Hello All, Just joined the forum, it look a great place to be. I've done a fair bit of research on Soldiers in the past, mainly WW1 period etc. and I have a number of friends who fought during the War and have helped them find out more about the actions they were in and where there units were. However, the one man I would like to know more about is my own Granddad. His name was Captain Peter Coupar. He was a Police Sergeant in Dundee and when the war started he went on some sort of Bomb disposal course, in Edinburgh. In 1943 he was Commissioned as a Captain in the British Army and his Police records show he was released from the Police to go into active service in June 1944. I am very lucky in that he took many photo's during the war and wrote on the back of them where they were taken etc. He also wrote often to his wife and fro this I know which units he served with. In 1944 he was with No1 Civil Affairs Group BLA. He later served with No 7 Civil Affairs Group and then 704 Detachment Military Government. He stayed on in Germany after the war with the CCG. I understand he was present at the liberation of one of the camps. In late 1944 he was attached to the US 1st Army, for a unknown period. I also know he spent some time interviewing former camp inmates. He was also persent at some of the War Crimes trials. Apart from sending off for his service history, which I am about to do, where can I find information on the units he served with, did they keep war diaries? Would they held at Kew? What sort of strength did the units have? All and any information would be greatly recieved. Thanks for looking , Stewart
Hello, Has anyone come across Civil Affairs officers before? What did they do and how can I find out more. Regards, Stewart
They filled/fill the administrative gap between military operations and establishing/maintaining civil government. Some good stuff on here: CIVIL AFFAIRS: SOLDIERS BECOME GOVERNORS And here: Chapter IV: The Supreme Command American and British roles appear to be the same/intertwined. Cheers, Adam.
Hello, Thank you very much for these two links. They seem to go into a fair bit of detail. Many thanks, Stewart
