Evening all, I’m trying to look in to the history of my grandad who was a driver in the Royal Engineers throughout WW2. I’ve got his records from APC and am starting to pull together where I think he was and when, using some of the unit war diaries. From his unit’s he appears to have been with the Sappers and Miners (various units) in India, maybe Burma, North Africa/Levant and then Italy. I have attached a copy of the original and what I think it means, happy if anybody has got any comments or suggestions. I would be also interested to know if it was normal for British Soldiers to be attached to Indian units. I’ve read a few accounts of British Officers but not anything about Soldiers or NCOs. No one in the family is aware of hiding having any medals, but I found ribbons for the Italy Star and 1939-45 Star, I was planning on approaching the medal office to see if he was issued the rest. What are people’s experiences with doing this? I assume they will be closed at the moment anyway? Thanks in advance, matt
Officers and NCOs of the Royal Engineers trained and led the military engineering efforts in India by their technical and organizational skills, and by direct leadership of the units now passed into history MILITARY ENGINEERS IN INDIA The Royal Engineers Survey | India | Britain's Small Wars
If you have his service number apply to MOD Medal Office, Innsworth House, Imjin Barracks, Gloucester, GL3 1HW DBS-medals@mod.gov.uk.
69 Ind Fd Coy was one of the three Fd Coys in 8 Indian Division. 69 Ind Fd Coy supported 19 Indian Infantry Brigade. That places your grandfather at the Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino in May 44. 19 Indian Infantry Brigade was one of the Division’s two assaulting Brigades crossing the River Gari on the night of 11-12 May 44. That meant a lot of work for 69 Ind Fd Coy. Regards Frank
