1/6th Essex 64th searchlight regiment 3 section

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by pdarran, Mar 28, 2016.

  1. pdarran

    pdarran Member

    My great grandfather who was in 442 coy 1/6th Essex 64th searchlight regiment 3 section can anybody give me info on the regiment. Also he was in the 4th Essex from 24-28 6th from 28 till jan 45.He was in the 1st RWF in the first war captured 20th 10 14. does anybody have any photos of the 6th Essex before or during WW 2

    Paul
     
  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Do you mean that he was in the 4th Essex from 1924-28 and the 1/6th from 1928 to Jan 1945?
    A name and/or service number would be most helpful.
     
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  3. pdarran

    pdarran Member

    4180830 Sgt Frederick George Darran He was re numbered in 1920 & yes he was in the 4th Essex from 1924- 28 & 1/6th till jan 1945.
    Cheers
    Paul
     
  4. pdarran

    pdarran Member

    4180830 Sgt Frederick George Darran He was re numbered in 1920 & yes he was in the 4th Essex from 1924- 28 & 1/6th till jan 1945
    Cheers
    Paul
     
  5. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Here's a skeleton (apologies for the slight blur - freehand with my phone):

    20160329_000712.JPG

    20160329_000812.JPG

    20160329_000835.JPG

    Somebody else might be able to check the number.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2017
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  6. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    For the pre-war 4th Essex period, you may well find information in this book (alas, I do not have a copy):

    The Essex Regiment: A Short History and Chronology by John H. Burrows - Southend-on-sea: John Burrows Ltd. (1938).

    It's only short, mind you.
     
  7. pdarran

    pdarran Member

    Cheers Charley
    i have a letter dated 11 12 1939 from Fred to Carrie his wife, when in Narborough Norfolk saying how they are making the best of things for Christmas as their are only 16 of them. not exactly up to strength i don't think>
    thank you for that info tells me where he was stationed during the war.

    Paul
     
  8. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Erm, happy to help and all that, but think you might want to check out those little green and red buttons a tad more closely.

    If the private content can be disentangled or the letters are not intensely personal, I and others would be interested in any references he makes to his service.

    Edit: just realised that this could sound like I'm fishing for upvotes! It's not that but rather the fact that you down-voted my reply by accident!
     
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  9. pdarran

    pdarran Member

    Charley
    you can read the letter no problem, but i have a problem getting photos onto the forum. i have a couple of photos of gt greandad Fred in uniform as well He joined the 4th Essex 6th may 1924 at Gordon road,( funny because i'm their now as in i train their. it all been knocked down & a new RFCA centre has been built, only the brick Essex badge which is built into the new building remains. Spooky old place at night!!He left in 7 may 1928 & went to 1/6th Essex cedars in Statford west ham & in 1945 him being 50 by then left the army, even though they ask him to instruct.in the letter he only mentioned that only 16 of them are their on the 11 12 1939 & they have to all make their own amusement for Christmas, he talks about his children all being evacuated to somerset & his wife in stoke on trent with three of his children because of the threat of bombing. He first joinged the army in 1910 aged 14 fought in the first battle of ypres being captured on the 20th October 1914 came out 1919 & was given a RWF renumber which stayed with him. Ian Hook at the museum say he has photos of the 4th essex & senior NCO of the 1/6th essex between the wars.
    Paul
     
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  10. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    And here we have our man:

    43c2c52b-c393-490c-9dc5-65fd9740d8cb.JPG

    tylerdarran_1438827.JPG

    Letter referenced above:
    2016-03-28%2014.13.36.JPG

    Paul Darran's family research:

    file-page1.JPG

    Can anybody provide any details from his name and service number (above)?
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2017
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