Hi all My name is Peter, and I am the grandson of William H Beaumont who I have evidence of serving with 56 Recce from Jan 41 to Dec 43, and thereafter with NIH. I knew my grandfather only when I was young and did not have the chance or incentive to ask him about his service. He died in 1986 and my aunt (his youngest daughter) received his old army records. My aunt only just plucked up the courage to dig out his stuff including his medals and wanted to share them with me. I was overwhelmed with this treasure trove of information that I had no idea existed. I have learned more in the last 2 days about my grandfather than at any other time. It would be great if I can find any references to my grandfather's activities in 56 Recce. I am not yet aware of which sub-unit he served with, but I think he was a driver/mechanic/driving instructor. I am ex-UK forces myself, having served 18 years in Royal Signals, leaving Feb 2001. really looking forward to spending some time researching my grandfather. regards Peter
As I am working through his papers I think he was part of the MT Section. I have found a photo of the MT section while they were in Sicily.
Here is the picture of 56 Recce MT Section in Sicily. My grandfather is Bill Beaumont, forth from left on the rear rank.
Hi Peter welcome to the forum. My father was also in 56 Recce. You might like to work through the War Diaries that I have posted. I believe he was in HQ Sqn. http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-january-1946.221/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-december-1945.220/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-november-1945.218/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-october-1945.217/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-september-1945.216/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-august-1945.215/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-july-1945.213/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-june-1945.211/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-may-1945.209/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-april-1945.207/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-march-1945.206/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-february-1945.204/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-january-1945.203/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-december-1944.202/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-november-1944.198/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-october-1944.197/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-september-1944.196/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-august-1944.195/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-july-1944.194/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-june-1944.193/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-may-1944.192/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-april-1944.189/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-march-1944.188/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-february-1944.187/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-january-1944.186/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-december-1943.184/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-november-1943.183/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-october-1943.182/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-september-1943.181/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-august-1943.180/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-july-1943.179/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-june-1943.178/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-may-1943.177/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-april-1943.176/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-march-1943.171/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-february-1943.170/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-january-1943.169/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-december-1942.167/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-november-1942.166/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-c-sqn-october-november-1942.165/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-october-1942.164/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-september-1942.163/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-august-1942.162/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-july-1942.161/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-june-1942.160/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-may-1942.159/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-april-1942.158/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-march-1942.156/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-february-1942.155/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-january-1942.148/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-december-1941.146/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-november-1941.145/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-october-1941.143/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-september-1941.142/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-august-1941.138/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-july-1941.137/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-june-1941.136/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-may-1941.130/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-april-1941.133/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-march-1941.131/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-february-1941.134/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/albums/56th-recce-war-diary-january-1941.135/ Cheers Paul
Hi, Welcome to the forum. Whilst you obviously have a lot of information about your grandfather’s service you may wish to obtain his official Army service record from MOD Glasgow via this link - Get a copy of military service records It will cost £30, plus the cost of a death certificate but is well worth it. There are examples of the material provided to other forum members by MOD in the service record sub forum. Steve PS You may not be aware that you are entitled to a copy of your own service record for free under FOI rules - see below link https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-your-own-records
Thanks very much! I had already found this absolute treasure trove and was already reading through it. Did any of the Part 1 or Part 2 orders survive at all do you know? The War Diary doesn't often mention NCO names, but I would expect that detail to appear on Part 1s or 2s. My grandfather was apparently wounded twice with shrapnel while in Italy, but don't know anything other than that. So hoping to spot something in the Diary. regards Peter
Peter, A warm welcome, my father, 6468560 Sergeant G F Anthony, enlisted with the Royal Fusiliers but transferred to 56 Recce when it was created, he served throughout from North Africa to Austria. Your grandfather's number indicates that he also enlisted with the Royal Fusiliers, he is mentioned here: http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/resized-p2000151.7285/ 6467969 W H Beaumont, HQ Sqn – but beware it was very common for servicemen to be transfer from one squadron to another, such transfers are often mentioned in the appendices. I am sure that you have already found a great deal of information on 56 Recce in this forum but, as advised, get hold of his service records. There are also some group photos, if you have one of your grandfather that you can post someone might recognise him. Good luck. Edit: Can not find him in the Army Casualty Lists. That is not necessarily unusual, my father was hospitalised a couple of times but did not appear in the lists.
Hi Tony fantastic thank you very much! Yes you are correct, he enlisted with Royal Fusiliers and transferred to 56 Recce when it formed! thanks for the link - first time I have seen his name outside of the documents I already have. Picture will be posted soon. cheers Pete
Hello Peter and welcome to the forum and it's great to have you here. My father was also in 56 Recce, but in C Sqn. I see you are already in good hands. Lesley
Peter, I note from your original post that your grandfather served with 56 Recce until December 1943, from which date he transferred to North Irish Horse. You probably know that 56 Recce was officially disbanded on 1 January 1946: resized P2250301 | WW2Talk Disbandment however started slightly earlier with the Regiment being attached to NIH on 1 November 1945 and personnel, stores and equipment being handed over during November and December. resized P2280809 | WW2Talk resized P2280812 | WW2Talk The diaries records you grandfather being promoted to U/L/Cpl on 20 December 1943: resized P2000153 | WW2Talk Just checking, did your grandfather move to NIH immediately after his promotion when the Regiment were operating in the area of Vastogiradi, Italy (Just after the Sangro and before Cassino) or did you mean 1945? ps sorry to ask you for photos, should have looked closer at you avatar and seen you have already posted one !
hi Tony great info. I am steadily reading through the war diaries which is a real pleasure and fascinating. My grandfather didn't join NIH until November 1945. I do have more photos, but need to scan them in or photograph them and upload them. Any particular area I should upload them to? regards Peter
