New Member: Researching my Great Grandfather, Scots Guard 3051602

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by M.H Historitas, Jul 27, 2022.

  1. Hey all!

    Came across this forum when I began researching my Great Grandfather's service record. I have grown up hearing stories of this wonderful and kind man, whose reputation was one of honesty and integrity. His son, my Grandad, passed away earlier this year and my passion for history, particularly WW2 history, comes from him. I am eager to learn more about his fathers service and hope to share it with my family, and learn more about WW2 along the way.

    My Great Grandfather served with the Scots Guard for seventeen years, from 1928 to 1945, recieving the Africa Star Medal, 1st Army Clasp. I have used FindMyPast as suggested by the Scots Guard archives but with no luck, his service number (see title) isn't listed there, and a google search returns this very forum as the relevant result. I haven't recieved a response from the Scots Guard archive team as yet, but hopefully I will soon!

    Thankfully, my Mum has a photocopy of his Scots Guard Association Certificate of Service, which has useful dates and information that is the starting point for my search.

    My hope is by engaging in this forum, I will not only learn more about WW2 and how to effectively research family members records, but hopefully with the assitance of its members, piece together my Great Grandfather's actions in WW2.

    I look forward to being involved,

    Michael H.
     
  2. CL1

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

    Michael welcome to the forum

    have you called the Scots Guards Archive
    Regimental Archives
    The Scots Guards still hold their own archives

    Telephone 020 7414 3419 Email archivesATrhqscotsguards.co.uk AT=@
    or please write to:
    The Regimental Archivist
    Regimental Headquarters
    Scots Guards
    Wellington Barracks
    Birdcage Walk
    London SW1E 6HQ


    Scots Guards in the Second World War - Researching WW2 Soldiers
     
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  3. Thus far I have contacted the Scots Guard on that email about a fortnight ago, and sent a bumper email but with no response. I can imagine that they have a plethora of requests for research so I may just have a little longer to wait.

    As for mailing/calling, that is my next plan but I didn't have the contact details so thank you very much for those! I am in Australia, so will set aside some time and contact them directly. Hopefully that yeilds results, but I will definetly write as well, thank you for the help!
     
  4. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Last edited: Jul 27, 2022
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  5. Marvellous, thank you! I can imagine that some threads reach dead ends and as such am trying to learn much about the 1st Army's movements as possible to do as much sluething as I can!
     
  6. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

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  8. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    He is on FMP albeit it not under the Scots Guards records.

    He was wounded and captured on 10th February 1944 , I am assuming with 1st Battalion, Scots Guards at Anzio; their RAP was over run in the early hours.
     
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  9. Is there any reason he wouldn't have been listed under the Scots Guard? I had traced the 1st Battalion to Anzio and assumed he must have been captured there, it is one of my main points to research!
     
  10. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

  11. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    I assume he isn't there. The records can very quite a lot. There are no service records generally, apart from certain pre-war officers.
     
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  12. This is unbelievable, I wasn't expecting so much information this fast, thank you very much! Ill have to post all the details I'll have and then do some more research but the fact that you have the info as to what happened is incredible.
     
  13. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Bit confused there as, as Gary states, on FMP that service number produces a POW record, 4 casualty lists and a Scots Guard enlistment for Harry Harding. Have another go.
     
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  14. So when I searched his number, I was doing so with the Scots Guard tag, other relevant research tags and so on and found several H.A Harding's but none matching my understanding. I can only imagine I was using incorrect categories, that human error led to my mistake but thankfully I have been helped in that regard!
     
  15. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Presumably you found them? Keep on with the research, fascinating to trace what these young lads did.
     
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  16. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

  17. Sorry, yes! I am quite blown away by the information! I am currently looking through them and saving my links so I can properly sift through them and start to piece everything together.

    I have an early start and it's gone midnight Downunder, so I will return to this tomorrow!

    Massive thank you to everyone who has shared helpful links, clarified my search errors and provided me with an incredible amount of information so quickly. Great to be welcomed in by a friendly and knowledgeable community, invaluable stuff!
     
  18. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    Although you wouldn't quite guess it from the WD entries the battalion reported a lot of men missing on 10th February.

    CG_WO361_785_0340.JPG



    CG_WO361_785_0341.JPG

    CG_WO361_785_0342.JPG
     
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  19. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Welcome Michael. I see you are in excellent company already. There are some clever chaps on here :D.
    Lesley
     
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  20. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Not strictly true Clive. They transferred (sold access) their service records and enlistment registers to FMP in 2020.

    The service records did not include papers for men who transferred out and as he has a non SG army service number he may not show in the enlistment registers - although he should be shown.

    I don’t have access to FMP atm but did spend many hours going through individual records for SG enlistments from 1928/36 back in lockdown 2020.

    There is a suggestion further up this topic that his records are on FMP but the OP hasn’t confirmed it.

    If the records aren’t there a possible reason is that if he made a post war pension claim his file would have been sent to War Pensions (Blackpool). Whilst copies were usually retained clerical errors can and did happen.

    His army service number suggests an initial enlistment in Royal Scots. It was often the case test men enlisted in a local territorial battalion to see if they liked army service and then enlisted in the regular army. My father took that route into Brigade of Guards.

    Army Number Block Allocations

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2022
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