2763940 Francis WILSON, Black Watch & RASC - Life Guards?

My dad was in the RASC after the war and I have a copy of his demob certificate. I believe he was in the Life Guards for a time though. Sadly he died when I was too young to be asking questions and I’m desperate to know more about him. My mum also died young so I couldn’t ask her either. I now live in South Africa so it’s difficult to get answers. He was Francis Wilson (Frank) b 22 Jan 1923 in Monk Bretton Barnsley. There was also a rumour he was in the Black Watch until he was tall enough for the Life Guards. He ended up 6’ 3”. I have one photo of him in khaki shorts and shirt and my cousin says he remembers a photo of him in full uniform on a big black horse. I also remember an embroidered badge which had a sort of sunburst emblem on it. Please help, I’m tearful as I type this. PS forgot to say he was injured (thankfully not seriously) at Salerno on 15th September (also the date of his funeral) I think in 1942.

 

DMac,

Welcome aboard. There is plenty of knowledge and expertise here.

We always recommend applying for the Service Record. It is the definitive account of his service. Yes, it can take time and regularly has good and disappointing responses. A very short note (copied from Clive): you will need his date of birth and death cert available here for £7 https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ Link for service records
Select the service - Apply for a deceased person's military record - GOV.UK

Until you get his record research could go down "rabbit holes"

It would help if you post up his demob certificate. Hopefully it will have his Service Number.

The Life Guards badge online today is not a sunburst. Not an expert of badges me.

A very slim Wiki refers to:

From: Life Guards (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia

There is only one thread here for the HCCR, which does not help! See: Household Cavalry

Using an online search "household cavalry" site:ww2talk.com id'd a number of threads.

This BBC soldier's account does refer to the Household Cavalry being @ Salerno: BBC - WW2 People's War - Meeting the Enemy in Italy and on the River Maas

 

Salerno was 1943 .

As he was wounded he ought to be found here.

British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945 | findmypast.co.uk

 

Thank you. His number was 2763940, but there was 1 and sort of a dividing sign in front.

 

Could the 1 be a T/ ?
Some RASC chaps had that in front of their numbers to denote Transport.

That number you gave , 2763940 ,fits this block.

Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) 2744001 - 2809000
Army Number Block Allocations

 

Thank you. It was a T, and he was a driver so that makes sense. Also it seems to confirm what I sort of remember that he joined the Black Watch first then moved on. He joined up with two cousins (all about the same age), but sadly one was killed.

 

DMac,

Neither his name or service number have appeared here before today.

 

Hello DMac.

The following as a result of your information, and Owen's prompting above.

From working underground at Monk Bretton Colliery, to the beaches of Salerno and beyond, your dad.

From the 1939 Register: Sixteen years old; "Colliery haulage below".



https://www.mindat.org/loc-379635.html#:~:text=Monk Bretton Colliery, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, UK

Official Casualty List No. 1270; Wounded 12th September 1943 (please note the battalion and regiment your dad was then with):







Good luck with all your searching.

Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

 

The biggest thank-you. That’s him - so the bits of info I got were true. I was a bit out with the dates of him being a casualty, but the confirmations are wonderful. I knew that he was a miner - he died in Middleton Broom Colliery in 1966. I believe that he lied about being a miner when he joined up in 1940 (reserved occupation) and said he was a driver. They say youth is wasted on the young - I was just too young to be interested when he died, but I’m doing my best to make up for it now. More tears as I type this!

 

Keep plugging away, you'll be able to build a bigger picture, and find out more.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

I'm think Gary Tankard will have 2/5th Queens war diary for Salerno.

 

A good illustration of how initial information may not be correct. Jim Post 8 shows when your father was wounded he was with the 2/5th Queen's Royal Regiment - an infantry unit.

From Wiki:

From: Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) - Wikipedia

Two veterans accounts from Salerno: Veterans Stories

There are a number of threads here id'd using: "2/5th Queen's Royal Regiment" site:ww2talk.com

The shortage of manpower, especially for the infantry as the war progressed meant compulsory transfers to units in need. This may explain him moving between regiments.

 

DMac,

After one more post you can use the forum's private message option e.g. Gary Tankard by going to your avatar, select start a conversation.

 

I served in The Life Guards. A friend works in The Household Cavalry Museum Archives. If you can send me his service No, I will get my friend to check if he served.

 

Kevin,

The author DMac has not logged on since 29/5/24, when the thread was created. Though you have been a member a long time you have not enough (x5) posts to use the Private Message (PM) option to contact here. I will send her a PM next.

 

Hi,

His army service number, and his full name, is in the topic title and is mentioned in posts as - 2763940 - from the Black Watch block allocation.

He should have retained that number throughout his service although if he had a post war break in service and rejoined post circa 1948 a new “tri service” service number might’ve been allocated.

Steve

 

I think his number was 2763940. Thank you so much for this although I’ve a feeling it might have been a bit of misinformation. I really admire you for your service. I enjoy watching the videos of guards on duty except when some idiots are disrespectful, although Arnie often sorts them out! Regards, Denise.

 

Denise.

Did you ever get the War Diary for the date of your father’s wounding at Salerno from Gary Tankard?

Regards

Frank

 

Hi, no I didn’t as I didn’t know how to go about it, but I would so like to read it if you can tell me how to do it please. Many thanks. Regards, Denise.