Service history on my Grandfather Royal ulster Rifles

Hey everyone,

I have read a couple of posts about trying to track down service history on family members, I too, want to find out information on my beloved Poppa. Here's the hard part.. My Poppy is not my biological grandfather. I have only contacted his immediate family, and found out the his Immediate family members have dementia/ alhzeimers.. And I don't want to offend my newly found cousins and Aunties for the release of my Pop's history.. feel my pain???


What I would really like to know is, if anyone has any information on him or his squadron, or his battalion, or even just a lead so I can continue my journey of finding out the history of my grandfather.

His information is as follows:

Royal Ulster Rifles
CPL Samuel Cowan Service no: 7019091
Serviced in the Palestine war, World war 2 1939-1945, and the Korean War.

I can tell you, Poppa would tell me of his war stories, and it is believed that he was a Para- trooper.
His family back in Ireland also believe that Poppa served in the battle of Arnhem Bridge..

My Poppa lived to a beautiful age of 79, was a proud War Veteran. And even today he is and will always be my hero and best friend...

I long to find out what a true hero my Poppa really was/is.

Like I said any information on him, Would mean the world to me and my now extended family!

Fii

 

Welcome to the forum Fii.

I'm sure the airbourne chaps will be able to help with the Arnhem connection.

All the best,

Lee

 

Welcome to the forum Fii.

I'm sure the airbourne chaps will be able to help with the Arnhem connection.

All the best,

Lee


Thank you so much.. Airboirne troops!! Ok off to research!

 

Hi Fiona and welcome to the forum.

If he died more than 25 years ago anyone can apply for his records and you don't need any familiy permission.

Cheers
Andy

 

Hi Fiona and welcome to the forum.

If he died more than 25 years ago anyone can apply for his records and you don't need any familiy permission.

Cheers
Andy

No he passed away in 2000, But thank you, for your advice <3

 

No problem - without a copy of his service records though, I suspect you will find it hard to identify 100% the battalions he served with through the war.

Good luck
Andy

 

Hi Fii,

Re his records, deducing you're au fait with the ropes, I'd say your best ploy would be to 'infect' your new-found family with your interest in family history so they come around to the idea of getting them to satisfy their curiosity rather than yours. As long as you can sufficiently engage someone close to his immediate NoK (or one of them if several), you can probably rely on them to fill out the paperwork and get said NoK to sign on the dotted line. The only real obstacle I can see to that would be if it raked up painful memories or family dissension but I'm not reading any hint of that between your lines. Not instant gratification but, as they say, 'softly softly catchee monkey'.

And if he was as positive about his service as you say, especially if in the habit of attending reunions, it may also pay you to identify and sniff around the relevant regimental association(s) - perhaps even for surviving buddies before it's too late...

Bon chance, Steve

 

Welcome Fiona, service number fits into number block allocation for RUR, this link will help with details for appling for service record and research into the RUR......Home - Royal Ulster Rifles

 

Hi Fii,

Re his records, deducing you're au fait with the ropes, I'd say your best ploy would be to 'infect' your new-found family with your interest in family history so they come around to the idea of getting them to satisfy their curiosity rather than yours. As long as you can sufficiently engage someone close to his immediate NoK (or one of them if several), you can probably rely on them to fill out the paperwork and get said NoK to sign on the dotted line. The only real obstacle I can see to that would be if it raked up painful memories or family dissension but I'm not reading any hint of that between your lines. Not instant gratification but, as they say, 'softly softly catchee monkey'.

And if he was as positive about his service as you say, especially if in the habit of attending reunions, it may also pay you to identify and sniff around the relevant regimental association(s) - perhaps even for surviving buddies before it's too late...

Bon chance, Steve


It's more to the fact that they live in Ireland and I live in NZ, where poppy moved and meet my nanny! and his NoK is very very ill.. Probably not a good time.. But yes soft is the best approach I say! Just if I can gather info on him, It would be amazing to share.. It will come I know it will <3 Thank you for your tips, I will definitely take them on board!

 

Welcome Fiona, service number fits into number block allocation for RUR, this link will help with details for appling for service record and research into the RUR......Home - Royal Ulster Rifles


Brilliant!! Thank you!!

 

Had a quick look at the Arnhem books and at the moment can only find one Cowan, and he does does not fit with your 'pops' details wrong service number wrong intial etc.As Drew says need battalion that he served with in RuR service records really are the way to go.

 

No problem - without a copy of his service records though, I suspect you will find it hard to identify 100% the battalions he served with through the war.

Good luck
Andy


If I have to board a plane and spend the next year waist high in archive folders I will :tongue:!! I am so new to this I don't even know service records means.. by the end I am sure I will be half decent! lol

And thanks!! It is truly appreciated!

 

Had a quick look at the Arnhem books and at the moment can only find one Cowan, and he does does not fit with your 'pops' details wrong service number wrong intial etc.As Drew says need battalion that he served with in RuR service records really are the way to go.


Ok awesome, Yeah my Poppa had dementia/alhzeimers so it is hard to say what is fact and what is not!
I know his service number is correct, and his name lol.. I will put his photo up in his uniform, that may help I hope!

 

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=86253335&PIpi=56532925

 

lol.. can't delete this..

 

I don't even know service records means
No matter - just follow my earlier 'ropes' link. And there are plenty of scanned examples posted in other threads by forum members...

 

No matter - just follow my earlier 'ropes' link. And there are plenty of scanned examples posted in other threads by forum members...

awesome! reading now!

 

Ok second pic in post 15 shows your pops wearing a maroon beret as opposed to a GS cap and more than likely on the bottom of the right sleeve is a glider badge this puts him in the 1st battalion.

 

The 1st Battalion RUR was part of the glider-borne 6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division. As such, the battalion participated in the D-Day airborne operation (MALLARD) and fought on through much of the rest of the campaign. The 6th Airborne and its units next fought in Operation VARSITY, the airborne assault across the Rhine in 1945. Despite its lack of organic motor transport, the 6th played a vigorous part in the subsequent pursuit and exploitation across the north German plain. After the end of the war in Europe, I believe the 6th Airborne went to India for possible operations against the Japanese. The war in the east ended before it got into action again, though. The division also spent some time in Palestine after the war, dealing with the violence there. If your father was with 1st RUR through it all, then he had a very eventful war. So, if he was in the 1st Bn he was not exactly a paratrooper but he was airborne.