Can anyone please help with any information on a driver with 40 Motor Coach Company during WW2. His name was Christopher Matthew Ranson (rank unknown) born 12th August 1920 at Alford, Surrey in a house which was eventually commandeered and became part of RAF Dunsfold. His service number was T/244425. 40 Motor Coach Coy later became 64 Troop Carrying Coy but eventually reverted to its original title. However it is the early days of this company up to mid 1942 that I am particularly interested in. I have tried on the RASC page but the information there is a little too generalised.
1939 England and Wales Register Name: Christopher M Ramson [Christopher M Ranson] Gender: Male Marital status: Single Birth Date: 12 Aug 1920 Residence Year: 1939 Address: Prime ?? Residence Place: Guildford, Surrey, England Occupation: General Labourer Schedule Number: 160 Sub Schedule Number: 3 Enumeration District: DNNB Registration district: 33/4 Household Members: Name Harry Ramson Robert T Ramson Christopher M Ramson TD
This is excellent, thank you and it is definitely the right man although I have checked with his family and the name is definitely Ranson not Ramson. However, his father's name was Harry and his brother was Robert. His address was Primeads Farm so your Prime?? question is answered! This does make me wonder if he is registered with the army as Ramson not Ranson - perhaps that's why I can't find him.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Christopher Matthew Ranson Death Age: 78 Birth Date: 12 Aug 1920 Registration Date: Feb 1999 Registration district: Durham Northern Inferred County: Durham Register Number: S31B District and Subdistrict: 4403 Entry Number: 271 Global, Gravestone Photograph Index, 1265-2014 Name: Christopher Matthew Ranson Birth Year: 1921 Burial Year: 1999 Burial Place: Burnopfield, Durham, England Death Age: 78 Cemetery: St James Relationship: not given of Hannah Crawford St James Church burial ground, Burnopfield, Durham, England indexed by Gravestone Photographic Resource Project Christopher Matthew Ranson Birth: 12 Aug 1920 - Hambledon, Surrey, England Death: Feb 1999 - Durham, Durham, England F: Harry Ranson M: Agnes Winson TD
Thanks TD, That's good information - the burial place is a bit of a surprise but it's only a couple of miles from where I live and I pass it fairly often so next time I am passing, I will stop and have a look.
Just come across this forum. My father Harry Ruddlesdin was a member of 40 MCC. I have a photograph from 1942 of the entire company (151 officers and men) but unfortunately there are no names. I doubt it would scan with sufficient detail to identify individuals. I live near Huddersfield but go to County Durham regularly if anybody wants to have a look at the original.
40 Motor Coach Company RASC was located at Fawley, Berkshire in September 1940 and comprised 9 officers and 160 other ranks. 40 MCC became a Troop Carrying Company when it re-equipped from impressed civilian coaches to 4x4 Bedford QLT(troop carrying) tracks which gave an off-road capability which the coaches could not offer. You can find the War Diary for 40 MCC for the period September 1940-December 1941 in the National Archives - WO166/5267 ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS: COMPANIES: 40 Motor Coach Company. | The National Archives
