Looking for any info on the above mentioned guy. He came ashore on D-Day at Juno beach as a member of RASC attached to the 6th Airborne. I cant find any mention of where on Juno they landed or any subsequent actions as he was killed on the 13th June.
Driver APPLETON, ROY JOHN Service Number T/14306001 Died 13/06/1944 Aged 20 398 (Airborne) Comp. Coy. Royal Army Service Corps Son of Ernest Sidney and Dorothy Agnes Appleton, of Queenborough, Kent. Inscription DEEP IN MY HEART A MEMORY IS KEPT OF ONE I LOVED DEARLY AND WILL NEVER FORGET Casualty
From the War Diary of 398 (Airborne) Comp Coy RASC: Date: 13 Jun 44 Place: Field Dvr. J.W. ORTON killed in action. 4 ORs wounded and evacuated to England. Capt Phipps slightly wounded, but remained at duty. 1 Sjt and 7 Dvrs return to Coy from 7 Para Bn, and 5 Dvrs from 12 Para Bn. D.M.A. under casual enemy mortar fire throughout the day. (...) Date: 2 Aug 44 Place: Field Dvr. SPROSON, Dvr. J. WELLS, Dvr. J.C. MASON and Dvr. R. APPLETON previously reported wounded on 13 June were reported to have died of wounds on the same day. Source: 398th Composite Company, RASC
If Dvr APPELTON did come ashore on D Day, it means he was part of the Composite Platoon (Comp Pl) which, according to the War Diary (from the same Pegasus Archive source as the previous post above), landed around noon on NAN Sector: Date: 6 Jun 44 Place: Field (...) 1215 - Comp Pl. land on "NAN" beach. The landing craft hit an enemy mine very near the shore. There were no cas. Landing was thus delayed one hr. I could not find any mention of this unit in the Landing Table nor its Amendments though.
1939 Register Chilham House, Main Road, Queenborough M.B., Kent Name - DOB - Occupation - Marital status Ernest S Appleton - 25 Sep 1889 - Locomotive Driver - Married Dorothy A Appleton - 19 Jan 1896 - Unpaid Domestic Duties - Married Frederick Appleton - 13 Feb 1916 - Glass Cutter Sheet - Single Elsie I Durrant (Appleton) - 25 Jan 1920 - Shop Assistant - Single The record for this person is officially closed.
As per the replies on your other post it is really best to start with their service records, these will provide the information and give a timeline of their units and movements.
as Tony suggests get his service records Get a copy of military service records you only get them from the official source dont think you can find his records on the internet or even pay a site that alludes to having them you wont get anywhere unless you have the records then get the war diaries if perhaps you explain a tad more re your interest then forum members can assist further
Thank you guys for your superb help, it is so helpful. I'm researching the guy as a friend asked if I would lay a stone on his, her grandfather's resting place in Ranville when I go over for the Normandy commemorations. She said she knew nothing of what he was doing or how he passed so i've tried to shed a little more light on it for her.
Ok, I have Driver Appleton's service records which says he died from his wounds. Would there be any way I could find out where in Normandy he was when he died. Something like a unit report stating where his unit was stationed when it happened?
My suggestion would be to study the war diaries to find references to ORs being wounded and to establish the unit's locations on those days. His service records should/may show the date he was wounded perhaps with a note of him being posted to the x list or transferred to a CCS. His original burial place, according to the CWGC map 7F/1 - MR078777, if, as you say he was wounded this site could be near the CCS or hospital, see if you can find their locations. Have attached a map showing the previous location of his grave as quoted on the Graves Concentration Report Form. Google Maps
Thank you guys for this valuable information. Excuse my ignorance, but where could I peruse the War diaries?
War diaries avaiable at The National Archives: 398 Coy. | The National Archives 398 Coy. | The National Archives There are members on this forum who will copy if you cannot get there: http://ww2talk.com/index.php?members/drew5233.6786/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?members/psywar-org.2876/
