2657596 Reginald Richard MORRIS, Coldstream Guards & ME Commandos: POW.

Hi

Can any please help me find information on the 3rd Battalion Cold Stream Guards my uncle was in the Cold Stream Guards life Guards. And I want to find out were they were stationed in 1936..he joined up on the 19.11.36 at Aldgate London Army office. I have his army number but the archives seem to have no file for him as the office were bombed in the blitz.

Can any one tell me were I could find an more information as they had very little information on him at the Archives in Bird Cage Walk. I made some copy's from some had written books but not a thing about next of kin.
Thank you to any one who could help me.

 

Hi Omri
I am sorry but I dont know where the 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards were in barracks begfore the War but I do know that they were part of the 201st Guards Brigade that fought through North Africa the other two Guards Regiments in the 201st were the 6th Bn Grenadier Guards and the 2nd Bn Scots Guards, After the fighting on North Africa they they went on to Italy landing at Salerno in September 1943, where they lost heavily they then went on up to Caserta and then on to Monte Camino where once again the 201st Guards Brigade took heavy casualties, I have the story of the battles (Two) for Monte Camino if you are interested.
Good luck on your quest
Rotherfield

 

Hi,

Welcome to the site.

My father enlisted in Coldstream Guards in January 1937 but due to previous service in Border Regiment TA he does not have a Coldstream Guards sequential number. Had he enlisted directly into the Regiment his number would likely have been 265771?.

He joined 3rd Battalion in London June 1937 and went with the Battalion to Alexandria, Egypt November 1937. The Battalion were deployed on active service to Palestine October 1938 and suffered several fatalities in the following 6 months. They returned to Alexandria until July 1940 when they went up to the Libya/Egypt frontier.

Please post your uncles regimental number and I will do some checks for you.

I am not sure but I think Life Guards service files are in Windsor rather than at Wellington Barracks with the individual Foot Guards records - if he transferred his papers will likely be with the Life Guards.

I am sure that Diane (DBF) The Guards expert will be along shortly to let you know as much info as she has placed on this site.

Regards.

Steve Y.

 

Hi,

I think your uncle was 2657596 Morris R. as per attached Coldstream Guards Palestine Medal Roll off Ancestry UK (if I have breached their copyright it is unintentional and I hope Admin will remove it).

The Medal Roll covers the 2 periods when 3rd CG were in Palestine on active service Sept - Dec 1936 and Oct 1938 - April 1939. The former period was relatively quiet. I understand that 3rd CG and 2nd Scots Guards were in 1st "Guards" Brigade at Aldershot and part of the then "rapid reaction force" available for speedy deployment overseas. By the time they got to Palestine I believe it was all quiet and they returned home 2 months later.

It does not appear that your uncle had transferred to The Life Guards at the time the medal roll was produced in July 1940.

3rd Coldstream Guards based at Mustapha Barracks Alexandria either side of active service in Palestine. I have some photos.

I am in possession of a copy of the book "No Dishonourable Name" - unofficial history of 2nd & 3rd CG in WW2 which could help with Battalion movements if you require any more info.

If you look on Coldstream Guards sub forum you will see much more. If I had the computer skills I could do a link but unfortunately I am not that computer literate

Regards,

Steve Y

 

I would like to say thank you for your help I am so sorry for taking so long to come back to you all.

But I lost the site and have just found it again wow I will now save the site to bookmark and the information you have given me is so helpful thanks you all once again.

Regards Omri

 

Mr Rotherfield
Could not find the site again sorry I have not been back to you yes I would be very interested in the Story of the Battles thank you
Omri

 

Hi Steve

My Uncles Number was the person you put the in your reply I have been in contact with the the officer of the Archives in Birdcage Walk they have some written books which I was given the details of what was written. But there was no file they said the file had been lost which happens so I am not sure . I am glad may be I have a new chance of finding his records in Windsor I will look to see were there Archives are
once again thank you Omri

 

Shalom

Reginald Morris passed away 2005

I am sorry to come back with the same request I am still searching for the service records for Reginald Morris 2657596 signed up Aldgate London on the 12.11.36 or the 17.11.36.

Have records from Hand written books from London archives as service records not found

I been searching for a prisoner of war record or any other info on my uncle as I am not sure if that would have been his only file.

Being a prisoner of War would there have not been any thing else on him.
All so I understand there is a record office in Glasgow would they not be able to help me. or is there any one who can find the information out for me as I do not live in England. Site I found below is it not able to give me the records.

I thank you for any help and once again sorry for the same question but I am stuck and can not go progress in my research.. Omri

email address bclalaor@yahoo.com Please read below

Army service records are held in Glasgow. They’re indexed by Service Number, Rank, Full Name and Date of Birth – you’ll need to provide as much of this information as possible, together with your relative’s Regiment or Corps if it is known, to help locate service records. Records of deceased ex-servicemen/women will generally only be released to, or with the consent of, the official next of kin. You’ll need to provide a Certificate of Kinship form and a Subject Access Request (SAR) form, which are both downloadable from the Veterans Agency website (see below). The charge is £30 (waived for a widow or widower). Cheques must be payable to ‘MOD Accounting Officer’ and should be included with the completed Certificate of Kinship and SAR form. Obtaining records may take some time.

 

Have you contacted the Guards place at Wellington Barracks? They have all the available Guards Service records.

Ref PoW stuff he may have filled in a PoW Questionnaire at the end of the war. If he did it will be in the National Archives.

 

Definitely a POW. This is from the Ancestry database:-

Name: R. Morris
Rank: Lance Corporal
Army Number: 2657596
Regiment: Coldstream Guards
POW Number: 11957
Camp Type: Stalag
Camp Number: XX-A
Camp Location: Torun, Poland

As Andy (Drew) states, he may have completed a returning POW form. Unfortunately, not all men did.

Cheers - Rob

 

I want to thank you all for helping me I will contct the national Archives
I was in England last year in October and Guards men Hughes tried to help me at the Archives in Bird Carge Walk but the file was lost and we could only find a few things in the witten books,
I wanted next of kin or home address. They had an address when he was demobbed but I wanted to see what address he gave when he Joined up and if he gave a family name.

Wishing the best to you all Omri.....

 

Hi
Only if your going
If possible can any one do a look up for me I need to see if
Reg Morris filled out a Ref PoW Questionnaire at the end of the war. If he did it will be in the National Archives.I am told so if any kind person is going any chance the can check it out I be so greatful for that.

I am in the IDF do not get home home that often so it would be really help any cost for photo copying willing to pay.

Name: R. Morris Rank: Lance Corporal Army Number: 2657596 Regiment: Coldstream Guards POW Number: 11957 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: XX-A Camp Location: Torun, Poland Record Office: Coldstream Guards Record Office, 75, Ashley Gardens, London, SW1 Record Office Number: 12

 

HI

There are a couple of people who may be able to help you:
1. Drew 5233 - send him a PM maybe if he does not repond directly to this thread
2. Lee at Psywar - link on RHS of home page.

Good luck

 

Help need still trying to locate records
Could any one please help me I need some kind person to do some research for me.

I have still not be able to get the records I need. I am looking for next of kin for Reg Morris name of mother brothers etc for Reg details below.

I have found the family address but have not been able to find the records which state next of kin.

The family last name may be different I know the family were in contact with him when he was a prisoner of war.

Many thanks for any help I live abroad this is the reason I am unable to do it for myself.

I understand there are records in the London Archives of prisoner of war that may have filled out forms with data on when they we released I thank any one very much who maybe able to help me.

I do have records from the office of the Cold Stream Guards but it is still not enough information to help me. Thanking you for any help Omri



Name: R. Morris
Rank: Lance Corporal
Army Number: 2657596
Regiment: Coldstream Guards
POW Number: 11957
Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: XX-A Camp Location: Torun, Poland
Record Office: Coldstream Guards Record Office, 75, Ashley Gardens, London, SW1
Record Office Number: 1

 

Hi Omri,

I was at Kew today and looked up and found a POW questionnaire for your relative. Very interesting and lots of info.

Served in M/E Commando D Battalion Lay Force
Captured on Crete 1 June 1941
Tried to escape twice, but recaptured both times.
Sabotaged some equipment and sentenced to 7 months in prison.

Hope this gives you something to continue your search for information.

Cheers - Rob

 

Well done Rob. Great find.

Lesley

 

Omri,

I will look in London voters list pre 1939 & post 1945 for the address listed when I visit my local library next week as Ancestry has them listed. It may show some relatives.

From the DOB provided it would appear that he enlisted aged 15 yrs. If DOB is correct I would presume he gave false DOB on enlistment-my Dad spoke of 16 yr old recruit in his squad in early 1937.

You owe Ramacal!

Regards,

Steve Y

 

Hi


One of the Members were kind enough to look up a file for me at the
London Archives so nice of him. There was so much information on it
which is great. But has left me confused I need to ask about a unit called M.E. Commando's Unit
D Bn Lay force.

When I was in England I found my uncles army record had been lost. But I found some information in the ColdStream Guards Archives books.

Could any please tell me if the M.E. Commando's Unit D Bn Lay force. Is part of the Coldstream Guards.

Could this be a reason I can not find his Army File at the Archives of the Coldstream Guards.

 

Hi


One of the Members were kind enough to look up a file for me at the
London Archives so nice of him. There was so much information on it
which is great. But has left me confused I need to ask about a unit called M.E. Commando's Unit
D Bn Lay force.

When I was in England I found my uncles army record had been lost. But I found some information in the ColdStream Guards Archives books.
My Question Is the M.E.Commando's Unit D Bn Lay force a part of the ColdStream Guards.
And thanks again to Rob.