Can anyone help me with finding out what happened to James Andrews Believe he served in Palestine around 1935 in the rur Family said he saved my grandads life there so was hopping to see if he has any family alive today Was told he was mentioned in despatchs twice don't know what that means Thanks gary
Gary, Welcome aboard. A simple search found a short story in the Belfast Telegraph in 2008, it refers to: Link: Heroes of Clonallon Street remembered There is some other family information, although in 2008 that appeared to be end in a blank wall. Just perhaps the Belfast Telegraph would be interested in your story and quest? Their funeral @ Ramle / Ramleh Cemetery, was on 7/9/1938, James died in an explosion with Alexander Calter, both from Belfast; no-one from the 2 RUR was present due to operational commitments in One account of what happened at al-Bassa was given by Major Desmond Woods, then a newly commissioned officer in the RUR, which is part of the Imperial War Museum’s oral history collection.north of Palestine. Link: _pffrwtt * rr » _FMf wi * t , f «* r | The Palestine Post | 8 September 1938 | Newspapers | The National Library of Israel The CWGC do not list any graves at Ramleh between 1921-1939. They explain and in bold for non-war graves: Link: https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/72001/ramleh-war-cemetery/ Note Ramleh is within the city of Jerusalem. I do not understand CWGC rules about non-war graves, so you might need to ask them to confirm both graves are there. See: Contact Us | CWGC The two soldiers death rumbles on today, with a Belfast Telegraph story in October 2022; cited in part: Note this story includes: He refers to an officer being killed, a Millie Law. Link to story: Man seeking Royal Ulster Rifles apology after civilians ‘forced to drive over landmine’ in Palestine More information shows two were injured and died later (not some may regard the link as partisan). See: The 1938 al-Bassa Massacre and the Royal Ulster Rifles | The Pat Finucane Centre . Also covered by: UK apology sought for British war crimes in Palestine Unusually Wiki has nothing on their service in Palestine: Royal Ulster Rifles - Wikipedia Try this for some context: 2 RUR under enemy fire, Palestine. | Royal Irish - Virtual Military Gallery and 2 RUR on the Syrian Frontier | Royal Irish - Virtual Military Gallery There is a report on the landmine refers to ten injured; I could not readily locate the story. See: MILITARY LORRY OVERTURNS TEN ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES INJURED | The Palestine Post | 21 تمّوز 1938 | مجموعة الصحافة | المكتبة الوطنيّة الإسرائيليّة An academic paper refers to: It also cites the IWM interview: Link: https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/bitstream/2438/3866/1/Fulltext.pdf The RUR Museum is in Belfast and they do offer a research service: Tracing Soldiers’ Service Records | Royal Irish - Virtual Military Gallery You may find the museum reluctant to help due to the furore over the "massacre".
Mentioned in Dispatches is explained here: Mentioned in dispatches - Wikipedia The IWM Oral History with Desmond Woods is six recordings, I expect the first will refer to service pre-WW2 in Palestine. Alas there is no summary, so it might not be just the first. Adam Desmond Woods died in 2002 and his Daily Telegraph obituary is republished in an Israeli newspaper, just for his service in Palestine - when he won a Military Cross, though not the "massacre" is on: Terror in 1938 The full DT obituary is openly available: Lt-Col Desmond Woods This appears to be comprehensive history of the Palestine Revolt, albeit on a quick skim: http://martinharrisonsmedalresearch.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/8/2/8782416/palestine.pdf An interesting couple of hours research, so good luck with what you discover in your journey.
A clip from the RUR history: "While "C" Company, under Major Reid, were in this sector, it had a small engagement on the evening of August 1st, and then three "shoot ups" on the 9th, 10th and 11th. In all these engagements our own troops suffered no casualties, while it is certain that each time a few bandits were killed or wounded. Up to this time the Battalion had not one casualty since its arrival on the frontier, due largely to the use of armoured vehicles on patrol; but the good fortune was not to last. On the night of September 6th/7th a patrol of "B" Company, commanded by 2nd-Lieutenant Law, left Iqrit, travelling west towards AI Bassa. At 10.45 p.m. the second vehicle, an armoured 15-cwt. truck, struck a very large land-mine about half a mile west of “Bassa 2" police post. Lance-Corporal Andrews (the driver) and Rifleman Coalter were killed instantly, Lance-Corporal Kennedy and 2nd-Lieutenant Law fatally injured, and Riflemen McConville and Rogers were seriously injured." Desmond Woods was ADC for Montgomery in the UK in 1941 and served later with 2 LIR in Italy... his oral account is very good.
Desmond Wood's account of that period is on Reel 1 and listen to the first 17+ minutes for contextual comments. Woods, Desmond (Oral history)
Thanks for your help and time on this Subject It's great to hear that James and his brothers in arms are remembered Thanks gary
Gary, Let us known please what else you discover, especially from the RUR Museum and the CWGC. The sleuths here might be able to help with tracing relatives, I just use Google and a few sites, they go beyond that!
