14710821 R TOWNSEND, 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles

Hello all,

I am hoping you may be able to assist me in my search for information on the Rifleman R TOWNSEND, service number 14710821, 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles.

The only information I have is that he received the Palestine Medal.

Any information especially for Normandy would be wonderful

thanks

 

I am sure other members might be able to help but you need to apply for his service records

you require the below
Date of birth
Death cert
£30
Get a copy of military service records

 

His Service Number does not appear elsewhere on the forum.

Using the 'tags' option there are 120, yes 120 threads that refer to the RUR. So, plenty of reading there, unless there is a way to narrow down the number. There is a recent thread on the RUR in Palestine: James Andrews . RUR . Palestine.

If you search with "1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles" + "ww2talk.com" that finds other threads too. You can alter the search to 1 RUR and Normandy as a second search group.

There will be a regimental history somewhere and Wiki can often help. Ah, you may laready have this in your November 2022 thread on 1 RUR: Looking for info 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles

 

He enlisted on 3rd February 1944 so would have missed Normandy with either battalion.

It took five months to train him before being posted to Battalion. He would spend six weeks at a Primary Training Centre, where he underwent basic training, followed by sixteen weeks infantry training at an Infantry Training Centre.

 

Given his enlistment date it wasn`t a `Palestine` General Service Medal he had possibly a General Service Medal bar/clasp Palestine 1945-48(post-war} ?

RUR posted to Palestine

Mon, 10/15/1945
The three Jewish movements in Mandatory Palestine consisted of the more moderate Haganah movement and the more extreme Irgun and Lehi movements who all sought the establishment of an independent Jewish state in the 'Land of Israel'. The latter two began a fresh revolt against the British mandate in 1944 and in 1945 the Haganah joined the Irgun and Lehi in what was known as the Jewish Resistance Movement, jointly escalating the armed struggle to attack British controls on the immigration of European Jews as well as police and military targets.
Having flown home from Luneburg in May 1945, the 1st Battalion The Royal Ulster Rifles was preparing and equipping for service in South-East Asia when Japan announced its surrender on 15 August 1945. The Battalion was instead deployed to Palestine. The 1st Battalion was stationed first at Gaza, then deployed to defend Lydda Airport before moving to Tel Aviv after riots had broken out. Typically, operations consisted of constant patrolling, curfew enforcement, and endeavouring to keep the 'King’s Peace' in what was still territory mandated to the British Crown. The 2nd Battalion too was bound for Palestine and staged through Belgium and France before embarking for Egypt in mid-October 1945, being stationed initially in Qassasin.

Kyle

 

That is wonderful Information Kyle,

I really appreciate that it is very helpful

Many thanks