I applied for both grandads service records in 2020. The records for Clifford Phelps arrived only a short time ago. They don't really clarify our thoughts/beliefs and perhaps pose more questions. My dad (now passed away) told us grandad was at Sicily and Arnhem as a glider troop. Grandad died in 1988 so I was a bit young to ask him questions on his service. The family story goes that he hid in a farmers cottage/barn after the battle of Arnhem and escaped later. The good thing is we have the records now and service number but I'd like to find out as much as possible. Clifford Phelps 3606099 What we see is that he joined the 1st Bn Border Regt after enlisting in December 1940 aged 34. There appears to be a few injuries with the final one being just before the end of the war in Norway (Op. Doomsday?). A period of unauthorised absence in Nov 41 (slap wrists). Left the UK for N Africa 17/5/43 landing 26/5/43. Posted to HQ Airlanding Brigade Oct 43 Hospital 25/1/44 -11/2/44 (field casualty) Scarborough Hospital April 45 (see SOS ALFN on unit ----ing to W.O Control(?) date of casualty14/4/45) History Sheet- Home 12/12/40 - 16/5/43 N Africa 17/5/43 - 10/12/43 NWE 15/3/44 - 29/10/44 Home 30/10/44 - 17/1/46 Reserve to 10/2/54 My questions arising from the records are:- Did he land at Sicily? I know the training for the landings went on in N Africa. Was he part of the glider landings in Holland with HQ 1st ALB? NWE service goes up to Oct 44 What injuries did he suffer and how to find this out? How was he home on the above dates but injured in Norway in April 45? Dates of NWE service March (possibly May) 44 but what was he doing as D-Day wasn't until later. Confusion Any recommended avenues of research or books to try and find out more? My brother has made a request for any info on his Border Regt service via the museum in Carlisle Thanks in advance for any responses and interest.
If you search here for Doomsday there are several threads on the liberation of Denmark and Norway, you might have to check if only airborne units feature as at least one thread refers to an infantry division. For the named formations, notably 1st Battalion Borders Regiment, have a look at any Wikipedia entries and Paradata website (whose editor will be along hopefully). Check this website for 1st Bn. Border Regmt. too! Medical information - beyond what you have - is rarely officially provided. You may be able to identify if the Scarborough hospital is civil or military. In the preparations before D-Day, which could involve live firing, many were killed and far more injured.
Hi, You’ve posted a few queries many of which may be answered if you get a copy of 1st Border History 1939/45 - When Dragons Flew - that contains the roll of men who fought at Arnhem. I’ll try and go through the queries later but in respect of did he fight at Arnhem I can say from my copy of the book that he isn’t listed in any of the nominal rolls for 1st Batt, Defence Platoon 1st Airlanding Brigade or the Seaborne Tail (incomplete list). The B103 is silent on his movements from Feb 1944 after he went into hospital until April 1945. The B102 (Index Card) shows he was posted X1 in May 1944 which denotes a posting to a previous unit - in his case he would’ve been posted back to 1st Air Landing Brigade HQ - after time on the Xii list while he was in hospital. X lists (Service Records) The note on his statement of services form about an arrival in NWE 15.3.44 cannot be accurate but a more plausible arrival date would be 15.8.44 as that ties in with the Seaborne tail leaving camp in Lincolnshire for Europe - likely arrival date noted 3 days later. As you say a lot of inconsistencies. Steve
Thanks for the reply - I will get researching. I know the 1st Airlanding Brigade were at Norway but I will see what I can find on here. I have just done a few google searches so far.
Cheers Steve No one has found anything on lists so far other than a 'Phelp' which might be a typo and I think an AT unit (Oban?). This was on a Twitter link a few years ago. My brother has just purchased the Dragons book so that will make an interesting read. Appreciate all your help.
Your grandfather does not appear in the casualty lists that give details of soldiers killed, died, missing, wounded, POW, it is perhaps likely that his hospitalisation may have been due to illness or disease.
Hi, I’ve had another look at the sheets on my iPad. You say he was injured in Norway April 1945 and I presume you surmise that overseas injury led to his admission to hospital in Scarborough. When you get the Regimental History you will see 1st Border didn’t go to Norway until after VE Day. I’m not sure whether 1st Airlanding Brigade HQ went with them - you would need to have sight of their War Diary. Are you aware of the nature of the April 1945 injury? Perhaps it required a lengthy period of treatment/convalescence? There is no hospital discharge date and it may have been immediately before the next entry - a posting to 18 Holding Battalion Border Regiment (likely at Carlisle or possibly Altcar Camp (at Hightown near Formby). As his age & service group was quite low there didn’t seem much point sending him back to 1st Border - if he was fit enough. I can’t see any medal entitlement assessment on the forms you’ve posted or a Medal Office Stamp indicating they were claimed and issued post war. If that is so you need to apply to Army Medal Office and they will check his record (they will request the file from MOD as there may be more papers to check in excess of what MOD have provided to you). If he served Sicily, Italy & NWE he should have earned the Italy & France & Germany Star’s. If his accumulated active service in a Theatre of war exceeded 180 days he may have earned the 39/45 Star. He may have also earned the Defence Medal - the criteria is complicated - but he will certainly have earned the 39/45 War Medal. Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility Steve
Hi Steve Thanks again - it's just a guess with the Norway injury/illness and Scarborough just with the dates being close. I know nothing of the injury unfortunately. See SOS ALFN in the images above which I believe stands for Allied Land Forces Norway - just presumed he was there based on this info. Will look into the war diary though. There was no medal info provided in the records but we can see the dates served abroad. This is in contrast to my other grandads records that came through with about twice the amount of info in half the time. I have contacted the Medal office in Gloucester for further info earlier on today. it seems he stayed a private throughout the war. Is there a chance he was involved in Special Operations? Just a random thought with his records being minimal, the weird NWE dates etc - imagine I'm adding 2 + 2 and getting 752300 though. Alternatively, it maybe that he was just held in reserve throughout due to his age. Think I'll be heading off down some more rabbit holes when my next bank of shifts ends and I have some more time to research. Appreciate your help.
Hi, He was also taken on strength 18 HB from Y list 9.9.45 so I’d say the 14.9.45 entry is a paper exercise to tie up a loose end. You’ll see his statement of services form shows he was in UK throughout 1945. I can only interpret what it is written in the file which is no service in Norway as he was in hospital/convalescence during the relevant period.. Special Forces……I will leave that with you as I can’t see any evidence. Good Luck Steve
Totally agree Steve in that you can only on what is in front of you. Your comments are really appreciated. Will see what else we can get in time.
