12th Pioneer Bn South Staffordshire Regt

Hi Guys

i was wondering if anyone could help me with what the 12th pioneer bn South Staffords where up to in 1940?

regards
Jon

 

Were they AMPC, RE or Infantry ?

I can find two possible units of AMPC that were in France with the BEF and one in the UK that appears to be under a CRE and could be badged Engineers.

 

12th (Pioneer) Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment
The battalion was raised at Blandford on April 22nd, 1940. It moved to Burnham by July 1st, 1940. It moved to Saltburn by October 1st, 1940 and became an infantry battalion on October 24th, 1940.

25th Infantry Brigade – 11 December 1940 to 14 November 1941
The brigade had moved to the area of Kingston, Herford on July 3rd, 1940 and was there until the spring of 1941. The 12th Battalion was located at Hereford on January 1st, 1941. The brigade moved to the coast in Sussex by early summer 1941. In late summer the brigade moved to the area of Portsmouth.

Here is a brief summary of the 12th South Staff's service.

Service as Royal Artillery
It was converted to the 91st Light AA Regiment, Royal Artillery (314th-316th Btys) on November 15th, 1941. The regiment served under the 4th Infantry Division from January 26th, 1942 until November 6th, 1944. It was located in the United Kingdom until March 11th, 1943. It embarked for North Africa and arrived by sea on March 23rd. It served with the division in North Africa until December 16th, 1943, when it was sent by sea to Egypt. It sailed on December 17th and arrived on December 22nd. It remained in Egypt until February 14th, 1944 and was then sent to Italy. It arrived in Italy on February 20th and served in Italy until it was disbanded there on December 18th, 1944.

 

Well found - In that case there doesn't appear to be any war diary for them as the 12 Staffs

 

12th (Pioneer) Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment
The battalion was raised at Blandford on April 22nd, 1940. It moved to Burnham by July 1st, 1940. It moved to Saltburn by October 1st, 1940 and became an infantry battalion on October 24th, 1940.

25th Infantry Brigade – 11 December 1940 to 14 November 1941
The brigade had moved to the area of Kingston, Herford on July 3rd, 1940 and was there until the spring of 1941. The 12th Battalion was located at Hereford on January 1st, 1941. The brigade moved to the coast in Sussex by early summer 1941. In late summer the brigade moved to the area of Portsmouth.

Here is a brief summary of the 12th South Staff's service.

Service as Royal Artillery
It was converted to the 91st Light AA Regiment, Royal Artillery (314th-316th Btys) on November 15th, 1941. The regiment served under the 4th Infantry Division from January 26th, 1942 until November 6th, 1944. It was located in the United Kingdom until March 11th, 1943. It embarked for North Africa and arrived by sea on March 23rd. It served with the division in North Africa until December 16th, 1943, when it was sent by sea to Egypt. It sailed on December 17th and arrived on December 22nd. It remained in Egypt until February 14th, 1944 and was then sent to Italy. It arrived in Italy on February 20th and served in Italy until it was disbanded there on December 18th, 1944.

Hi

cheers Guys

Thats interesting to say the least.
The reason i was asking if that i just got my hands on a group of medals consisting of the following

GSM two bar palestine and malaya clasps, 39-45 star, africa star, italy star and defence and war medal.

the GSM is named to a T Conn ( who i know now is Tommy) 830831 Camerons.

I found his medal roll on ancestry well two medal rolls both for the palestine clasp 1st roll he was with the 1st cameron highlanders, 2nd roll 2nd cameron highlander but his name and info is crossed out with the following comment " see cameronians filio 41" followed in the remarks box "transferred to 12th Pioneer Bn South Staffs 22/04/40"

so looks like he was with the Cameron highlanders in palestine then transferred as mentioned above now to try and find out who he was with to get the Malaya clasp

 

What research i have done looks like the 91st Light AA RA were used in Operation Torch and later in the 4th Battle Monte Cassino