ernest - Overloon War Chronicles

 

USAian here. My mother collaborated with the enemy during the war. Her family lived in rural Missouri at the time, about a twenty minute walk from an Italian POW camp. Mom used to take fruit and veggies to the camp and make deals with the prisoners. She could walk right up to the fence and trade for their improvised items. Wooden salad utensils were the most popular with the local housewives, she sold them in the nearby town. The guards leaned on their towers and watched all this, not the least worried about a teenage girl so close to the "enemy". One guard echoed the camp commandant who said "If we kicked them all out after breakfast they would be back for supper."

 

Hello Louise, I was wondering if you have gained more information about your great uncle Alexander Ernest Cadman since we were in contact? Many thanks Anny, Overloon War Chronicles