Sapper Joseph Evan David POWELL, 1033 Port Op Coy, RE: Help with service records

I've Just received my Grandads Service Record and it says he was posted to 1033 Port Op Co. I am trying to find more info on their movements after D-Day. I believe they were on Juno Beach. Are there any diaries or any resources online, where I can find more info?

Many Thanks

 

Welcome aboard.

Please add your subject's full name and his Service Number.

Please post up the Service Record and the experts here may be able to help interpret the scrawl. See: How to Start a new Thread / Edit Post / Upload Image

If you search online with his unit(s) if known or later, so for example: "XXth Field Regiment" site:ww2talk.com that will identify a small number of threads mentioning them. If you drop the 'th' more will be found, some may be duplicates. At a glance most refer to D-Day only on June Beach and not beyond.

Searching the National Archives for the subject or unit(s) can identify those who were awarded honours / medals and the existence of War Diaries – which rarely mention individuals soldiers. They do give context and details of activity.

Some research tips next via PM and good luck.

 

My grandad, Joseph Evan David Powell, Sapper in 1033 Port Op Co, Was granted agriculture leave on 26/08/45...extended til 20/10/45.
But the Location when granted this Leave was NWE.

on the 19/10/45 He embarked for the Uk.

How can he be on ag Leave in the UK and Still be in NWE to come back?

I'm really confused.

Anyone offer any help?

 

The Handwriting is hard to read. Many thanks

 

Services no longer required on Re-enlistment on a Regular Army engagement .
5 yr ??
Discharge confirmed

 

A little info from this website:





Source: New Resource - Juno Beach Landing Tables

And here is a resource from this site, that shows you the make up of a Port Operating Company. This is about 1/2 down in this thread:

PORT and INLAND WATERWAY UNITS ROYAL ENGINEERS

 

I can’t see where it says the Agricultural leave was in the UK?

If his unit was in NWE he likely worked on the land in the late summer/early autumn 1945 before returning to UK.

I see you have another service record topic running and have attached another short extract of his file.

It’s easier for members if you attach the full service file and post your queries on one thread.

Steve

 

I just assumed the Ag Leave was in the UK. Maybe it was in Germany then.
many thanks

 

Oh Wow! Thankyou so much. So much info there.

 

Thankyou. He was discharged and re joined as soon as he could

 

Threads merged.

 

Can help post May 45:

1033 Port Operating Company RE – 2 Port Operating Group – Army Troops 18 Jun 45 – 30 Corps District 24 Jun 45 – Antwerp-B to Emden May 45 – Detachment – First Canadian Army 11 May 45 to 14 Dec 45

Best of luck with your research
21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)

 

Can someone decipher this page and translate it for me. many thanks

 

Deleted, post not applicable.

 

You can ignore the first two columns on the left; the 3rd and 4th refer to the relevant Army Order or document that refers.

So in Column: 4 BTD? Then 5: Embark UK to MELF (Middle East Land Forces)
Next line in 5: Disembark ME (Middle East) to this unit
Next line in 4: Comp Port Squadron
Line 3, in Col. 4: 53 Port Squadron; in Col. 5: Embark Suez (south end of Suez Canal), disembark Aqaba (Jordan)
Line 4 in Col. 5: To U+P L.Cpl. (Lance Corporal) Maybe paid?
Line 4A in Col. 5: TOS (taken on Strength) 11/12/49 From Det (Detachment) 4 Port OP (Operating) Gp (Group)

Please educate yourself on the UK military presence at the time in the Suez Canal Zone, which was a huge military base, along the canal, where at one point till 1954 at least one division was deployed. Gradually Egyptian resistance increased in intensity and a withdrawal in 1954.

Aqaba is a Jordanian port on the Gulf of Aqaba and there was UK military presence in Jordan, IIRC not a garrison, but regular visiting detachments. Plus, we supported Jordan, it's army was UK-commanded till 1956.

I suspect BTD is shorthand for British Troops Detachment.

I rely on this site for abbreviations: WW2 Abbreviations and Acronyms | Researching the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers

 

Thankyou for Transcribing that for me. I didn't know where Aqaba was, so that's helpful. I will Certainly do some research into the Military stationed in Suez.
I was hoping to get some war diaries for the 1033 Port Op Coy, but the Royal Engineers Museum is not taking any research requests until April. But I want to find out as much as I can, so I can write it all up for my family and get a bigger picture of what he may or may not have experienced during his Service

 

Hi,
Below are the locations for 1033 Port Operating Coy in 1944.

The War Diary does not have many details. Mainly list the vessels that they were working on and the moves.

Regards

Danny

1st - 11th January, Gullane

12th - 25th, Leith

26th - 31st, Wimborne

1st - 6th February, Wimborne

7th - 18th , Shoreham

8th - 29th , Southampton

1st - 25th March, Southampton

26th - 31st , Bracklesham Bay

1st - 4th April, Southampton

5th 30th , Chandlers Ford

1st - 31st May, Camp C.6

1st - 2nd June, Various Marshalling Camps - See photo.

6th - 30th , Couseulles (Nan Sector)

1st July, Courseulles

2nd - 31st , St Aubin

1st - 31st August, St Aubin

1st - 16th September, St Aubin

17th - 30th , Le Treport

1st - 5th October, Le Treport

5th - 31st , Wimereux

1st - 30th November, Boulogne

1st - 20th December, Boulogne

21st - 31st , Marck

 

Thankyou so much. That is very interesting

 

Can anyone tell me what 13 HRRE is? Also 12 DR and draft DCATE?
Many thanks

 

Hi there,

My best interpretation are -
13 HRRE - 13 Holding Regiment, Royal Engineers
12 D.R. - 12 Depot Regiment
DCATE - this looks like a Draft code used for movement of troops overseas which would be used to ensure that all personnel / equipment arrived in the correct location / destination.

Steve W