Help for information on grandfather - service records

Hello
I was wondering if anyone could help me with anymore information on my grandfather (George Cullum) after many searches I’ve finally come across a medal card

stating his name and service number and that he’s regiment was 2nd battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

I’m currently looking for his death certificate to apply for records.

I have some photos of what I believe to be his company but am unsure.

Any further help would be greatly appreciated.

Joe

 

Hi Joe. His number shows that he enlisted with the Royal Sussex Regiment, so that shows why you need his records to find out what units he served with and when. Lists show that he was wounded on 28/10/42.

Do you have his date of birth or death? Edit: ? 3.2.1919 - 1992, buried Sidlesham.

 

Hi Tony

yes that’s correct!

 

Also worth adding the Service Number as many new members arrive having found it here. His was 6401094.

Note a number of infantry battalions were disbanded after heavy losses in combat and a soldier went where the army needed him to go. As the war went on the infantry suffered, so a move from the Sussex to the Beds & Herts is not unusual.

Stalag 55 is probably a POW camp. After several minutes trying to identify it, I have failed.

 

2 Beds & Herts were in 10 Infantry Brigade in 4 Infantry Division. They were at the Fourth Battle of Cassino in May 44 and then on the Gothic Line at Rimini in Sep 44.

Frank

 

I see when he applied for his medals the Africa Star had an 8th Army clasp.

Also can't find a German run camp called Stalag 55 online, but as the name Stalag is in speech marks could be the soldiers nickname for their British army camp/base no 55.

Casualty list of 1944 reports correction to his unit on original report of wounding in the Western Desert. Unit prev to 2nd Beds probably 2nd R. Sussex.

 

I think Stalag 55 is a piss take.

Frank

 

Thankyou for all your help and shared knowledge, I’ll keep digging and try and sort obtaining records.
Attached is another photo he is rear right to put a face to a name

joe

 

Certificate available here:
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

These are the details you need
Name George Cullum
Death Age 73
Birth Date 3 Feb 1919
Registration Date Apr 1992
Registration district Chichester
Inferred County West Sussex
Volume 18
Page 1466

 

Thankyou Tony

I have obtained the certificate and have requested the records now the long wait of a year to find out!!

I’ll post the results and anymore photos or information I can dig out
Joe

 

Also was wondering if medal recommendations would show in his military records or would that be another search avenue I would need to explore.
Their we’re family rumours that he was nominated for a medal and never sent off for it?
joe

 

Nothing here for his number.
Recommendations for military honours and awards 1935-1990 - The National Archives

 

Hello after my first post and going away with everyone’s advice I have obtained my grandfathers service record, would it be possible if someone could help decipher it for ease of reading and further research, more photos will follow shortly

regards
Joe

 

Joe,

Others are better at interpreting army records, but that looks like you have everything you need.

The record was not maintained by the unit(s) he served with, but a central "back office" for the regiment @ Warwick. The first column A on pg.4 is the relevant source document - an internal Army document. Columns D,E & F dates etc.

He was posted to a higher organization when overseas: MEF is Middle East Forces (e.g. Palestine), BNAF British North Africa Forces and CMF Central Mediterranean Forces (Italy). After his hospital treatment, mainly with 23 General Hospital, he went to convalescent depots x2 and then due to the length of time away to an Infantry Training Depot (ITD).

23 GH was located at:

From: Hospitals WW2 - Scarlet Finders

Quite a few times LIAP appears in many threads; here is one explanation:

Many of the abbreviations are found here, e.g. 'X' List and I've always found this site useful: WW2 Abbreviations and Acronyms | Researching the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers

I suggest you start a timeline chart and fill in the information.

 

I have him joining 2 Beds & Herts on 12 Feb 44 and staying with them until the end of the war.

That places him at Cassino in Apr & May 44 and on the Gothic Line at Rimini in Sep 44.

Joe. Get hold of me through my website and I will send you info on the battalion’s part in these two key events in the Italian Campaign.
www.Cassinobattlefields.co.uk

Regards

Frank

 

Hello all

after creating a rough timeline so far with the information I have I’ve found a Red Cross identity certificate. However tucked behind it and in the case was a map of Cape Town bit theirs nothing in his record stating he was in South Africa. It might just be something he found and decided to keep but any information on the map and certificate would be appreciated

Joe

 

Hi,

Troopship convoys to North Africa 1940 to 1943 (and India plus Singapore until early 1942) called at Cape Town & Durban SA.

Troops went ashore - some for up to a month - before recommencing their journey by sea (not necessarily on the ship they had arrived).

Red Cross Badge suggests he was a unit Stretcher Bearer or Medical Orderly.

Steve

 

He likely sailed in the convoy WS19P that left UK 31.5.42 - see attached link. Likely left SA on WS19PA for Suez.

WS (Winston Specials) Convoys in WW2 - 1942 Sailings

 

Thankyou Steve,

another small piece of the puzzle that’s coming together now!!
He left uk 26th of may 42 for North Africa
And arrived 24th of July 42 not sure where think the record states Jaka?

and must have been stretcher bearer as that’s shown in his specialist training

thankyou again
Joe