I posted a few months ago about the research we are trying to undertake about my father in law Frederick Sherratt who was in the Coldstream Guards. At the time we didn't really know anything, now we have some extra information and I was hoping someone would be able to give us a few tid bits of info or point us in the correct direction to find some, we are still waiting for his records from Birdcage Walk..... We found like a cardboard rectangle that had a picture of 2 flags on it and said "State Colours of his majesty's Coldstream Regiment Of Footguards...this is to inform the relative and friends of Frederick Sherratt that he is serving his king and country as a soldier No.14839572 in the coldstream guards...etc" so now we have his number....which someone on here very kindly looked up for me as being a general service core number, so obviously he was in there originally and moved to the coldstreamers at some point after. Today we also found a photo of his battalion in training, which says "No 12 Platoon, No.2 Coy, Training Bn, Coldstream Guards, March 1945"...this was taken in Pirbright. It also has all the names of the other Guards and the instructors....is there anything this would be able to tell us? Would he of stayed in this battalion? We know he ended up in Germany at some point, and we know he was in the armoured division because he had the "all seeing eye" badge on his arm....we also know he was injured by a 5mm mortar round landing in the back of his truck which resulted in severe burns on his legs and spent 5 months in hospital, and also that he was involved in some sort of mission where he apprehended some smugglers crossing the border with, we think, large quantities of razor blades. So basically I'm hoping this may lead us to some more information about his time in the coldstream guards. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to offer.
Hi Have you applied to Wellington Barracks for copy service records? You will need a copy of death certificate. See this link http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/31741-researching-guardsmen-and-the-foot-guards/?p=383783 These will tell you went he joined with Bn and give an indication of time away from Bn, ie when wounded. This link should give you an idea of what they contain, scroll down to end of photos http://www.ww2guards.com/ww2guards/Photos/Pages/1929-1956_ARTHUR_ANDREW_TABS_MAHONEY,_2ARMD_%26_1BN.html Training battalions were just that, and provided trained reinforcements for battalions in the Field. Once through the system he would have been taken on strength by a infantry or armoured battalion, sometimes going through a Holding battalion. Men in training squad would not necessarily end up in the same battalion, or even the same company within one. It depended on who was needed where and when as reinforcements. The squad photo would be of interest to others. Copies are difficult to locate if they've been lost over the years. If you are willing, please add to the thread and/or type up the names, so that others who are researching family members can get in touch. It's also possible they could have information to share. The GAD badge would signify either 1st (Armoured) Bn or 5th (Infantry) Bn., some of their War Diaries are on the forum here. The service records would state which, so unless you know if he was infantry or tank crew, and what dates he joined a fighting bn., you won't be able to get more than a vague background to his service via eg the Coldstream Guards Regimental History for WW2. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/45922-war-diary-1st-armoured-battalion-coldstream-guards-jan-1944-dec-1944/ http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/33691-war-diary-5th-battalion-coldstream-guards-jan-dec-1944/ Best of luck
Hi, Many thanks for your reply. Yes, we applied 8 weeks ago now for his records...still waiting for them, hopefully they will turn up very soon! I have attached the Photo and the names are as follows Back Row : Gdsn K.White, D. Shaw, S.Roberts, R.Wright, G.Radley. 2nd Row : Gdsn J.Cummings, L.Jackson, M.Moorehouse, W. Thomas, L.Newbury, G.Bleckinsopp, J.Lawless,A.Collins,A.Baker,J.Booth 3rd Row : Gdsn. F.Gower, K.Chillcott, A,Reeves, L.Kirk, G.Horne, C.Hiscock, F.Sherratt, K.Taylor, G.Taylor, R.Hunt, B.Heaton,W.Morton Front Row : Gdsn C.Taylor, R.Raine, W.Diamond, L/Cpl E.Gill (Inst), L/Sgt A.Alliston (Pl.Sgt), 2/Lieut M.J.Vaughan (Pl Comm), L./Sgt W.Jones (Inst),L/Cpl D.Nash (Inst), Gdsn D.Jowett, R.Pierce, C.Hillman No.12 Platoon, No.2 Coy.,Training Bn.,Coldstream Guards, March 1945 Many thanks Melissa
Fingers crossed for you, generally speaking they take a matter of weeks - not bad at all - in comparison to months from MOD. Brilliant job of posting the squad photo and adding the names. Hope someone does spot a relative in it, you never know.
Melissa Together with Historic Steve I am a member of a small team of amateur military history enthusiasts researching and recording the history of the British Army of the Rhine from VE Day (8th May 1945) onwards. Whilst Schleswig Holstein is my main interest I do have some information which might be of interest to you pending the arrival of your father in law's record of service. Firstly some back ground information. 1.The Guards Armoured Division (and 11 Armoured Division) were amongst the first to develop the concept of permanently pairing a Tank Regiment and Infantry Battalion in order that they could train together and develop a mutual trust and understanding in each others tactics and capabilities. One such pairing was 1st and 5th Battalions Coldstream Guards who were known as the "Coldstream Group".. 2.On VE Day the Guards Division had captured and occupied the majority of the Cuxhaven Peninsular, the area of coastline between the Rivers Elbe and Weser, roughly between Bremen and Hamburg. A third Guards Brigade including 4th (Tank) Battalion Coldstream Guards (6 Independent Armoured Brigade) was in the the Lubeck area, part of the 8 Corps responsibility 3. After lengthy discussions it had already been decided that following the German Surrender the Foot Guards Battalions would revert to their traditional Infantry role and cease to operate, in some cases, as Tank units. To mark this change the Division organised a "Farewell to Armour" Parade on Rotenburg Airfield in early June 1945. The Parade was in two Phases. Firstly a representative cross section of the Armoured Battalions drove on to the Parade where they were reviewed by Field Marshall Montgomery. They then drove off, parked up the tanks at the side of the Parade Ground and marched back on foot headed by their Bands. There are photographs on the internet showing FM Montgomery driving past the Coldstream Guards Group. 4. In mid June the retitled Guards Division moved to the Rhineland south of Cologne where they assumed responsibilities for the South West corner of the new British Zone of Occupation where they were joined by 6 Guards Brigade from Schleswig Holstein. Over the next weeks they reorganised into the traditional three Battalion, three Brigades format of a British Infantry Division. The junior Battalions (5th in the case of the Coldstream Guards) were disbanded and the men moved to reinforce the remaining Battalions. Anti smuggling patrols according to the relevant War Diaries was a major task. 5. In Spring 1946 the entire Division moved back north again to Schleswig Holstein (the area of Germany between the River Elbe and the Danish Border). 5 Guards Brigade (including 1st and 4th Battalions Coldstream Guards) moved to the Kiel area. The 1st Battalion were in St Georges Barracks Neumunster, the 4th in the former Kriegsmarine Barracks in Eckenforde, probably renamed Arundel. Based on my researches of the relevant War Diaries at Kew a possible timeline for the Coldstream Battalions could be (I have yet to have sight of the 32 Brigade Diaries-hence the gaps) 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards VE Day Himmelpforten (Stade) 14th May Cuxhaven 19th May Rotenburg 16th June Bad Godesburg (Bonn) Spring 1946 St Georges Barracks Neumunster Autumn 1946 Berlin 4th Battalion Coldstream Guards May/June Kiel area late June Monschau area Spring 1946 Eckernforde Early July 1946 to UK and disbandment 5th Battalion VE Day Himmelpforten Subsequent movements unclear early Autumn 1945 disbandment. Hope this is of interest as an interim source of information
Hi, I’ve posted on your other topic. The OP on this topic hasn’t been on the forum for almost 12 months. Steve
