Hello, I'm looking for details regarding the above Homeguard. I'm trying to get hold of a record, group or individual for my grandfather. He was part of this Homeguard I believe in WW2 he was called Edward William Goaten. My father has never seen a photo of his dad and I'm intrigued to find one, but so far to no avail. Can someone please help Me??? Thanks D Goaten
Here's what the National Archives have on 18 DLI. They don't look like a HG unit though looking at where they went: WO 166/4232 INFANTRY: 18 Durham Light Infantry.1940 Nov.- 1941 Aug. WO 169/10207 18 Durham Light Infantry 1943 Mar.- June WO 169/13691 35 Brick 18 Durham Light Infantry (DLI) 1943 July- Dec. WO 171/1294 18 Durham Light Infantry 1944 June- Dec. WO 171/5187 18 Durham Light Infantry 1945 Jan.- Sept. WO 177/1905 18 Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Medium Section 1943 Apr., May
The 18th HD DLI (Not the 18th DLI who served as a beach landing battalion) was inially commanded by Lt Col W F Simpson who had been with 9th DLI in France but was formed from low grade,overaged or restricted persons. After it split it went for a time to Lincolnshire but returned to Durham and was amalgamated into 30th DLI in Nov 1941 its companies were in scattered locations and existed as a true numbered battalion in word only. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/46185-duhram-light-infantry-18th-battalion-homeguard/ Kyle
Welcome to the forum, Desi! As Kyle mentions, the unit your grandfather served with was probably the 18th (Home Defence) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, but it had many different incarnations: * It started life as the Durham Group of National Defence Companies (early 1939); * Changed name to 41 Group, NDC (Sept 1939); * Changed name to 13th (Home Defence) Bn, Durham Light Infantry (Dec 1939); * Split into 1/13th and 2/13th (Home Defence) Bns, Durham Light Infantry (Sept 1940); * The 2/13th (Home Defence) Bn, Durham Light Infantry became 18th (Home Defence) Bn, Durham Light Infantry (Dec 1940); and finally * 18th (Home Defence) Bn, Durham Light Infantry was absorbed into the 30th Bn Durham Light Infantry(Nov 1941). So, your grandfather could have served with some or all of these units and indeed, could have been moved during one of the frequent reshuffles of personnel to the 70th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 70th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers or 30th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, amongst others. The only way to be certain about which units(s) he served with and when is to obtain his service records; link: https://www.gov.uk/r...sonnel-records. You may also be able to obtain pertinent information from the DLI Museum, Gilesgate, Durham, Co Durham; link: dli@durham.gov.uk Although I wouldn't wish to raise your hope of obtaining a photograph of your grandfather, the DLI Museum is probably a good place to look for one... I trust your search goes well! Best, Steve.
Your're in luck that he was in Durham - the only county for which Home Guard service records are online on the National Archives website. There's a record for an Edward William Goaten born 1923 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/durham-home-guard.htm
However, due to his birthdate you might have to apply for National Archives to open the record and you'll have to prove his death., Although it does says that the record is open, it shouldn't be, in theory, as date of birth is less than 100 years ago.