Driver in RE in WWII

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by Kentish Royal Engineer, Oct 3, 2012.

  1. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    I have recently obtained my Grandfather's Royal Engineer Records (attached 2 close-ups and 1 full-size) and I wonder if any of you guys can help me with the details?

    It confirms the fact that he was stationed in Gibraltar in 1942 (we have letters from him) when I believe his unit were there extending the runway. From there his records state he came back to the UK and then went to NWE (North West Europe), along with the facts that he disobeyed a command and went absent without leave.

    I would love to find out any more information, although I think the next step would be to get the war diaries if this is possible?

    Any help would be most appreciated.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Hello KRE

    I am sure a forum member will be along shortly re the diaries and offer further assistance

    regards
    Clive
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    My internet is now so slow (0.01mb) I have given up trying to upload anything with the exception of BEF stuff ;)

    So hello and welcome. If you list the unit(s) and dates he was with them - I don't need any other info like TOS or SOS (It just confuses me :) ) I'll let you know what diaries are available to view or copy at the National Archives.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    andy from what I can make out.
    811 Road Construction Company 1943-44
    860 Mechanical Engineering Company 1944
    233 Field Company 1945-46
     
  5. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    Hello KRE

    I am sure a forum member will be along shortly re the diaries and offer further assistance

    regards
    Clive

    Thank you Clive for your prompt response.
     
  6. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    andy from what I can make out.
    811 Road Construction Company 1943-44
    860 Mechanical Engineering Company 1944
    233 Field Company 1945-46

    Thank you Owen, yes they are the units I could make out. Not sure on the initials R.G.H.K.Y or even R.G.H.Y.A at the very top of the record in April 1942?

    Also do you know what X2 List means if that's what it says?
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Best I could do. I suspect they are all correct:


    WO 166/12260 811 Company 1943 Nov., Dec.

    WO 171/1715 811 Company 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/1720 860 Company 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/5513 233 Company 1945 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/9395 233 Company 1946 Jan.- June
     
  9. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    Best I could do. I suspect they are all correct:


    WO 166/12260 811 Company 1943 Nov., Dec.

    WO 171/1715 811 Company 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/1720 860 Company 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/5513 233 Company 1945 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/9395 233 Company 1946 Jan.- June

    Gosh that was quick, thank you so much.

    I'm going to the RE Museum next week and will check what they have there and come back to you later on this. Thanks again!
     
  10. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    Best I could do. I suspect they are all correct:


    WO 166/12260 811 Company 1943 Nov., Dec.

    WO 171/1715 811 Company 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/1720 860 Company 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/5513 233 Company 1945 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/9395 233 Company 1946 Jan.- June

    Thank you so much - this is brilliant. If I go to the Nat Archives myself is it easy to pick up these diaries as you've given me the WO numbers? Also I presume I could be looking at lots of pages to copy?
     
  11. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    KRE

    A link to the National Archives website about visiting them. Read very carefully, particularly about what you need to obtain a readers ticket.

    Visit us | The National Archives

    Each war dairy is very different depending on who wrote them. There could be very few pages, or there could be lots. You just don't know until you open the file.

    Cheers - Rob
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  13. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    Lovely pic of my Grandfather and his Unit which I presume is the Excavator Company when they were in Gibraltar extending the runway from April 1942- Sept 1943.

    If you've got any information it would be great to hear, and this picture might possibly be of interest to someone out there?
     

    Attached Files:

  14. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    KRE

    A link to the National Archives website about visiting them. Read very carefully, particularly about what you need to obtain a readers ticket.

    Visit us | The National Archives

    Each war dairy is very different depending on who wrote them. There could be very few pages, or there could be lots. You just don't know until you open the file.

    Cheers - Rob

    Thank you for your help Rob
     
  15. Alanst500

    Alanst500 Senior Member

    Ref photo in post 13 The man standing on the right looks like he has lost his Left hand unless its a crease in the picture.
     
  16. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    KRE

    Those letters merely denote a code by which one is allowed on board ship for trooping to Gibralter - without that code on everything - you did'nt sail anywhere

    Cheers
     
  17. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    Wonderful thanks Tom, at least I can put that out of my mind.
     
  18. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    Thanks Alan, yes I've tried to zoom into that area of the photograph and I think you are right, never noticed it before as I was concentrating on my grandfather in the front row 2nd from right.
    We thought this pic would be in Gibraltar, but of course it could equally be NWE, but as a Driver suppose he would have driven everything from dumpers to driving an officer around? Gosh it makes you more proud every day!
     
  19. Kentish Royal Engineer

    Kentish Royal Engineer Junior Member

    Perhaps this is one for Drew???

    On his record it just says Excavator Coy 1/5/1942, would there be a proper Unit name so I can find a war diary? This is when he was in Gibraltar by the way.
     
  20. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Try 135th Excavator Coy , they were in NW Africa in 1942 - 1943 and looking at the photo it could be the one
     

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