Did any of your family serve during WW2; if so what did they do?

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Paul Reed, Mar 3, 2004.

  1. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    Two uncles in law both served with the same LRDG then Italy and Up to Austria.

    On fathers side, uncles fought with the RAF in both aircrew and Groundcrew.

    Father served with Home Guard from start to finish.

    One aunt Joined Naafi and landed in France in June 1944 as part of EFI.
     
  2. Mark Hone

    Mark Hone Senior Member

    My Dad was conscripted in 1942, served on an AA battery at Gravesend before joining the 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment in Burma, fighting in Field Marshal Bill Slim's masterly 1944-45 campaign which inflicted the biggest defeat suffered by the Japanese army in the Second World War.
     
  3. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    What do you mean about your families serving. I am still here mate!!! JUST!

    I served with the Third British Infantry from Sword Beach till after Market Garden at Overloon and Venraij, where my war finished. My company took part in every battle from D day on Sword, until Bremen.

    We were never withdrawn, the only time we were out of the firing line, was between actions, or chasing the Hun.

    I was just 19 on D day. wounded twice, the last time severely. Dont think that all of us have departed this mortal coil...I am very much alive and kicking.

    My mates fell all the way from Sword on the long road across Europe to the City of Bremen.

    Assault Company!
    Sapper.
    246 Field Company Royal Engineers.
    The Eighth Brigade
    Third British Infantry Division.
    "Monty's Ironsides"

    My Corps was the most decorated in the Div.
     
  4. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    Mother's father - RCT landed in Normandy in July 44 and then travelled all over and ended up on Russian border, we believe. Beleived to be at Belsen one week after liberation.
    His brother - Parachute Reg. First operational jump in second wave at Arnhem. Half face shot away whilst under canopy, found by Germans and repatriated back to Allied lines. Died 6 weeks later in hospital 300yds from his childhood home of TB/blood poisoning.
    Their 2nd cousin - RAF bomber pilot and night fighters. Died 44 in aircrash in Holland.
    Mother's mother - Radway Green Royal Ordnance
    Mother's aunt - Radway Green Royal Ordnance
    Mother's Uncle - Royal Navy
    Mother's uncle soldier at Dunkirk.
    As to my father's side i have no idea.
     
  5. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Just so that you can see me alive!
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    Hello Soldier!;)
     
  7. easygreen

    easygreen Junior Member

    My grandfather(fathers side) served in the 22nd Tank Bn., A Co. I believe they were attached to the 11th Armored Division. Fought through Central Europe, Ardennes, and Rhineland campaigns. Never wounded but injured when his tank was hit and jumped out onto a stone wall hurting his back.
     
  8. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Nice one Sapper.
    My Father, see my website.
    My Uncle, aged 16 & half, but stood 6'7" tall. able seaman on landing craft D Day, had his craft shot from under him on June 6th.
     
  9. handtohand22

    handtohand22 Senior Member

    Mother's Family

    Mother in WAAF for 3 years
    Uncle Davy Watton in Royal Engineers in Egypt

    Fathers Family

    Father William Gamble was in 6 LAA Battery for the duration of the war.
    Uncle Tom Gamble was in 6 LAA Battery for the duration of the war.
    Uncle Jim Gamble Sgt PTI was in 1st Airborne and survived Arnhem.
    Uncle Robert Gamble was in Ist Airborne and survived Arnhem.
    Uncle Sammy Park was in Hampshire Regiment and RA in Italy.
    Uncle George McLelland was in HAA Battery.

    As all did from the island of Ireland, they all volunteered.


    http://coleraine-battery.tripod.com
     
  10. James Harvey

    James Harvey Senior Member

    Hi

    Grandfather (father's side) Royal Navy- served on boom defence earnt the 39-45 star, Burma Star, France and Germany Star and War Medal.
    Grandmother (father's side) WAAF- served as Barrage Ballon Operator, reached rank of LAC(W) earnt Defence and War Medal.

    My Grandfather's brothers served in the Army and His sister Served in the WReNs. She married Ted Briggs from HMS Hood, they divorced after the war.

    My mothers side were too young for the war.
     
  11. Marina

    Marina Senior Member

    Dad - Navy Diver.
    Uncle - desert rat
    other uncle - RAF mechanic
     
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Dad's Father reserved occupation in GWR Works.Too old for WW2 born 1896.Didn't join up WW1 either.

    Mum's Father also too old but served as RAF dog handler "somewhere in Britain"

    Dad's two cousins served in RAF.
    Bill shot down (see my signature.)
    Gerald posted to Australia, married an Aussie, came back to UK but later emmigrated with his young family back to Oz.
     
  13. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    We all certainly have some good pedigrees, don't we?
    Kitty.
     
  14. nickc

    nickc Member

    Hi Brian

    Its nick and we have had a few chats over on wbg.com, and its always a pleasure to hear from you, i guess you understand that im not trying to isolate veterans with this thread.

    These websites have a lot to thank you for your participation, and i know that I have learnt so much from you.

    Hope you are well mate

    Nick
     
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Thought I'd bump this up in case anyone (like me) haven't seen it before.
     
  16. ourbill

    ourbill Senior Member

    Thanks for the bump!

    One of my uncles fathers side was at Dunkirk and D-Day with Royal Warkicks
    One of my uncles mothers side was in the RN PO(Cook) on HMS Eagle and other carriers got torpedoed three time in two months survived each time.
    Father-in Law in North Staff. Reg. and 51st RTR.
    Father fire watching in Birmingham.
     
  17. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    I always wondered why I was not allowed to see the TV on poppy day. Dad would lock himself away on his own, with his thoughts and memories. I would see him later with his red eyes, as if he had been crying. It didn't make any sense to a 9 year old. By 16 I started to ask questions, but did not get many answers until I was in my 40's. Even then it was hard going. Then Mum told me he would have his nightmares. (he still suffered them to the last year of his life. Thats what got me interested in ww2. Pictures on the website.
     
  18. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Nearly forgot my Father in law. Robert Riches, joined Royal Artillery in Ipswich in 1938 as a boy soldier. Went to France with B.E.F.in early 1940 as an under age soldier. Escaped at Dunkirk, he said that the older men looked after him and made sure he got away. On his return to Ipswich he was put on a "charge" for not having his cap by over zealous young officer, charges dropped when it was explained where he had been. Went to far east, served on Priests? self propelled guns. Imphal, Kohima and Burma campaign. Called himself a 5 mile sniper. Passed away 7 months ago. god bless him.
    not sure how to get a pic posted, sorry!
     
  19. ComradeRomain

    ComradeRomain Member

    My Grand-Father Guy Delacour served as a trucker for the french army in 1940, once he got to the front he got news that the Germans were now behind them. They had been caught in the great encirclement. After the troops fought the Germans off with all the ammo they had they surrendered. He was sent back to his farm as Germans relied on foreign agriculture to keep the war going.

    My other Grand-parents lived in the region of Britanny of France, the poorest region where the Nazis were ruthless with the civil populations. My Great Grand Parents were killed in a random slaughter by the nazis, making my 16 year old grandmother an orphin. She took care of the rest of the family there on. Her brother was active in the resistance and got captured but managed to escape. He had to hide in nature not to be found. As for my Grand-Father, he helped the resistance here and there. The resistance really kicked in after D-day, he helped in sweeping the last pocket of Germans in Britanny, one of the last pocket of German resistance in WW2.
     
  20. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Egad! was I everlooking like this?
    Sapper
    Sapper you suave looking devil, at first quick glance I thought it was Sean Connery as 007.
     

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