I am researching my fathers movements during ww2 but I'm confused by the war diary dates? He enlisted in the Royal berks in 1932 and spent most of the time up to the war in Egypt and Palestine. He was posted to France in 1939 with the 1st Royal Berks and was evacuated from Dunkirk on 28th of May. His Army Book shows 'France 25/9/39 to 28/5/40 and there is a separate written note that he went to France with the 1st Berks in August 39. But the Wardrobe website war diaries for the period start in 1944 up to the end of the war. No mention of 1939 or 1940? Is the diary record (on the website) complete? Will I likely find more notes at the National Archive or are they lost?I considered that he might have transferred to the 4th, which was the only other Berks battalion that went to France in 39/40, but their diary dates don't tie up either? Later in the war he transferred to the KORR and was originally posted to Burma but half way through the trip was diverted to Egypt. From there he was in Italy until the end of the war. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Hopefully these two references might help out, both are at the National archives: 1 Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) | The National Archives INFANTRY: 1 Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's). | The National Archives
You may well have a copy of the History of the Royal Berkshire Regiment 1920-47 by Brigadier Gordon Blight? Chapter Six: 39-40 has 30 pages covering 1 & 4 Battalions. A good book at just short of 500 pages. Regards, Stu.
