Hello, I'm a seasoned family historian with some experience of researching WW1 soldiers but none of WW2 soldiers. My teenage nieces have recently become interested in their paternal grandfather's war service and have enlisted my help in finding out more information. They've obtained his service records as a first step, and what follows is a summary. Albert Norman Haward, from the village of Over in Cambridgeshire, born 10 October 1906, enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 21 September 1939 "for the duration". His occupation on enlistment was given as chauffeur, so I've tentatively assumed he might have been an ambulance driver for at least some of his service. He was initially allocated to 3 Light Field Ambulance, 2 Company Depot. I've decoded some of the acronyms on his list of postings, which are as follows. 15 Jan 1941 - 3 Light Field Ambulance, 1 Company No date - 168 Light Field Ambulance 16 Jun 1942 - X (iv) A - I think this means he was between postings or similar 7 Jul 1942 - 23 General Hospital: I believe this was at Bir Yaacov in Palestine from another post here. 26 Nov 1942 - X (iv) A 30 Nov 1942 - 132 Field Ambulance 24 Jan 1943 - 6(E) Ambulance Train - does the 'E' stand for 'evacuation'? 21 Apr 1943 - 4(E) Ambulance Train 24 Feb 1944 - 9 Light Ambulance Train 3 Apr 1944 - X (iv) A 15 Apr 1944 - 13 Light Field Ambulance 18 Apr 1945 - The Depot 29 Apr 1945 - 2 Company 3 Sep 1945 - No.2 Company posted to Y List (E) 21 Dec 1945 - Released to Class Z(T) His record says he served overseas until 2 September 1944. He received the following five medals: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star (with 8th Army clasp), Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal (I've seen a photo to confirm this). What my nieces would most like to know is where he served during this time - whether this is the countries, the units he was attached to or the battles where he might have evacuated casualties from. I'm assuming that the last couple of posts relate to stages of being demobbed. I'm more than willing to do my own research if people here can point me in the right direction in terms of online resources during lockdown. At the present time one niece is studying nursing while the other is studying for a pre-armed forces qualification so they've both been very inspired by their grandfather! Thanks in advance, Jane
Hi Couldn't find everything below, but this should get you started. The War Diaries will have to be copied at TNA whenever it reopens and there are chaps on the forum who will do it for a lot less than Kew. 15 Jan 1941 - 3 Light Field Ambulance, 1 Company 3 Lt. Fd. Amb. | The National Archives No date - 168 Light Field Ambulance 168 Lt. Fd. Amb. | The National Archives 16 Jun 1942 - X (iv) A - I think this means he was between postings or similar 7 Jul 1942 - 23 General Hospital: I believe this was at Bir Yaacov in Palestine from another post here. 23 Gen. Hosp. | The National Archives 26 Nov 1942 - X (iv) A 30 Nov 1942 - 132 Field Ambulance 132 Fd. Amb. | The National Archives 24 Jan 1943 - 6(E) Ambulance Train - does the 'E' stand for 'evacuation'? 21 Apr 1943 - 4(E) Ambulance Train 24 Feb 1944 - 9 Light Ambulance Train Wellcome Library | Ambulance trains and hospital ships in the Second World War, and contemporary ambulance trains 3 Apr 1944 - X (iv) A 15 Apr 1944 - 13 Light Field Ambulance 13 Lt. Fd. Amb. | The National Archives 18 Apr 1945 - The Depot 29 Apr 1945 - 2 Company 3 Sep 1945 - No.2 Company posted to Y List (E) 21 Dec 1945 - Released to Class Z(T) Official History of Army Medical Services WW2 Vol 1 - IFrance & Belgium 1939-1940; Norway; Battle of Britain; Libya, 1940-1942; East Africa; Greece, 1941; Crete; Iraq; Syria; Persia; Madagascar; Malta. ARMY MEDICAL SERVICES: CAMPAIGNS VOL IFrance & Belgium 1939-1940; Norway; Battle of Britain; Libya, 1940-1942; East Africa; Greece, 1941; Crete; Iraq; Syria; Persia; Madagascar; Malta. Official History of the Second World War by F A Crew | Naval and Military Press Ltd Vol 2 - Hong Kong, Malaya, Iceland & the Faroes, Libya, 1942-1943, North-West Africa. ARMY MEDICAL SERVICES: CAMPAIGNS VOL II Hong Kong, Malaya, Iceland & the Faroes, Libya, 1942-1943, North-West Africa.: Official History of the Second World War by Crew, F. A.: Very Good Paperback | WorldofBooks Vol 3 - Sicily; Italy; Greece (1944-45) ARMY MEDICAL SERVICES: CAMPAIGNS VOL III Sicily; Italy; Greece (1944-45): Official History of the Second World War by Crew, F. A.: Good Paperback (2014) | WeBuyBooks Hope this helps Gus
Many thanks, Gus - I’ve already got a list of things for my next visit to Kew so I’ll keep the references.
Jane. 13 Light Field Ambulance RAMC supported 7 Armoured Brigade in Italy from Apr 44. The Brigade consisted of 2 Royal Tank Regiment, 6 Royal Tank Regiment and 8 Royal Tank Regiment. He was with the Brigade from the final stages of the Fourth Battle of Cassino, up through central Italy to the Gothic Line at Rimini. After the long winter on the Gothic Line, he left them just before the start of the Apr 45 final offensive. Regards Frank
Thanks so much, Frank. I know a bit about the invasion of Italy in 1944, but this is invaluable. I’ll add it to the story I’m writing for my nieces.