I am trying to find out some more details of a relative L Gillespie who served in the 4th Royal Sussex 1940 in France and then later in the 2nd Royal Sussex in Iraq. I have seen exerts of the war diary for the 4th R SX that was kindly shared here and his name does not appear to be on the list, could anyone help me with any info please. Thanks
Hello and welcome first port of call is service records you will not find them on the internet on any pay for site link here Get a copy of military service records there is a wait now due to the current situation you do not require his service number only date of birth and death cert
Sorry I should have said that I already have the service records his number was 6402100 I'm not really sure what I am looking for really just a mention of him somewhere I appreciate I am probably asking the impossible it's just that his service records say very little other than shot in the head (he survived) and where he was etc
Would recommend that you draw up a timeline of the units he served with, make a note of theatres, embarkation and disembarkation dates, references to x lists (generally indicate hospitalisations) etc. Then seek war diaries. It is an unfortunate fact of life that other ranks rarely get mentioned by name in diaries although they sometimes get mentioned in the accompanying appendices. Try and find as many Regimental histories or accounts written by those who served. You say he was shot in the head but he doesn't get mentioned in the Army casualty lists that would normally contain the names of wounded soldiers.
Is there any mention on the service records of an injury. What is the story of his head wound(,if you have any detail)
Something here: (22) THE WAR DIARIES - The Orange Lilies - The Royal Sussex Regiment (jimdo.com) Or here: RECORDS OF THE ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT | The National Archives
Sorry Tony56 I am a complete novice when it comes to this kind of thing, I have been asked by one of his relatives who is not good with tech to try and help. Unfortunately I can not read most of the writing on it. I think it may have been an exaggeration that he was shot in the head, although I didn't know about the Army Casualty list to check.
If anyone could translate the service record it would be really appreciated. I found the 4th Royal Sussex regiment war diaries on here however his name was not on the list, will there be a page missing or is there some other mystery? Thanks.
No casualty lists come up with either of the numbers on his service records. On the 3rd page posted it states; Sustained injury, small puncture wound to right side of neck (1/4") small metallic F.B. (Foreign Body?) not removed as causing no problem, On Duty, Not to Blame. The last or next to last record shows he had a Cerebral Concussion, not severe.
Thank you for that, it's funny how info passes down the lines and gets changed slightly, the family involved thought that he had been shot in the head.
Some help required if you can. In your experience would the embarkation date for a soldier headed for Normandy in 1944 be accurate ? I understood from him that he went over D day +5 ,however his records state July 8th?
Have you searched the internet using the term-4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment? There is an account on BBC Peoples War site re Dunkirk.Also try Sussex Record Office in Chichester.
