Hi all, I'm really after a bit of advice on where to start. I recently got hold of my Uncle's dad's war diary, which as a veteran myself am finding absolutely enthralling to thumb (very gingerly) through. I have a pay book and a day by day hand written diary from the end of 1942 through to 1944. 1943 is in pen, great, but 1944 is in pencil so some is badly faded. Fantastically 6th June is readable and simply states "We are told the invasion has begun". Where do I even start with finding out about the Units, boats etc referenced in the document? So far I know: His name & service number. Enlisted in Matlock Bath in 1941. He was RASC - 429 Coy is mentioned at one point. Sailed from Liverpool (9 Nov 42) to Clyde (12 Nov 42) to Tangiers (22 Nov 42) on what appears to be boat "P29". Spent time in base B149, then B299, then HG471. I'm assuming these are North Africa and Italy but can't find out where. My Uncle has mentioned Naples. Awarded the Africa Star with Clasp, 1944. I'm about to start going through the 1943 diary in chronological order so anywhere I can go to look things up would be really useful. TIA, Tom
For ship movements I would suggest Arnold Hague Ports database Do you have his actual service records? - if not why not send off for them - forms are in this link Request records of deceased service personnel You can use our site search facility to see if some of the other references can be found, often someone will have mentioned them before somewhere, then its just a matter of piecing bits and pieces together and fill in the gaps, if you can, often you cant but that doesnt stop us TD
429 Coy (General Transport) Formed by No 1 Mob Centre RASC in January 1942 disembarked ALGIERS and moved to BONE. Embarked 24 December 1944 for NAPLES and proceeded to BARI. At both BONE and BARI the company was engaged solely on Dock Transport duties and suffered casualties in the explosion at BARI docks in April 1945. (from CMF RASC booklet published in December 1945) Hope this helps. Dave
There is also the 'official' war diaries for that unit 429 Coy. | The National Archives 429 Coy. | The National Archives Royal Army Service Corps: 429 Company (RASC) | The National Archives Companies: 429 Coy. | The National Archives Companies: 429 Coy. | The National Archives There may be others TD
There are members on here who copy files from TNA, if you cant get there yourself. Their costs are about 10% of what the TNA charge TD
