Hi there, I was wondering if someone a little more clued up on this could help me out. I'm trying to track down more info & photos on two of my relatives that fought during WW2. Sgt James Duffy Sgt Laurie Duffy They were both in the same division '49th West Riding division' and from Otley (Leeds). They were both Royal Artillery but I can't find records anywhere (probably because I'm searching in the wrong places.) I know from stories that my granddad told me that they were in Iceland, Europe & then shelled the 'bejesus' out of Osenbruck in 1945? I've attached a photo of them both together in Iceland below.
Hi hauxen The very best to start is with there service records and the ONLY place they can be obtained from is the MOD - the link to the forms etc is - Request records of deceased service personnel - GOV.UK. Once you have their service records then member will help you yo understand them and provide info etc for you to further research their military service TD
Think you may mean Osnabruck, Historic Steve may be able to help when he next calls by.but agree with Trick Dicky that the individual records of service documents are essential if you want a detailed accurate picture
Lots of info on the web about 'The Polar Bears' Division and lots of Memorials dotted along their path in Europe. Their extremely impressive main Memorial is close to Tessel Wood (Fontenay le Pesnel) in Normandy. Good luck with your research.
Getting the info from MOD is hard because I have no way to contact his sons/daughters - however I found a letter. Service number: 817525 B.S.M Duffy - 69th Field Regiment E’ Troop, 448 Battery Is this the info I need?
To obtain service records you do not need the consent of or contact with the family, you need to obtain a death certificate for him/he, fill out the forms, write a cheque for £30 and post it all to MOD, Glasgow (the address given in the link). The benefitof the death cert is that it will (or should) provide his.her date of birth as well, you do not require a service number TD
Not Osnabrück as the division was in Utrecht-Bilthoven Holland on VE day command 1st Canadian Corps, I have copies of the Polar Bear News and will look up 69th (West Riding) Field Regiment Royal Artillery to see if they get a mention
I would really appreciate that Steve thanks! I've found a bunch more info out since then as getting service records are going to be incredibly tricky. James Gavan Duffy was born on the 21st of January 1915 - Service number: 817232 joined on 28 January 1932 and was discharged on 10 March 1946. B.S.M James Gavan Duffy - 69th Field Regiment E’ Troop, 448 Battery
These are his parents: 1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION 147 Ring Road, Middleton, Leeds C.B., Yorkshire (West Riding) NAME DOB OCCUPATION James G Duffy 19 Jul 1886 General Labourer Textile Printing Ada Duffy 27 Sep 1886 Unpaid Domestic Duties Ronald Duffy 03 Dec 1922 Apprentice Turner Sarah L Arandall 02 Jun 1860 Incapacitated
