It has been a while since I posted on here and I’m hoping some kind soul could help or point me in the right direction to persue research into the following soldier and his units. T/Capt 165267 Carl James Godfrey Pick, last unit served with was 108th HAA Rgt RA from which he was demobbed on 6th November 1945. He appeared in the London Gazette on 4th April 1946 (MiD) and would very much like to know why. Does any citation still exist for MiD? Any help will be greatly appreciated moving this research forward for a friends grandfather. Cheers, Jon
Hi Jon DO you have his service record? You need to apply to MOD for it. I am not sure if it may be mentioned in them. I can find him in the LG here - Page 801 | Supplement 35069, 7 February 1941 | London Gazette | The Gazette promotion to 2nd Lieutenant and his MiD here - Page 1678 | Supplement 37521, 2 April 1946 | London Gazette | The Gazette the heading is on this page Page 1678 | Supplement 37521, 2 April 1946 | London Gazette | The Gazette I am not sure if you will find anything more specific. It may be mentioned in a local newspaper, so check them out. regards Robert
Thanks Robert, yes I do have his service record and no mention of the MiD, I was hoping some detail may have been recorded in the relevant war diary, he served with several units in the UK and appears to have served with the 108th HAA overseas from June 1945, unsure which theatre as the service papers are unclear, I could do with others eyes being cast over them as some of the handwriting is illegible to me. Was the 108th HAA part of the BAOR? Cheers, Jon
You are unlikely to find a citation, there isn't one listed on the National Archives website. MID citations are thin on the ground.
I thought as much, does the LG date give any suggestion as to when the deed may have taken place and would this have been whilst overseas? J
Sorry gave you the wrong page for the heading, this is the one - Page 1672 | Supplement 37521, 2 April 1946 | London Gazette | The Gazette It does give you some idea of where but not when. regards Robert
Here is a summary of service of 108th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA: 108th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.) RHQ, 338th-339th Raised: 25 August 1940 341st Battery served from 26 September to 16 December 1940. 379th Battery served from 20 December 1940 until 10 January 1941. The regiment served under 51st AA Brigade in northeast Scotland in February 1941. 382nd Battery was added on 18 June 1941. 339th Battery left on 29 September 1941, when 94th Light AA Battery joined. The later battery left on 19 February 1942. 421st and 434th Batteries left on 13 March 1942, but the later became independent on 3 October 1942. The regiment landed at Normandy under 106th AA Brigade on 10 June 1944 and remained on airfield defence in Normandy under the brigade until moving to the Somme bridges on 30 August 1944. It advanced under the brigade to Antwerp as part of VIII Corps. It arrived there on 8 September. By 2 October 1944, 382nd Battery was deployed at Mook Bridge. It remained deployed at the river and canal crossings until February 1945, when it moved to the Antwerp in February 1945 as part of 50th United States AAA Corps. During the same month it relieved 99th Heavy AA Regiment in the Rhineland under 100th AA Brigade. It moved to Venlo in March 1945 and served as part of the brigade during the Rhine Crossing in March 1945, attached to 3rd Army Group RA. It remained to defend the bridges after the assault, having been grounded. By the end of the war it was performing infantry garrison duties under 2nd Army.
Ah yes, the LG entry confirms the MiD was awarded whilst serving with the 108th HAA Regt in NWE dryan67 the summary is most excellent and puts a little meat on the bones thank you. I now have some leads regarding his units and their higher echelons. I’ll have little experience of researching WW2 diaries, are these held by the NA and would a mention be likely in their pages regarding MiD? J
Hi Yes they are at NA UK, here - Search results: 108 AND Heavy AND Anti AND Aircraft AND Regiment | The National Archives You would need to go and view them, or pay someone to photo them. Not sure about MiD's being mentioned in them? regards Robert
That’s brilliant, thank you Robert and thank you to all contributors so far, your help has been of immense help and it’s greatly appreciated. I’m slightly confused as to which batteries made up 108th HAA during their time in NWE and is their any way to decifer which battery my man served with? J
HI Someone may know more, but there is this- RA 1939-45 108 HAA Rgt As to which battery he served, if it is not mentioned in his service records, then I think it would be hard to find out. regards Robert
Thank you once again Robert, I’ve since trawled t’internet and found some useful information regarding the 108th HAA during the final months of the war. No closer to finding his battery nor his MiD though Does anyone have copies of the diaries listed or know of a reputable photographer? J
