My Great Uncle POW Robert Ernest Longman - help required for history project

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Natalie Longman, Sep 12, 2014.

  1. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    Attached is a photograph of my Great Uncle Bert Longman (he's the taller one). I have been researching him, but I can only find details for a Robert Ernest Longman Royal Norfolks 6th Battalion and I am not sure if it is him as all of our family only knew him as Bert (or Burt). I am hoping someone can recognise the uniform or cap badge and be able to tell me the regiment. I will be using the information I can get for him for a local history project that will be part of schoolchildren's education about WW2. Appreciate any help.
    Brian & Natalie Longman
    https://www.facebook.com/HindleHouseWarMemorialProject
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cap Badge is Royal Artillery. The only way you'll ID his regiment(s) is by applying for a copy of his service records.
     
  3. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    On Forces War Records site there is a B Longman Royal Artillery 815660 Gunner 1945 this could be him? I states pow Germany 1939-45.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole, so can't comment on what they have or sell. Not sure how much you have paid them but you'd be better placed spending £30 on a copy of his records from the Ministry of Defence.
     
    4jonboy likes this.
  5. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    If it is army records you want, the ONLY place you will get the full service records is from the MOD, nowhere else.
     
    ritsonvaljos likes this.
  6. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    I've only accessed free information from FWR, wasn't looking to sign up to them.
     
  7. NickFenton

    NickFenton Well-Known Member

    Natalie,

    We have a distrust with FWR so l would suggest that you get a copy of his service record from the MOD and l will see if l can find his POW Liberation Questionnaire.

    What else can you tell me? Address, locality of home, anything that may point me in the right direction on the correct POW report.

    I do have to warn you that the Army were not good at filling out their reports and l have had a stretch of back luck with them but hopefully we can find him.

    Regards,

    Nick
     
    ritsonvaljos likes this.
  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    From Ancestry - all Longmans recorded as POW's:

    Name/Regt/Camp/Army No/POW No/Camp No


    B Longman Royal Artillery Lambinowice, Poland 815660 5453 344 5

    C H Longman York and Lancaster Regiment Moosburg an der Isar, Bavaria 4696384 139047 VII-A 20

    H W Longman Royal Artillery Gneixendorf, Austria 1752230 155163 XVII-B 43


    R S Longman Grenadier Guards Brunswick, Lower Saxony 176732 128879 79


    W G Longman The Buffs Malbork, Poland 6282825 19758 XX-B 23

    TD
     
  9. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    He lived in Hackney, East London, was about 25 in 1940, his father was George Longman of Arcola Street Hackney. I think he may have been married before joining the army.
     
  10. ClankyPencil

    ClankyPencil Senior Member

    I think you can rule the above soldier out.

    He was a bren gunner (No.4 Section) with the 6th Battalion York & Lancs and was reported missing on 13/09/1944 after an attack to clear enemy dugouts near Borgo in Italy. Was known to be wounded when he went missing (Gunshot wound in arm) and later reported as a POW.

    Also his Army No. is from a block allocated to the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry so looks like he served with them prior to the York & Lancs.
     
  11. NickFenton

    NickFenton Well-Known Member

    OK, lets see if he is in the POW listing of Liberation Questionnaires.

    Will go on Tuesday.

    Anyone for a coffee?

    Regards,

    Nick
     
  12. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    B Longman 815660 RA POW ties in with RA Attestation for a Bert Longman 815660 dated 1930. He was discharged from the army (under age?) and re-enlisted in 1934.

    Bertie Longman born Hackney 1915 mothers maiden name Terry. (Age 25 in 1940)
    George Longman married Harriett Terry in Hackney in 1910

    Guy
     

    Attached Files:

    ClankyPencil likes this.
  13. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    Guy that's him, thank you very much for your help everyone. My great grandmother's maiden name and marriage date as well! :)
    Could you please explain the dates and notes on the rhs of the image, what is the 1946 date?
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    The date in 1946 is when he was put on the reserves list
     
  15. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Natalie,
    14/10/31 Para 370 va KR (Kings Regulations) is the reason given for Berts discharge from the army. Looking at the dates, he may have tried to enlist at the age of 14 I don't have a copy of the 1923 KR's to check what Para 370 va related to. There was a recent posting offering look ups in KR's, they may be able to help?
    Hopefully, Nick will find a POW liberation record which will detail when he was captured.
    Guy
     
  16. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    For completeness - from Ancestry:

    UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 about B Longman
    Name: B Longman
    Rank: Gunner
    Army Number: 815660
    Regiment: Royal Artillery
    POW Number: 5453
    Camp Type: Stalag
    Camp Number: 344
    Camp Location: Lambinowice, Poland
    Record Office: Royal Artillery (Field) Record Office, Foots Cray, Sidcup, Kent
    Record Office Number: 5


    TD
     
  17. NickFenton

    NickFenton Well-Known Member

    POW Liberation Questionnaire attached supporting Royal Artillery.

    Regards,

    Nick
     

    Attached Files:

    Guy Hudson and 4jonboy like this.
  18. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    Thank you Nick, really interesting information, opens up lots more research for us. Found a good website on the 51st Highland Div with lots of info on St Valery http://51hd.co.uk/pow
     
  19. NickFenton

    NickFenton Well-Known Member

    Pleasure, l will leave you will the guys who can help with his active service but if l can help with his POW years, please let me know.

    Regards,

    Nick
     
  20. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

    I was under the impression reference to that particular website was "off limits" on this forum after previous discussion?

    It might be advisable to leave well alone?
     

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