Hi My father Sidney Plant served in the above regiment from 8 January 1941. He joined up 16 October 1939 at Glencore with Territorial regiment Royal Scots. Went to France for 5 days in 1940! Embarked 8 November 1942 (North Africa) posted to X (4) List 22 November 1942 Posted to 56 Regt SOS X (4) List 4 January 1943 TOS 56 Regt 4 January 1943 1 Jan or April 1944 (both dates listed) transferred to RAC Wounded central Italy 29 June 1944 (stood on a landmine) Left hospital and rehabilitation December 1944. January 1945 transferred from RAC to RASC Released 15 January 1946 I would appreciate any help with locating sources of information to help research his involvement particularly campaign maps, regiment photos etc. I have his service records and pay book Thank you to all the forum contributors for making this a wonderful resource. Tony
Hello and welcome to the forum Tony. Lovely to have another Recce here Quite a few members, including myself, had relatives serving in the 56th so you are in good company. Would you care to post his records and any photos you may have please? 56 Recce war diaries have been posted on the Gallery by 56 Recce member Paul (Recce_Mitch) http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/37844-56th-recce-war-diary/ I haven't checked yet to see if your father has been mentioned in them at all, but I will have a look unless other members come along with the info first. Lesley
Hi Tony He would have gone to France with the 2nd BEF in June 1940 under Alanbrooke. They didn't hang around for long once it was realised the French were definately not going to fight any longer. They landed on the NW coast of France and didn't venture very far inland. From the info you have given I would assume he was either in 7/9 Battalion Royal Scots or the outside bet 4/5 Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers. Have you got a copy of the Divisional History, Mountain and Flood by Blake? Cheers Andy
Hi Lesley Thank you for the welcome I will scan his records and post them up shortly. I only have one photo of him in uniform, I will dig it out and post it. Thanks Tony
Hi Andy Thank you for the info, I will start hunting for Mountain and Flood. It was only recently that I started this investigation, I have had his records for about ten years and meant to start researching years ago. I think I was confused because his regiment was 52nd Recce but he was attached to 56 Recce whilst in Africa. He wrote some memoirs/notes (about 60 pages but his writing got progressively worse and is taking some time to understand). Thanks Tony
Hi Tony welcome to the forum, great to have another Recce on board. Was your father Cpl S Plant 3058950? Have sent link for BOB to your E Mail.Look forward to seeing his records & photo of him. Cheers Paul
Hi Paul Yes that is him although as you will soon see from his records he gained and lost the stripe a couple of times!! Thank you again for the BOB, cant wait to get home from work and start reading. Cheers Tony
Tony Definitely a Royal Scots Number. Highly likely he went with the 7th/9th Battalion to land at Cherbourg and within a few days ordered back for the 'final defence of the Realm' . Joe Brown.
Hi Joe That sounds likely as he embarked for France on 12 June 1940 and Disembarked Southampton on 17 June 1940. Thanks Tony
Hi again! I have scanned my fathers record and reduced the file size (pdf) but it is still nearly 14mb, as there is a 10mb limit any suggestions for reducing the size further? There are 7 pages, I could re-scan and remove the early Royal Scot and latter RASC part? Let me know if there is some magic formula or if the above option is the preferred one. Cheers Tony
Hi Tony Perhaps you need to make 2 posts rather than add them into a single one - I think that should work TD
View attachment SP Record Part 1.pdf Hi all Service record attached split into two documents. Thanks Tony
hi tony , welcome to the forum and along with yourself , paul , tony 56 and leslie and me that makes another member with a father in the 56th recce regt . I see from youre dads records that he was injured on the 29th june . at that time the regt were fighting around lake trasemeno and they were pulled out of the line in july to go to Egypt for rest and a refit with new greyhound armoured cars . my dad was admitted to 11 fa on 4/7/44 and tfd to 9 con dep on 6/7/44 and back to unit on 10/7/44 . my dads army record and many more photos are all in my gallery if you fancy a gander . keep up the posting . cheers dave
Hi Dave Thank you for the information I didnt know where he was when injured, this is a wonderful source of information, I will have a look at your gallery Thanks Tony
