Did Grandfather serve in WW2

Hi, I'm new to this forum so big hello to everyone.
The question i would like help with is how do i find out if my grandfather served in ww2.
he would have been about 39 or 40 years of age when ww2 started.


any help will be much appreciated

Thanks

 

Hi Jim

Depends what you mean by served

In the Armed forces (probably at his age this would be unlikely)
In the Home Guard
In the Auxiliary Units (Fire, Ambulance, Police, Air Raid Warden, etc)

If he was in the armed services his records would be here - Request records of deceased service personnel

If he was in the Home Guard then his service records would be here - Request Home Guard service records

Not sure for the third but I would guess respective associations e.g. Police would probably hold records

Maybe adding some details of him might help, perhaps if you know his job before/after the war as he could have been a reserved occupation - the 1939 Register entry for him may help answer that

TD

 

Thanks for the info much appreciated. I was told by a family member that he was believed to have been at Dunkirk, although in what capacity i don't know, i suppose it could be to help bring troops home ?.
Like you said his age makes it highly unlikely he was a serving soldier. Before the war he was a coal merchant (coal man).
Home guard records and 1939 register is probably best place to start.

Many thanks for putting me on the right path, much appreciated.

Cheers

 

Welcome and good advice for you
Family memories can sometimes throw you off track with family folklore tales.
If you gave his name forum members could assist you further if not dont worry and good luck with your search

regards
Clive

 

Thanks Clive, his name was Thomas Amos Warburton, born Manchester 1901 i believe. he died in the 50s

cheers for your advice

 

is this him if not i will delete


Thomas Amos Warburton (1901-1961) - Find A Grave...

 

He was Royal Artillery pre-war ?


Kyle

 

yes that's him, that's fantastic many thanks indeed. so it was 1961 when he died, thats news to me.

116th L.A.A .Royal Artillery ,53rd Welsh Divsion
92nd (Loyals) L.A.A.,Royal Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division
Are these who he served with ?? or have i got that wrong?

cant thank you enough
superb
many thanks

 

Unfortunately, you're reading CL1s tag showing his special interests.

All that's certain so far is that he joined the Royal Artillery in 1923 and went onto the reserve in 1927. His reserve service would have been over by 1939. It's quite possible though that he re-joined the TA in the run-up to the war. The BEF of 1940 was not a young man's army.

The Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps recruited up to age 50.

Did he drive motor vehicles as a pre-war carter / coal man or was he only employed with horses ?

Times remained hard during the late 1930s and many men took the opportunity of a steady wage as the Army was expanded.

You now have his service number and can apply for a copy death certificate which will enable you to request a copy of his service records...There is a long wait though.

 

i have no idea if he did drive motor vehicles, but really happy with what information has been given me.
thank you so much in deed.
A huge thank you to all who helped me finding info on my grandfather during ww2

Many Thanks indeed