950300 Sergeant John Richard Portas RA MiD

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by John West, Oct 26, 2020.

  1. John West

    John West Active Member

    Hi, Searching for any information about Sergeant John (Jack) R. Portas, 950300. He was my father's childhood and school friend from the South London area and it appears that they enlisted into the Royal Artillery at around the same time in 1939. I can't seem to find his RA Regiment or his Mention-in-Dispatches citation (1945, NW Europe). Portas married Mary in 1943 and emigrated to Perth, Australia in the 1960s. He died in 2006 and he and Mary are buried in Denmark, W Australia.
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Very few citations for Mentions survived. Nothing found checking TNA's WO 373 series.

    Confirmation, which you probably already have:

    London Gazette : 2 August 1945
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37204/supplement/3958/data.pdf
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe:—
    Royal Regiment of Artillery.
    950300 Sergt. J. R. PORTAS.


    Any idea of unit?
     
  3. John West

    John West Active Member

    No, it would have been a London based TA unit I think, recruiting in teh first wave of conscription 1939. My father's service number was 947073 and he was enlisted into the 140 (5th London) Field Artillery Regiment. Possibilities include 139 Field?
     

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