Army Number: 173497 Rank: Private Name: William Harkins McBETH, MiD Unit: No 3 Troop Special Raiding Squadron, 1 Special Air Service, 1 Parachute Regiment London Gazette : 20 September 1945 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37274/supplement/4685/data.pdf The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: — Army Air Corps. 173497 Pte. H. W. MCBETH [see LG entry below] London Gazette : 23 January 1947 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37861/page/445/data.pdf ERRATA. The London Gazette (No. 37274), of 20th September, 1945. For 173497 Pte. H. W. McBETH, A.A.C., Substitute 173497 Pte. W. H. McBETH, A.A.C.
Recommendation for Award for McBeth, Harkins William Rank: Private Service... | The National Archives Reference: WO 373/64/315 Name McBeth, Harkins William Rank: Private Service No: 173497 Regiment: No 3 Troop, Special Raiding Squadron, 1 Special Air Service 1 Parachute Regiment Theatre of Combat or Operation: Escape and Evasion and Special Operations Award: Mention in Despatches Date of announcement in London Gazette: 20 September 1945
I guessed you might be related by your Username. How far have you got with your research? Has anyone in the family applied for copy of his service records?
I’ve sent away for his military records so waiting to hear back. He died in the seventies so we don’t have much information apart from what my dad was told which wasn’t much. We only have a few photos from family weddings. We don’t know what happened to his medals or beret.
Casualty List No. 1292 Dated 16 November 1943 Expeditionary Forces / Italy Missing believed POW Royal Army service Corps T 173497 McBETH Dvr WH, Commando, date of casualty 4.10.43 Casualty List No.1508 Dated 26 July 1944 Previously reported POW now reported not POW
There are not always medals to locate, as soldiers were expected to apply for their own WW2 medals & campaign stars, and some did not apply for various reasons.
Ok thanks. My dad seemed to think he had them but doesn’t know what happened to them. Hopefully his service records can shed some light on whether he did or not.
This report is really interesting. I tried to find the escape reports of the others he mentioned in his but couldn’t. I thought they maybe would have mentioned him in theirs too. The part at the end worries me a bit also as said he was interrogated? Did this happen with all Escapees?
