Hello gents and lady, I bought this spoon that was found on the Bray-dunes beach. The spoon has been marked with regimental number 981034. After some searching I found the owner of the spoon on powvets.com. His name is Bombardier Makinson A. I assume he spent the rest of the war as a POW in Fallingbostel, Lower Saxony at Stalag XI-B I wondered if it was possible to find Bombardier Makinson unit. Or does somebody know what arty unit where in the neighbourhood. Regards Koen,
Koen, I suspect the first option is to see if he completed a POW questionnaire upon his release (they're held at Kew). It may state unit. Going on from there, if cost and time are no object, you could search for date of death if he is deceased, obtain copy death certificate and then pay for a copy of his army records.
981034 MAKINSON Arthur Bdr. joined the Royal Artillery in 1939. He appears to have been evacuated from France and captured at a later date. The Lancashire Evening Post 24/3/45 features an article telling of his capture in Holland in December 1944. it also states that he was from Southport. I have found : Arthur Makinson Born 3 Q 1913 Ormskirk Lancashire. Possibly: MAKINSON Arthur Born 19/6/1913 Died 3 Q 1990 Doncaster. POW liberation paperwork or service records would confirm this. Guy
Well found Guy From a family tree: ARTHUR MAKINSON Birth 19 Jun 1913 in AINSDALE,FORMBY,LANCASHIRE. - I presume this is close to Ormskirk ?? Death Aug 1990 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England Name: A Makinson Rank: Bombardier Army Number: 981034 Regiment: Royal Artillery Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: XI-B Camp Location: Fallingbostel, Lower Saxony Record Office: Royal Artillery (Field) Record Office, Foots Cray, Sidcup, Kent Record Office Number: 5 TD
He died more than 20 years ago then. This means that his full records can be applied for which will be the only way to find out who he served with in 1940. Presumably he left his small pack on the beach.
https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records#how-to-apply-for-service-personnel-records TD edited to add: The link above is for service records - there may be a specific one for RA guys that I am not aware of
From info in the press cuttings : Marriage details Name: Arthur Mackinson (note different spelling) Spouse Surname: Bates Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1943 Registration district: Don Valley Inferred County: Doncaster Volume Number: 9c Page Number: 1401 Name: Margaret Bates Spouse Surname: Makinson (spelling correct this time) Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1943 Registration district: Don Valley Inferred County: Doncaster Volume Number: 9c Page Number: 1401 If you intend to obtain his service records then a copy of his death cert will be necessary Name: Arthur Makinson Birth Date: 19 Jun 1913 Date of Registration: Aug 1990 Age at Death: 77 Registration district: Doncaster Inferred County: Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire Volume: 3 Page: 438 TD