Hi Rich I notice now you've said that he has 151 para on his postings in 42 so I guess that all ties up. Thanks for clearing that up. Would being posted in Palestine entitle him to a particular campaign star?
In itself, I suspect not. It will depend on exact dates and location regarding his Middle East service. It may otherwise have counted towards Defence Medal entitlement.
Hi Rich, Thanks for the reply. Everybody has been really helpful and I've got some extra detail. I'll make a request for the rest of his service history for sure to fill out the blanks
I have dug this out of the attic just as a point of interest I guess. Was presented to my Gran after my grandad passed away.
The answer is on the ParaData site - 11 Para were raised in Egypt and went to Palestine to complete their training. 11th Parachute Battalion | ParaData I’d recommend you apply for his service records as all you’ve attached are the 2 Army Form B102 - the index card held centrally - on which some but not all of the information recorded on the B103 and other Army forms is recorded in an abbreviated form. The B103 contains much more information and is presented in a more legible format. You speak of him having 2 periods of service but the B102 only cover his initial enlistment period. As a regular soldier who enlisted in late 1936 he had Class B Reserve service to complete post his demobilisation until late 1948. Some men didn’t adjust to civilian life post war and sought to reenlist into their original Regiment during their Class B Reserve service. Similarly wartime conscripts sought to reenlist whilst on Class Z Reserve in the immediate post war years. Do you know anything about his second period of service? Steve
Hi Steve, I uploaded 2 separate B102 records. I presumed this was showing that after 1945 he dropped down to the reserves as his Rank seems to have changed from Lance Corporal to Private. I may have misinterpreted the meaning of these 2 separate records. I know that after the war he became a bricklayer and married my gran.
So I've started to do the request forms and it asks for his date of birth. The date of birth on what services records I do have don't match his actual birthday. My dad had said he'd lied to to join underage in 1936. Which date should I put on the request form or should I leave blank? Or does it make no difference what so ever?
Depending when he died is his date of birth on his death certificate? Although not asked for I would send a copy of his birth certificate, a copy of the B102 cards you have posted here and a brief explanation.
I don't have his birth certificate. The death certificate does include his birthday though. I'll ask the family to see if anybody does have his birth certificate. Thanks for the advice.
Since the form says Service No. (which you have) and/or Date of Birth I don't think you need worry too much over the differing Dates of Birth. I'd be inclined to just leave it blank. Tim
Harold Cook was C Coy Signaller at Arnhem and taken prisoner in Oosterbeek on the 24th September. Initially taken to Apeldoorn he was put on a train t Germany from which he escaped on the night of 26/27th September. He was one of the very few people to cross back across the river on Operation Pegasus 2 (18/19 November 1944). He got back on the second night of the operation.
Thanks for the reply. I'm aware of his time in Arnhem, more interested in other postings during ww2. Thanks for the time to look though. I've now sent a request to the MoD. Also been in contact with ParaData who couldn't add much more detail but did give me some dates when he carried out parachute refresher training in Palestine.
I’d highly recommend trying to get hold of genuine versions of your grandad’s missing medals if you can mate. Plenty of them out there and generally not badly priced at all, often cheaper than the copies. Plus you get that lovely patina. That’s the way I’ve gone for my grandfather (I do have his actual medals but am using a complete real other set for his display).
Thanks for the reply mate. Yeah that's what I've done as i does match up to his medals i do have. I've already bought what I think the missing medals are, just need to wait for confirmation before getting a display made. I've sent off for his service records and requested his medal entitlement from the medal office. Any that he didn't have I'll offer to someone else who might require it.
Hi all, Thought I'd add an update. My uncle has sent me pictures of the medals he has. So I now know he also had the war medal, African star and Italian star on top of the 3 medals my dad has. Though still have some points to clarify if anyone could help. His war medal has 2 oak leafs, as well as escaping in Arnhem I believe he escaped in Scilliy. Would you display 2 oak leafs or is it more likely one of those leafs were off the ribbon bar? Also does anybody know what campaign medal was awarded for operation market garden? I thought it was the France and German star? It may be that that particular medal ended up with somebody else? Still waiting on the service records and medal records but think I'm at a point I'm confident I know what I need to know.
Old thread but have received my grandfather medals back from the framing company. Thought I'd post I pic for anybody who was curious to how it went.
