Royal Signals H.Q – R-E. 78 Div. C.M.E.

Hi Frank,

Here's the copy as requested. That was a first for me and I'm still not sure how I did it! I apologise for my notes in the margins etc. The second part of the form just refers to him leaving Milan by train for the UK.
I can't see any references to being allocated to any unit other than 78 Divn Sigs on 26 July 43.

Regards,

Paul

 

Paul.

He was clearly in 78 Inf Div Sigs for the period 26 Jul 43 to 30 Jun 45. He would worked in Div HQ manning and operating the radios - forward to Corps HQ and backwards to the three Bde HQs. He would also have been responsible for laying line around the HQ - to the various cells that ran the Div - G1 Personnel, G2 - Intelligence. G3 - Operations and G4 - Logistics. He would have been involved in the setting up and taking down of the HQ as it moved forwards with the flow of the advance. He would, in all likelihood, have been responsible for, and driven, one of the vehicles used in the HQ.

Ken Ford has written quite a good account of 78 Inf Div's time in Italy.

From my perspective, as a battlefield guide, I am interested in them because they were at the Third and Fourth Battles of Cassino, the Battle for the Trasimeno Line and the Final Offensive when they advanced through the Argenta Gap.

Regards

Frank

 

Thanks Frank, that's a great help. I'm working my way through a paperback copy of "Battleaxe Division" at the moment. Finding it very informative. Thanks again.

Paul

 

Just managed to get another copy of British vessels lost at sea 1939-45.
The ship my father was on and which was sunk at Bougie was the SS Cathay.

 

Following the valuable help given by Frank about my uncle's service in 78th Infantry Division Signals, the document I posted earlier has given rise to other questions.
Was it automatic that anyone being called up from the GPO went to Signals? After all he was directed to Prestatyn ,which was a Signals training camp and listed as a signalman from day one. .I wonder, looking at the first couple of lines on the form above, at what point any "trade selection " was made - and by who and on what basis? After what appears to be 5 - 6 weeks "square bashing" he was enlisted as an Operator Wireless & Line with effect from July 1 1942. As far as I can tell he had no previous experience to qualify him for this, as he was a clerk in a postal sorting office before being called up.
Might it be that he had some training in the TA prior to call up. There don't appear to be any records available to check. There was a Signals Squadron (TA?) in Birmingham at that time and he lived in Acocks Green.

Any opinions please?

Paul

 

I would have thought the GPO was a reserved occupation?
My father was a fully-trained signalman in the 51st (Highland) Divisional Sigs (TA) immediately prior to the war, but because he was still only 16 when war broke out, he was directed to the radio room at the local Police HQ as a War Reserve Constable.
When he turned 18, he asked why he hadn't got his call-up papers and was told he was now in a reserved occupation. He had to fight tooth and nail to get released so he could join the regular Signals. Coincidentally, he joined the GPO Telephones after the war while continuing to serve in the Terries.

 

Sounds like having got their hands on a fully trained man the Police just didn't want to lose him.

Paul

 

Hi Gordon,

Just to say that according to The Postal Museum not all GPO employees were subject to Reserved Occupation status - my uncle for one. The technical people probably were, but not all by any means. It seems that Royal Signals and P.O. Telephones had a kind of symbiotic arrangement.

Regards,

Paul