My father-in-law served in the RAOC in Malta throughout most of the war, and was awarded a BEM for some unknown act or acts of meritorious service. There is some evidence that he was involved in bomb disposal, including the famous bomb that came through the roof of Mosta church. The family has his full service record but this only gives his promotions and postings. Does anyone know if records exist such as War Diaries that may shed light on his unit's activities, and especially might help determine if he was in fact in bomb disposal? If so, where might these records be?
What's his name & number ? We might be able to find his original recommendation for that award on National Archives website.
UXB Malta: Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal 1940-44: Amazon.co.uk: S.A.M. Hudson: Books You might want to see if you can get a copy of this book through your local library. It concentrates on RE units and does cover bomb disposal on Malta rather comprehensively. If/when you post any further information I'll see what I can find in the index of the book. Cheers Mark
2 George Crosses were won by RAOC Officers on Malta, he might have worked with them Bill Eastman Robert Jephson Jones
29 November-5 December 1942: The Siege is Broken « Malta: War Diary This is a weekly update of everything that happened day by day during the siege and includes all the war diaries. I really recommended it.
His BEM would have been announced in the London Gazette which is searchable and may give an indication as to your relative's exact unit - it may also give a citation. The Gazette can be tricky to search, but if you have problems post his details on the forum as others may be able to help. Their link is Advanced Search
Many thanks for all the replies. His name is Frederick Leslie Watts, but I don't have his number because I passed all my info to another family member who is also trying to find out more. When I get it I'll post it.
Fred Watts was a Staff Sergeant no. 7630682 and was based in Floriana. In the 1970s he went back to Malta and visited the barracks where he had his office. He was invited in and found the picture from his calendar was still on the wall and his Maltese assistant's name was still painted on the door.
Bloody London Gazette website. Zero results when searched his number on there but then found this via Google. He's listed near bottom of left hand column http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37412/supplements/317/page.pdf
Owen: Many thanks! That's brilliant. But clearly there will be no citations for such a long list of awards. It must be the New Year Honours awards.
RAOC in Malta WW2 Good day all here. I have been trying for many years to track down any records covering the siege, which my old dad -Stan Cornford - survived in the RAOC in Malta 1941-1943, after which he was evacuated to Egypt for officer training weighing only 6 stone. He was then a sergeant and told the family he was first aboard the first US cargo ship (it can't have been Ohio which was an oil tanker) of Operation Pedestal which raised the siege. So he must have been i/c cargo unloading. I had some dealings with James Holland re his book, and pointed out that bearing in mind Malta's value in the war was as a supply base for N Africa, and then for Italy, the RAOC must have had a key part in its war history - yet there is little mention of it in the books I have read. I understand what records there are must be in the Logistics Corps' museum at Deepcut - but I have never visited it. Anyone interested or with information is welcome to contact me John Cornford - j_cornford@btinternet.com
