Dear fellow Airborne Fruitcakes I am trying to locate any Regimental/Battalion diaries that relate to the British 1st Airborne, 1st Seaborne Tail that set sail on the 14th August 1944. Although not originally put to sea for Op Market Garden,this is where they ended up after the original and subsequent plans were cancelled. I do already have a number of Battalion and Unit diaries, but would like to locate as many as I can. I wont list what I have so far, as I will happily look at duplicates, because some of mine only part diaries or have pages missing Any help would be most appreciated as hopefully this research will lead to a small publication, sometime in the future Thanks Dave
Hi Dave, You maybe already have what I have 12 in all pm and I will tell you what I have... Cheers Tom
Gents, A long shot for all Arnhem community - does anyone have details of the 3-ton lorries that made up part of the Seaborne Tail? Photos would be very interesting. Regards Tom
My father Pte A H McNaught was part of the 1st Airborne Divisional Column RASC and he embarked UK 14 Aug 1944 as part of the seaborne tail, landing in France on 17 Aug. His record shows he returned to the UK on 8 May 1945. Does anyone know what this element of the 1st Airborne was doing during this period. It seems to have been part of the 21 Army Group
Did you ever obtain a copy of his service records?? Seaborne Tail recall Would these help: Seaborne Element | The National Archives Reference: WO 171/394 Description: Seaborne Element Date: 1944 Aug.- Oct. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Ord. Fd. Pk. Seaborne Element | The National Archives Reference: WO 171/403 Description: Ord. Fd. Pk. Seaborne Element Date: 1944 Aug.- Oct. Held by: The National Archives, Kew There may be others TD
Hi I know you posted this some time ago but did you get much response? Given all the recent D Day events I am trying to find out for certain which beach the 1st Airborne sea tail landed at in August? Thanks
On the evening of 17th August they anchored off Courselles La Mer and started landing on Mike Beaches at 0830 the following morning being directed to Goldsmith Transit camp at St Croix Sur Mer. The War Diary gives this location as La Mine.
Thanks, very much appreciated. I need to plan another visit to Kew. I now know where dad was on that day
