Hello all This site is most interesting and I could spend all day reading the threads. This time of year always makes me think of my dad. He died in 1973 when I was young. I never thought to press him for an answer to the "What did you do in the war?" question. He never volunteered anything to us or to our mum (who has also now died). I have been carrying out some research into our family tree but dad is always a blank page. He was in the Blues & Royals during WW2, that much I know for sure, and the final dated entry on his record with them says "transferred to SAS" without any more explanation. That was around the end of the war. I know he was jump qualified and that he was shot during the war. When we were kids we saw the wound and he admitted it but clammed up, said nothing else. He disappears from my researches during the period from that date to 1954 when he turns up in Lewisham, south east London, as a single man aged 38 looking for work and lodgings. That might tie in with a single 7 year tour of duty with the SAS. I have tried to contact the SAS HQ using the public email address they hand out but I am getting no responses. Does anyone here know if it's possible for me to find out if my dad was in the SAS and what he did? Thank you for any help you might be able to offer.
Hi, I suggest you try The official website of the Special Air Service Regimental Association which is the Regimental Association. You can make contact there and perhaps they will be a little more forthcoming.
Also, try adding what you know to this thread - his full name and his service number if you have it. Plus scan any photos or letters etc he wrote during or after the war (if you have any). You will be surprised what is uncovered sometimes - as stated above, your best bet is to contact the association to see what they know, but it can't hurt to cast around to see if any other info is lurking in the background. cheers & good luck Dave
Thanks very much for your help, guys. I will try what you suggest, ww2ni & Smudger jnr., as I'd not come across that website before. Dad had a rather unusual name so may be easy to track down. @ DaveB... I did think of posting more data but the information I have, some of it, is very personal to dad and I don't want to post it in open forum just in case. I will think about it and maybe do that later if I need more help for you chaps.
Ive got the household cavalry war diary so if he was in the B&R there’s a good chance he will get a mention. I understand that you might not wish to post very personal stuff but we are unable to help if not given the most basic on starting point. regards singe
Thanks singeager. OK. Here goes. The primary bit of information is my dad's name ... .David Cerdyn (or "Cerdin") Jones. The second piece of the puzzle ... records of the B&R show his occupation, prior to joining them, was a police officer in Wales. Any mention in the documentation you have? By the way ... my avatar is the last remaining piece of his uniform we still have. Known as the "seeing eye" I believe.
Thanks MM - it makes looking for info on someone a bit easier if their name is known. I tried a quick look in the London Gazette for his full name to see if he pops up with an MiD or somesuch with no luck (no point trying without the middle name as David Jones shows up everywhere). A search for just his service number wouldn't hurt. As far as I know regarding the SAS they technically ceased to exist for around 12 months from the end of the war until 1946 when they came back into existence. What is the date of the move from the B&R when he was "transferred to SAS" ? Also, if he did serve in the SAS post-war until the early 1950s he most probably would have served in Malaya - I would suggest hunting down books on the "emergency" to see if any of them offer a nominal roll.
Thanks DaveB. The difficulty at the moment is, due to the nature of my "day job", I am now entering the busiest time for business and I've little time for anything else. In January I am usually working 7 days a week. What little paperwork I possess is stored (safely) and I can't get my hands on it quickly. I will bear your advice and question in mind. As soon as I can find the time to dig into the family files, or more information comes to mind form memory, I'll post it here.
Sorry for the delay in response, I lent my book out and have just got it back. There is no record of a David Cerdyn (or "Cerdin") Jones or anyone with a combination of those names & initials serving with the 2nd Household Cavalry (comprised of both Life Guards & Blues & Royals) during the war. They sepcificaly list all casualties so i can be sure that he was not with them when injured. He could have been with the 1st Household Cavalry in the middle east or possibly transferred to the Welsh Guards. Do you have his service records?
Thanks singeager. This gets curiouser and curiouser to quote Alice. The names you quote are 100% correct. Your efforts on behalf of our family are very much appreciated, I can assure you. Yes, I do have some of dad's records including a letter from the Blues & Royals head office in Pall Mall, London. I got that sometime recently in the last few years. It's not an old, historic letter, for sure. Attached to that letter is his service record, you know, that document which gives briefest details of dates - when he joined up, where posted, when transferred etc. From memory, it looks a bit like the old fashioned school register! When I can find the time and get all the papers out of storage, I will get back to you.
Little update. I haven't forgotten about your kind offers of help here but I still haven't found the time to go through old documents in storage. Unfortunately, we had a sudden death in the family early in the New Year and it has thrown our entire lives upside down at the moment. I'll post again here just as soon as I can.
Simply apply for his service records with Next of Kin's permission. All you need is a copy of his death certificate and to fill out relevant paperwork. Then you will know ... All the best Asher
Some years ago, as my dad's next of kin, I applied to the Blue & Royals in Pall Mall, London, and they sent me a copy of what they say is his service record (list of dates, joined up, posted overseas etc.). However, as I explained in my OP, the final entry on the record they supplied says "transferred to SAS" without any more explanation. The covering letter with the record says that this "refers to 'skills at service' in case you were wondering if it was something else". Now, I don't believe that. It sounds like a whitewash. I can't find the slightest reference to this "skills at service" anywhere on the web and no one I have spoken to has ever heard of such a thing. Like I say, I can't spend time on this now but I am most grateful for your continued interest. I'll get back with more definite information as soon as I can find the time to dig our old family records out of storage.
How long ago did you apply for them? They used to type up a basic outline of units etc now the MOD photocopy all the original documents so everything should be revealed. What you get now is far better than what you used to get
Thanks Drew5233. That "basic outline" seems to be what I got. Looks like I should write for more info. Do you advise I write again to the HQ of the B&R in Pall Mall, London, or directly to the MOD at Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB? Or somewhere else? (By the way, Barney looks like a lovely dog. Sorry to hear he passed away)
The service records office is now at Manning and Records in Glasgow. I would apply for a new lot at a cost of £30. They actually photocopy all of the actual documents now rather than just typing up a list of units and dates. See the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence/about/publication-scheme#how-to-apply-for-records-of-service-of-deceased-service-personnel
