Sorry, you said in your first post that you had his full service records which I assumed to be the official ones from the MOD. If you haven't then you really should, they are only available from one place: Get a copy of military service records Am afraid to say it won't be this Xmas though, they are likely to take at least 12 months!!
Frank , can't thank you enough, this really why he was so withdrawn and trembled when we ( me and my brother when my gran was out of the room ) questioned him about what happened. I stupidly asked him if he had ever shot anyone thinking a memory would spark into animation and information about what he saw ( I was only 8 years old ) However since I 've started this journey ( which I want to trace his journey in person covid and terrorist friendly ) it feels like he's sitting right next to me smiling and relaxed for once
Thanks so much Tony, I will do this asap and share my findings with you , my mam didn't know any of this , regards and keep safe
Lorraine, Researching WW1 may be possible from the web by subscribing to one of the family history sites, they do contain a reasonable amount, including service records, but, unfortunately quite a few WW1 service records were lost in WW2 when the record store was bombed, approximately 2/3 were destroyed. Don't let that put you off, there could well be much to find. WW2 is different as the records relate to people that could be alive and are therefore covered by confidentiality, that is why you must get them from the MOD. You will need a death certificate and £30, Oh, and a lot of patience as I said. Not wishing to complicate things, but your grandfather's official records should disclose when he left the UK, that may be relevant to finding the squadron, as they did not all go together. C Sqn went first, embarking the troop ships on 14 October 1942 at Glasgow, rest of regiment went later. The only other reference I found to your grandfather was this: It shows that he was allocated to B Sqn at that time - who said it was going to be easy - but well worth it.
Thank you so much for this , my Mam never knew where the photo was taken , she's delighted and thanks you very much as well. This whole experience is so exciting , better than the TV - like the best jigsaw puzzle in the world
I'm really please that the mystery has now been solved. It looks like your Grandfather was able to spend a few days in Rome. Unfortunately my fathers unit diary suggest that he did little more than drive straight through in early July 44. Graham
Hello Dave and Happy New Year, I have a postcard photo of your Dad, its dated 11 July 1944. My mam sent t to me with a couple of others at New Year. She told me that that your Dad and my Grandad were very good friends. As soon as I saw it I thought , hang on a minute - I've seen this on the WW2 forum somewhere. As he was such a handsome man he's difficult to forget. He has one other photo of another friend he had - not sure who he is , does anyone recognise him ? As he was a very discerning , proud humble gentle man in every sense of the word he has just the 2 friend photos. Like your Dad he didn't say very much about what happened but his paybook suggests he experienced the same journey that is described on the iwm sound archive ( Trooper Barrett's account) , starting training in Scotland Jan 1942 , on first ship docking in Algiers Oct/Nov 1942 right through whole campaign ending up in Dusseldorf May 1946. He was one of the 1060 boys , number 10601418 which he remembered until he died. Like your Dad , we don't have any medals because he sent the Africa and Italy star medals back as he strongly felt he was fighting for his country not medals. There are another couple of photos - I think they are from the training camp in Scotland . Also , postcard from Dusseldorf - can't decipher handwriting. I'm waiting for his full record to come through to fill in the gaps, can't wait ! He was injured on 9 Oct 1943 - recorded in war diary and on doc Tony 56 found for me, Very best wishes, Lorraine
Hi Lorraine, like your photos. Just one comment, you are guessing Scotland, if you are referring to the group of 6 standing in front of the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car, then that is very much at the end of the war. The Corporal has a pretty full medal bar and also has a North Irish Horse badge, the two on the right have a Recce badge. As you may know, when 56 Recce were disbanded a large number were transferred to the NIH.
Thanks Tony , that makes sense - he was transferred to NIH and didn't arrive back home until October 1946. My grandad - he's end left of photo,
Hi, my mother's side of the family "Mathers" They run a successful Dairy business called H.Mathers & Sons, Niagara Road, Henley, delivering milk to door steps for many years, until they were bought out. My Uncle Benjamin Mather was killed in Action 2 weeks before war ended in italy. It would be good to hear from you. my email: raympetty@hotmail.com
Ray, Appreciate that you posted some time ago (#117) but here is some info that may be of interest. The CWGC Graves Concentration Report Form attached to Tpr Mather's record shows three 56 Recce men killed 14 April 45:- 3246947 Sgt J Campbell 6094184 Tpr A Osborne 5383110 Tpr H B Mather The form states that their original burial position was map ref 236483. It was not unusual for casualties to be buried very near to where they fell. 56 Recce diaries for the day state: "Contact was established with enemy infantry in dug-in position and houses and mines were encountered area 230488, where one M8 was blown up and destroyed. Casualties 3 killed." Have attached a map showing these two positions, point 1 shows the incident and point 2 the temporary grave. Satelite view of where the M8 Greyhound armoured car was blown up. wM230488 All three belonged to C squadron (as was my father) and one of their tasks that day was to recce crossings over the River Sillaro at 219494 as shown.
Hello everyone. I'm just trying to do a bit of research about my Grandad, who served in the 56th. I have copies of various bits of his paperwork, including his service and pay book, service record card etc. He has various ranks at different times, most of which i've been able to decipher. One that appears a couple of times and I can't find anything about is abbreviated as H/Sgt. Would anyone happen to know what this might mean? I'm not sure if it was during his time with the 56th, or from once he was transferred to the NIH. Any help would be gratefully recieved! Thanks Bill
Hi Bill Welcome back. Didn't you post all your grandad's details in 2014 on this thread? I think the abbreviation on his pay book was L/Sgt which is Lance Sergeant. Did you apply for his service records before when it was mentioned-if so would you care to post them here? 56th Reconnaissance Corps Lesley
Hello Lesley. I think I may have posted them before yes, I couldn’t remember! The abbreviation on his pay book was L/Sgt, but there are two other unofficial documents (a Sergeants mess menu and a copy of a radio programme transcript) which have H/Sgt. I couldn’t remember if someone here had already told me what that might mean, it could even be a typo! I’ve been looking at his paperwork again recently with my children, we’ve been doing a bit about the war as part of our homeschooling. I haven’t been able to get hold of his service records yet, i’ll have to get onto my dad about that! If we can get them, i’ll definitely post them here. Thanks to everyone else for the information that is here, it’s something I keep coming back to when I have time. Thanks Bill
You posted some images on your album page, here is the link to the H/Sgt reference: Farewell dinner menu P2 | WW2Talk Why did you not send off for his records in 2014?
Hi Tony, I looked into it, but my either Dad or Uncle need to do it as they are the next of kin. What with one thing and another, it slipped down the list of things to do! I'll have another look at it though. Thanks Bill
You can fill in the forms for them, they only need to sign it https://assets.publishing.service.g...a/file/913064/NOK_request_service_details.pdf • The immediate Next of Kin whose consent is required for disclosure of the record is the first Person in the following list that is still alive. • Read the list below and when you come to the first living relative of the deceased subject place an ‘X’ in the box and write their full name next to it. This process will enable you to identify the person who the MOD will regard as the immediate Next of Kin. Spouse / Civil Partner Son / Daughter Grandchild Father / Mother Brother / Sister Nephew / Niece Grandparent Other (specify) But if you dont think that will work then there is always the minimalist option Request service details - General Enquiries https://assets.publishing.service.g.../file/913065/NNOK_request_service_details.pdf TD