Help me find my grandfather: 3248428 Rfn. Robert TURNER, 6th Battalion Cameronians. 1939-1942

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by DRJT, May 5, 2024.

  1. DRJT

    DRJT Member

    Good afternoon to anyone reading this!

    I am trying to find out any information, articles / photo / anything at all about my Grandfathers WW2 service, below I present the information I have, would be eternally grateful to anyone that can help!

    Name; Robert Turner
    Service Number; 3248428

    6th Battalion Cameronians SR
    Enlisted October 1939
    Medical discharge 1942
    Motorcycle dispatch rider escorting army trucks during troop evaction from France.

    Really hoping there is someone out there who can help me!

    Kindest Regards,

    Davie
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  3. spindrift

    spindrift Active Member

    British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945
    From FMP

    [​IMG]

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  4. spindrift

    spindrift Active Member

    Also same name/number listed as -

    " Document details List of missing combatants - circulation among POW camps 1941 "

    FMP
    [​IMG]
     
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  5. DRJT

    DRJT Member

    spindrift now that Sir was some quick work! Thank you!
     
  6. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    From the posted documents I’d hazard a “guess” he was an “evader” in occupied Europe for a period in 1940/41. There may be some information in his service record. There is no trace in WO208 series at UK National Archives

    Steve
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2024
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  7. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Have a peek at: 6th Battalion Cameronians - Post Dunkirk They landed after Dunkirk, on a quick read. Search here for Operation Aerial, the operation to evacuate after Dunkirk.

    He has not appeared before today here.
     
  8. DRJT

    DRJT Member

    Appreciate you checking! Thank you
     
  9. DRJT

    DRJT Member

    Is it possible to know the dates the second list 463 was issued to know how long he was missing?
     
  10. spindrift

    spindrift Active Member

    FMP Transcription details of the British Army Casualty Lists [3248428 R Turner]

    WO 417/14
    Casualty Lists - Other Ranks 243 - 260
    1940 Jun 28 - 1940 Jul 20

    WO 417/22
    Casualty Lists - Other Ranks 423 - 464
    1941 Jan 28 - 1941 Mar 17

    WO 417/32
    Casualty Lists - Other Ranks 634 - 650
    1941 Oct 04 - 1941 Oct 23
     
  11. spindrift

    spindrift Active Member

    FMP full page
    [​IMG]
     
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  12. DRJT

    DRJT Member

    Hey, hope everyone's good!

    So the wait to hear from the National Archives continues, however, my elderly aunt produced a photo that we had never seen before... hoping for any insights anyone could offer, for example, any ideas on what the make and model of the bike might be?

    Many thanks again!
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member


    Rich Payne may be able to assist.
     
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  14. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    It's quite an early BSA WD M20. Does the WD serial on the fuel tank begin (C) 414 ? If so then an early 1940 machine. It still has the 1940 / early 1941 paper blackout mask. I'd guess a late summer of 1940 image.

    C4140651- C5610 - WM20 14218.jpg
     
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  15. DRJT

    DRJT Member

    Rich thank you so much, really appreciate you! Zooming in on the photo, it does look like it could be a C 414
     
  16. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    You're welcome. It's what I do for fun !

    It will be one of the 4000 machines delivered under contract C5610 between February and May 1940 with engine and frame numbers between WM20 14001 and 18000. If you can find a photo showing the full serial, I can calculate the frame number and tell you if it survived to be entered onto the post-war WD register.

    Oddly enough, in the photo he seems to be wearing the blue / white arm bands (Royal Signals colours), which I thought were reserved for Signals Despatch Riders...but he's clearly not badged R. Sigs. As always, more questions than answers with this sort of research !
     
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  17. DRJT

    DRJT Member

    Well it's interesting that you say that, one of the small pieces of information I have is that he was apparently a dispatch rider escorting trucks during troop evacuation from France.
    Your help is more appreciated than I could ever put into words!
     
  18. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    "Despatch Rider" with trade pay is in theory something that only applied to Royal Signals (or prior to their formation, Royal Engineers, originally with horses) Most of those on motorcycles were simply "Motorcyclists" on the establishment. That said, War Diaries often refer to anyone carrying a message as a "Despatch Rider". Convoy marshalling was a motorcyclist task.

    Mike Trux's latest series showing BEF (read early war) establishments show how motorcycles were integrated into the organisation of an infantry battalion.

    BEF 1940. War Establishment Tables.
     
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