2599556 Driver John SMYTHE, Royal Corps of Signals

Discussion in 'Royal Signals' started by IrishSoldier, Jan 12, 2010.

  1. IrishSoldier

    IrishSoldier Member

    I am waiting for the proof of death cert to apply for my grandfathers war record, in the mean time because I am not the most patient, maybe someone can help fill in the gaps a bit... Army number 2599556 Driver John Smythe served with the Royal Corps of Signals between 1941 and 1946. I have his pay book and medals which include the Africa Star, Italy Star and France & Germany Star... I know he finished the war in B Company of 15th Air Formation Signals from his Soldiers release book, his CO mentions in his testimonial that he was with them for over a year, so before that is the part I am interested in, his pay book says he disembarked NW Africa 10/7/1942, then disembarked Sicily 6/7/1943, finally disembarked NW Europe 3/10/1944.
    The ship Durban Castle is writen on the sleeve of his pay book, so I figured out he went to Sicily on it. I wonder if there is any way of knowing from Signals records who he was serving with in Africa & Sicily going on the dates? Its a pretty long shot and I know I'll be told to be patient and wait for Glasgow... no harm in asking tho...
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    What was his start and finish dates with 15th Air Formation?
     
  3. IrishSoldier

    IrishSoldier Member

    Dont have a start date for 15 AFS, seems to be 1944 and his cert of transfer to army reserve is dated 17/4/1946 when he was effectively demobbed... his date of enlistment is 23/9/1941 at Omagh, but the period between 41 and 44 is the part I am interested in finding out which units he was serving with, it was Signals all the way through though...
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I can't shed any light without knowing his unit(s) I'm affraid.

    All I have on 15 Air Formation Signals is they were formed on 17.2.44 and were with 2 Bomber Group/2nd Tactical Air Force and they were disbanded on 22.3.48. I believe they were 'soaked' into 14 AFS.

    The Royal Corps of Signals Unit Histories 1920-2001.

    Also found this on the net:
    Air Formation Signals
     
  5. IrishSoldier

    IrishSoldier Member

    I know from speaking to him that he was with the 8th army in Africa and Sicily, but I want to dig a bit deeper into that, by the time he landed in France in Oct 44 he was with the 15th Air Formation Signals, 15 AFS set up in Brussells and stayed there for a year before moving into Germany where they remained for some time after the end of the war..
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Lots of Signal units will have been part of the 8th Army during WW2 in one way or another. I told someone the other day there would probably have been more than 150 different Signals units in Africa and Italy during WW2.

    Ref. proof of death a photograph of a grave will suffice if he was buried.
     
  7. IrishSoldier

    IrishSoldier Member

    Just discovered this pic of my grandfather in Germany, dated 15th June 1945, I dont suppose the building behind is recognised by anyone, one of the vets maybe? I'd like to know where it is exactly...
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Nice pic Irish :)
     

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