4913309 Thomas (Dennis) Dickens, South Staffordshire Regiment

I’m trying to help family members research this soldier. We do not know his date of death and cannot (so far) prove a relationship sufficiently to apply for his records. We’d be really appreciative of any information about him and his movements or that of his battalion(s)/divisions, or pointers of where to research further.

Things we think we know about him:

• Returned to the UK from 5 years serving in India in Feb 1940.
• Was sent ‘abroad’ the following month and participated in the evacuation from Dunkirk.
• Was married in Darlington, Co Durham in April 1941. He stated that he was a Sergeant, but a senior officer in a later newspaper report referred to him as a Corporal. He may or may not have used the middle name Dennis.

From the service in India we surmised he was in the 2nd battalion, but the only reference we've found to any of the South Staffords being in the north-east of England at the time of the marriage came from here, in this very forum: Lost War diary's of 2 North Staffs Jan/June 44? (post by dryan67 about 2/3 of the way down pg 1) so did this mean he was likely in the 176th Infantry Brigade? Was it possible he moved from one into the other?

We are interested in anything that helps us track down anything of this man’s life, so any pointers are very welcome.

 

This link gives 2nd South Staffs return to UK as 17 July 1940, then to be part of 31st Infantry Brigade at Wheatly, Oxon. Stationed in UK until May 1943 when as part of 1st Air Landing Brigade landed in North Africa.
2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment | ParaData

 

Do you have any documents or photos? You refer to a 'later newspaper report' and an officer. Do you have his Date of Birth? I assume he is deceased. No medals? All of these can help members to help you.

In importance you need to be able to identify his 1941 wedding, as the marriage cert. should contain more details that the sleuths here can use to help.

I note that the 2nd South Staffs Wiki does refer - without details - to them serving in India after 1932. No date for their return to the UK and Wiki for the 31st Independent Infantry Brigade was formed - after Dunkirk - on 26–27 September 1940.

See: South Staffordshire Regiment - Wikipedia and 31st Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia

DRyan's comment you cited is for the North Staffs Regmt, not the South. See Post 13: Lost War diary's of 2 North Staffs Jan/June 44? The 2nd North Staffs was not posted to India between the wars, after 1921, so on your initial infor can be excluded. See: North Staffordshire Regiment - Wikipedia As you can see they did go to France and returned via Dunkirk.

The Wiki for the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division, which included the 176th Infantry Brigade (no Wiki), does mention a possible link:

Link: 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division - Wikipedia

In full 1/6SSR is 1/6 South Staffs Regmt. Transfers between the two regular Army battalions of the South Staffs could happen.

You may be in for a long slog, but this website can produce wonders (see PM about to be sent to you). Getting his Army Service Record is vital and the waiting time is long.

 

I assume you are aware of this but to give other forum members some clarification, on his April 1941 marriage certificate viewed on an ancestry public members tree for his wifes family he gives his age as 23, middle name as Dennis, rank Sergeant, number & Regiment as in the title of this thread. Home address is in Wolverhampton.

The military details of India, "sent abroad" & Dunkirk are reported in a newspaper report of court proceedings and was a report of evidence given by a policeman. His age here in Oct 1941 is given as 25.

His CO also gave evidence.

 

Travers, you have the exact information that I have. I didn't want to overwhelm with too much at once, but, long story short, that marriage was bigamous, but there are living descendants of it who have only just learned Thomas's identity and know nothing about him. His DOB was around Jul 1915 in Wolverhampton. I'm happy to share anything else that I know, such as his parents and siblings etc if that would help at all, but we've been unable to discover anything about him after his case was heard at Durham Assizes, in October 1941.

 

There is a detailed story about a soldier who joined the 2nd South Staffs and was posted to Nowshera, India, where they were on the North-West Frontier, their return to the UK by ship and their early deployment: Corporal William Halliwell

 

In reply to Delilah's question:

Yes. I have found the expertise here can really help when they know more.

 

This is the documentary info I have.

 

And here are his parents and siblings:

 

Hoping forum members can help this case with a couple of questions I have:

Does the Register of Soldiers (hope I've used the right word) for the South Staffordshire Regiment from the mid 1930's still exist. Heard that when the army no longer needed them they were offered to regimental museums etc.

Does anyone know the helpline for queries about obtaining service records from the MOD. I am aware of the current process for transfer of records to TNA, but think a helpline has been quoted for mod applications. The situation is that this soldiers death certificate has not been found, and the existing family are unsure if any other living NOK who may rank above them in the MOD list are still living.

Thanks

Travers