Capt. John Mulcahy (MBE) of 106 Anti-aircraft brigade

I know this is a long shot but I am looking for tips as to where I might find some information about the service record of my grandfather, Capt. John Mulcahy who was attached to the HQ of the 106 AA Brigade in 1944 and 1945. He got an MBE for solving 'administrative difficulties' - that must be a euphemism (I paid to get the citation from the MoE but it is quite cryptic). I know there is a book "A History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-aircraft Artillery, 1914-55" but it is quite pricy and the subject is not one which interests beyond family biography. I've tried the archive of the Royal Artillery 1939-45 RA website and this lists the 106 AA as serving in North Africa in 1943 whereas I remember Pop telling me he was in France in 1944.

As I say I would be very grateful for any help

Cheers


Leopold

 

A look through this forum will produce a large number of requests for information on service personnel and the main piece of advice we can give is to obtain a copy of the individual’s service records from the MOD.

Unless you are unlucky, service records will give a timeline showing units, promotions (and demotions!), embarkation/disembarkation dates, award entitlements, hospitalisations (although not medical records) etc etc.. This will enable further research via the relevant unit’s war diaries or other sources of information thereby building a complete and accurate picture of their service.

The process for obtaining records can be found here: Service records

Also worth using this forum’s search facility, once you are sure when and where they served.

 

Thanks Tony! Sorry to be asking such 'newbie' questions

 

Can help with post VE day history for the brigade

106th Anti-Aircraft Brigade

Do not have the 1945 War Dairy but the Kew reference is WO 171/4904

 

Thanks Steve - that is most helpful not least as it shows the 106 was not disbanded in August 1944 after time in Italy. It looks like I need to visit Kew

Again many thanks

Leopold

 

Leopold
I have copies of some of HQ 106 AA Bde's War Diary of 1944, 1945 and 1946. It is likely to have arrived in UK in May 1943. Part of the HQ landed in Normandy on D+5, and the brigade provided the AA defence of airfields in the Normandy bridgehead. It served in NW Europe and was fully disbanded in Hamburg by 15 April 1946.

I attach is the only mention of your grandfather that I found.

Dave

 

Thank you so much for attaching this and the additional information - I am really most grateful!

 

No problem Leopold. You will be able to find many service records on here posted by members and you will see the information they contain. Well worth the £30 and you will be able to build an accurate timeline of his service. Knowing his full initials from Dave's post above I guess this is him?

First name(s) John Campbell
Last name Mulcahy
Service number 140591
Rank Lieutenant (T/captain)
Service Royal Artillery
Event year 1945
Gazette date 09 Aug 1945
Award Mentioned in Dispatches
Theatre NW Europe
Residence Newcastle-on-Tyne
Medal type Royal Artillery Honours & Awards, 1886-2013

First name(s) John Campbell
Last name Mulcahy
Service number 140591
Rank Lieutenant (T/captain)
Service Royal Artillery
Event year 1945
Gazette date 11 Oct 1945
Award Member of the British Empire
Theatre NW Europe
Residence Newcastle-on-Tyne
Medal type Royal Artillery Honours & Awards, 1886-2013

 

Yes this is him and I will try the MoD service record option!

Again thanks