Anyone require War Diaries or other files from the National Archives?

Discussion in 'For Sale & For Trade' started by Drew5233, Mar 8, 2011.

  1. wibs12

    wibs12 Well-Known Member

    Just received yet another stash of diaries from Andy........ as usual, well photographed / indexed, good comms / chat and well worth a couple of quid. Excellent service as usual, thank you.

    Paul
     
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  2. Sandy Saunders

    Sandy Saunders New Member

    Could I ask you to copy me the War Diary of 11 West Yorks Regt WO176/67 please. I am researching the location and relocation of the 'Canopus Guns in and around Stanley. I think the Regt moved at least one gun.Sandy Saunders, veloursettee@aol.com
     
  3. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    From: Archive | Stanley Services Ltd
    One of the two guns next journey was in 1930’s when it was dragged again by hundreds of men and the PWD Morris lorries from Sappers Hill to its present site, the second unit was moved from Sappers Hill by 500 men of the West Yorkshire regiment in 1940’s. It has been told that they had to excavate 22 feet of peat out by buckets on a rope to prepare each foundation to mount them in the current site.

    Tim
     
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  4. Sandy Saunders

    Sandy Saunders New Member

    Drew, I asked you to copy WO176/67 for me. I would also like WO176/68 and WO176/69/. As I am researching the relocation of the 'Canopus Gun(s)' I think that possibly the RE carried this out. Kind Regards
    Sandy
     
  5. Sandy Saunders

    Sandy Saunders New Member

    Yes Tim, I've read the document by Stanley Services and I've found some info (and bought some piccies) on HMS Durban moving one gun from Mount Low to (possibly) Sapper Hill in 1932. I 'found' the guns in 1981 whilst taking a group of lads from Stanley to Yorke Bay. I was serving aboard HMS Endurance. I've been asking about the guns ever since and nobody seems to have a joined up history. It's time I sorted it!
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Just in case I forget to reply when I’m home can you send me a private message please.
     
  7. david48

    david48 Member

    DREW 5233 has got me 5 or 6 war diaries in the last 6 mths. and no problems . highly recommend his service . cheers & thanks Andy
     
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  8. Sandy Saunders

    Sandy Saunders New Member

    Hi Drew, how do I PM you?
     
  9. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Just click on his Avatar (pic) in his last message and a new box opens - click on “start a new conversation” and write your message. Click send & Drew5233 will receive it.

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2020
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  10. kim987

    kim987 Junior Member

    Would just like to say a big thank you to Andy for my two sets of War Diaries, anyone who is interested in Unit War Diaries get in touch with Andy.

    He is helpful , charges a very good price and the images that i have received are of a very good quality.

    Thanks Andy

    Kim
     
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  11. Bob Smith

    Bob Smith Member

    Thanks Andy. You could not have been more helpful and I now have loads of information to go through. Really impressed by how quickly you got the War Diaries to me.
     
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  12. Anthony Cottrell

    Anthony Cottrell New Member

    Dear Andy,

    My father, long dead now, was trained from 1938 to early 1939 as an R.A.F. wireless operator. He and his oppo, on completing their training (at Farnborough, I believe) were sent to France/Belgium attached to the 1st Heavy Regiment R.A. 28 Battery, as signallers/wireless operators as link ups to the air support observers. He was 18 when he was taken off by a destroyer at Dunkirk, presumably from the Mole. The matelots on the destroyer recognised his Pompey accent (his dad did 30 years in the Royal Navy and fought in the Boer War, Somaliland (as it was called then) and with the Naval Division in the First world war) so they took him down below and sorted him out with rum and cocoa below decks. Here are the last two pages of his post Dunkirk WOP/AG log book which I scanned about 10 minutes ago. If there is any way I could access the war diary of 1st heavy regiment from outbreak of hostilities up to and including the evacuation, it would mean a lot to me. In 1979, all of my father's photos and letters and documents and paybook etc. disappeared when the crate in which they were being carried during a house move was, for some odd reason, stolen. I've still got the bottle opener he and my mum had when I was born at R.A.F. Abyad in 1949, and a cigarette box and the log books (which never left his bedside).

    Yours sincerely
    Anthony Cottrell





    w
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. slick

    slick Junior Member

    Drew5233 , sent you a PM reference 16/ 1AA RA :)
     
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  14. MECO

    MECO Member

    Hello Drew,

    I'm new to the site. As you are the person to contact regarding War Diaries, I seem to remember you mentioned somewhere in this forum having all the BEF Royal Engineer Diaries in your possession, France 1940(?). I'm looking for any regarding the 233 Field Company RE, so please let me know if this is possible. Added to that, I'd like to ask if you have by chance any further diaries for them regarding everything through the Western Desert, Tunisia, and Sicily.

    I'm also interested in 13 Field Squadron, of 11th Armoured Division, from March 1945. I believe another forum member may have something here if you don't.

    Many Thanks.
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I only have the 1940 diary. It only contains a few pages but if you donate £5 via the link below I'll email you a link to download the diary.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  16. MECO

    MECO Member

    Thank you Andy,
    Sorry but I'm not sure how to donate as the "Click here...." link is sending me to the beginning of this thread.
    Is there a "Donate" button I'm missing..?
     
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  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Sorry I forgot to add the donation link. Just quote the unit in the message so I know what diary you are donating for.

    Jacob's Dunkirk Challenge 2020

    Many thanks
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Send me your email address please.
     
  19. MECO

    MECO Member

    Thanks. How do I send a PM via the site?
     
  20. MECO

    MECO Member

    Hello Drew,

    Sorry but I noticed most members suggest a Private Mail option. How do we go about this?

    Thank you.
     

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