New hope you can help! BJS Noad RA in GAD

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by kimandju, Jun 22, 2013.

  1. kimandju

    kimandju Member

    Hello
    I am looking to find out about the war service of my late FIL.
    We don't know a lot, except he was in the Royal Artillery attached to the Welsh Guards. Although from my research I think that is the Guards Armoured Division.
    We know that he saw action in Normandy, went through Belgium and ended in Germany. On liberating or being part of the aftermath of liberating a Concentration Camp, he contracted some illness he was sent back to England to recover (somewhere outside of Bath).
    We also know that he was at the side of Viscount Lord Long when he died.
    He was from Wiltshire and his name was Bernard Joseph Syndey Noad.
    Sorry if my lingo is not right, I am new to this.
    Hope someone can help or point me in the right direction.
    Thanks
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Welcome to the forum.
    Have you get any photos of him you can post ?
    Have you applied to the MoD for service records?
    Was he Commissioned or an 'Other Rank'.
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hello and welcome - It sounds like you could do with a copy of his service records to start you off.
     
  4. kimandju

    kimandju Member

    We don't, that is my next mission.
    What is the best way of getting those?
    thanks
     
  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  6. CL1

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

  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Clive, according to post #1 he was RA not Guards.
     
  8. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    kimandju, welcome!
    There were TWO Viscount Longs killed in WW2 (1st Viscount, also died in WW1)
    LONG, WALTER REGINALD BASIL. Rank: Lieutenant. Service No: 77543. Date of Death: Between 26/04/1941 and 27/04/1941. Age: 23.
    Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery. 2 H.A.A. Regt.
    Panel Reference: Face 2. Memorial: ATHENS MEMORIAL
    Additional Information: Son of Richard Eric Onslow Long, T.D., J.P., 3rd Viscount Long of Wraxall and of Viscountess Long, of Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire.

    LONG, WALTER FRANCIS DAVID. Rank: Major. Service No: 50864. Date of Death: 23/09/1944. Age: 33.
    Regiment/Service: Coldstream Guards. 5th Bn.
    Grave Reference: 3. G. 13. Cemetery: UDEN WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: 2nd Viscount Long of Wraxall. Son of Brigadier General Walter Long, C.M.G., D.S.O., Royal Scots Greys, killed in action in France, 28th January, 1917, and of the Hon. Mrs. Sibell Long, of Ardington, Wantage, Berkshire; husband of the Viscountess (Frances Laura) Long.

    From what you say, it seems more likely to have been the 1944 casualty than in 1941, in Greece!
    That ties him more to Coldstream that Welsh Guards, although units did get changed around...

    Applying for his Service Records would at least clarify when and where he served. They may take almost 12 months to come through, although it does seem to have improved recently.
    In the meantime, tell us all you can dredge from family, photos, medals, reminiscences etc and whatever else and we'll see what we might find for you.

    For example, 3 other Coldstream Guards died with Viscount Long, and are buried alongside him. There aren't any Royal Artillery casualties on that date in Uden though, so couldn't use that as a way of tracing a possible unit.
     
  9. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hello and welcome to the forum

    Lesley
     
  10. kimandju

    kimandju Member

    All we have is vague reminiscences, as he didn't talk about it. We know that his war route followed that of Montgomery.
    It was the Lord Long at Uden.
    All the other information I have is very sketchy and just what I have stumbled across, but seems to feature in the memories that my husband has of the few things his dad said.

    Thanks for the welcomes, this seems a great place and already I have found it so interesting. :)
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    D transcribed 5CG war diaries,
    Sept 44 can be found here.

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/33691-war-diary-5th-battalion-coldstream-guards-jan-dec-1944/?p=419698



     
  12. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    RE PART QUOTE FROM KEVIN BATTLE ABOVE --

    "That ties him more to Coldstream that Welsh Guards, although units did get changed around...

    Applying for his Service Records would at least clarify when and where he served. They may take almost 12 months to come through, although it does seem to have improved recently."

    Time to get Coldstream Guards service records can be measured in weeks rather than 12 months wait for records from MOD.

    I got my Dad's in about 6 or 7 weeks 18 months ago.

    Steve Y
     
  13. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum kimandju - enjoy!

    Viscount Lord Long was the CO of No.1 Coy, 5th Bn Coldstream Guards who together with the 1st Bn Welsh Guards, were units of 32nd Guards Brigade, Guards Armoured Division. The 2nd Bn Welsh Guards were also ‘divisional’ troops of GAD. This looks like the link between Viscount Lord Long, the Welsh Guards and your father in laws RA attachment to the Welsh Guards.

    The divisional artillery of GAD was made up of 55th & 153rd Field Regiments, RA, 21st and 75th Anti Tank Regiments, RA and 94th LAA Regiment, RA.

    His service records should clarify which Royal Artillery regiment he served with... Ask for FULL service records.

    Do you know how he was with Viscount Lord Long when he died? Viscount Lord Long was killed in an attack involving British tanks, which begs the question - how was your father in law with him when he died? Was your father in law a Liaison Officer or a Forward Observation Officer?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  14. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Welcome aboard.

    Can I suggest that this thread be moved to a more relevant area instead of user introductions, and given a better title to drag in other researchers.


    On the assumption that Bernard Joseph Syndey Noad (I assume the extra middle name is actually Sydney) was an officer I tried searching the London Gazette during the war years using only the surname. That returned only 36 hits but trawling through them failed to show a match on either his intials or his forenames.

    If he was artillery attached to a guards unit and alongside a senior officer when he died then he may have been an OR working alongside the Liaison Officer or a Forward Observation Officer
     
  15. kimandju

    kimandju Member

    Sidney (I spelt it incorrectly!)
    Could you advise me as to how to move the thread? I can't seem to see any way of editing.
    Many thanks
     
  16. kimandju

    kimandju Member

    I was talking to my MIL, from what she told me, it sounded like Lord Long took a shot that looked like was headed straight to FIL. But that could be Chinese whispers!
    I have downloaded the forms and filled them in, so will get them sent asap.
    I have been drawn to the 55th Regiment, as they were Wessex/West Somerset and we are Wiltshire. That could of course be a total red herring. We shall see.

    Thanks
     
  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Probably best to wait until the service records arrive as anything else will be guess work until then.


    Thread title edited & thread moved to more suitable area of forum. (only mods & admin can do that)
     
  18. kimandju

    kimandju Member

    Thank you.

    How do I edit a post? I can't see anything near my comments! Is it hidden?
     
  19. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Move cursor to the left of MULTIQUOTE & QUOTE buttons, the light grey words show up blue. EDIT is there.
    (not one of the best features of the forum software but it's what we have to work with)
     

    Attached Files:

  20. kimandju

    kimandju Member

    Lol It's not there! Could it be because I'm using Chrome?
     

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