Info on Great Uncle

Discussion in 'Italy' started by GeordieBoy, Oct 25, 2011.

  1. GeordieBoy

    GeordieBoy Junior Member

    I am trying to find out any information on my Great Uncle Frederick Punshon, 5th Bn Queens Royal West Kent Regiment, Service Number 14518703, on CWGC he was killed in Italy on 30/11/1943 aged 36 and is buried in Sangro War Cemetery, I suspect because of his age he may of served in the BEF and been at Dunkirk with the West Kents and also must have taken part in the Sangro River assault when killed, any info would be appreciated.
     
  2. CL1

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

    Hello Geordie Boy
    have you applied for his service records
    Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel

    Private FREDERICK PUNSHON

    14518703, 5th Bn., Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
    who died age 36
    on 30 November 1943
    Son of Thomas and Beatrice Punshon, of Birtley, Co. Durham; husband of Annie Punshon, of Birtley.
    Remembered with honour
    SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY
     
  3. GeordieBoy

    GeordieBoy Junior Member

    Hi, no I have not applied, not sure if they would let me have them as he was my Great Uncle, thought it was restricted to close family members only?
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    If the person has been dead for more than 25 years anyone can apply.

    Once you get a copy you'll be able to ID his units from the start of his service and then get copies of his units war diaries.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Geordieboy
    The link Clive supplied states:
    Under the scheme, and in recognition of the duty of care owed to the family of the deceased subject, for a period of 25 years following the date of death of the subject and without the consent of the Next of Kin, MOD will disclose only: surname; forename; rank; service number; regiment/corps; place of birth; age; date of birth; date of death where this occurred in service; the date an individual joined the service; the date of leaving; good conduct medals (i.e. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GCM)), any orders of chivalry and gallantry medals (decorations of valour) awarded, some of which may have been announced in the London Gazette.

    After this period, and if it is held, in addition MOD will disclose without the requirement for Next of Kin consent: the units in which he/she served; the dates of this service and the locations of those units; the ranks in which the service was carried out and details of WWII campaign medals.

    That is as your g/uncle died over 25 years ago, anyone can apply for a copy of his records and receive all the info above which I highlighted.
    Send in the form and fee along with copy of CWGC certificate - the one you can print off from CWGC site. The cert is accepted as proof of death.
     
  6. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    On the afternoon of 30 November 1943 5RWK were leading 21 (Indian) Brigade (part of 8 Indian Infantry Division) west along a ridge from Mozzagrogna (captured 28 Nov) to Romagnoli (an enemy stronghold). Both villages are north of the Sangro. They suffered considerable casualties; 18 killed and 33 wounded (some of whom died subsequently) before the village was captured.

    Chris
     
  7. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Geordieboy
    Chrisgrove has it about right inasmuch as your G/uncle was nearer the Moro River than the Sangro where they were opening up the way for the Canadian 1st Div to attack Ortona all over the Christmas period..

    According to my calculations - his number indicates that he joined the General Service Corps as a late call up from a reserved occupation in early spring 1943 - did his initial training and was selected for Infantry training and sent out to Italy possibly in late August/September to join the 5th RWK's in 8th Indian Div - and so into one of their first battles in Italy....the service record will reveal all of his movements...

    Cheers
     
  8. GeordieBoy

    GeordieBoy Junior Member

    Thank you everyone for that information, I will follow up and try to get his records.
     
  9. Alan Whiting

    Alan Whiting Member

    Hello Geordie boy
    did you manage to find anything out on your Great uncle??
    my grandfather (Frank) was wounded on the same day in Italy in a battle for a village called Romagnoli
    he was probably in the same company as Frank as they (D Coy) took most of the casualty's
    Regards BigAl
     
  10. CL1

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

    Hello Alan
    geordieboy has not been on the forum for over 11 years I have sent him a private message stating your interest
     
    4jonboy and vitellino like this.
  11. Alan Whiting

    Alan Whiting Member

    ok C1L
    many thanks
    regards Alan
     
  12. GeordieBoy

    GeordieBoy Junior Member

    Hi Alan,

    Thank you for the info mentioning your Grandfather Frank, I did go a little further in that I sent for and received a photograph of his War Grave in the Sangro CWWG Cemetery, I also got some info on where he was initially buried, it contains grid references but I am unsure where they relate to. I have attached some copies of what I have as they contain some info on other West Kent Casualties. I have still to send away for Fred Punshon's Service Record and also my Fathers who served in the Far East during WW2, he was called Fred as well, I will hopefully get around to it soon, if you have any more info on your Grandfather Frank's Unit it would be nice to see if you are happy to share.

    Kind Regards
     

    Attached Files:

    CL1 likes this.
  13. Alan Whiting

    Alan Whiting Member

    Hi Geordieboy,
    here are the War Diaries for the 30th of Nov 43 I hope this helps.
    if you send me your email address, I email you more information from my grandad's book on the 30th
    regards BigAl P18A.JPG P18B.JPG P18A.JPG P18B.JPG
     

    Attached Files:

    vitellino and 4jonboy like this.
  14. GeordieBoy

    GeordieBoy Junior Member

    Hi Alan, I have not been on the Forum for a while but thank you for the offer of sending me more info from your Grandfathers Book, I would really appreciate you sending me the info please, my E Mail Address is kevin.punshon@btinternet.com
    Thanks also for sending the images of the West Kents War Diaries.
    Kind Regards
     

Share This Page