Hello, i am trying to research Gunner EDWARD BLUNDELL 1790856 Royal Artillery 551 Coast Regt KIA 10th May 1942. Does anyone know how he was killed or how i would find out? I've had a look at the newspaper archives with no luck. Any help would be appreciated thank you.
Think this might make a start in the search as it provides locations. 551 Coast Regiment RA - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 Now need to identify which Battery he was in.
a few casualties from 551 Coast Reg show that day from my photo collection a couple that I have taken Contact https://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=2401.0 appears to have the war diary buried Bedford Cemetery Buried Reading Cemetery
Apply for his Service Record, which maybe with the MoD or National Archives. It is the definitive record. Details on a private message next. His CWGC record offers no clues: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2698947/edward-blundell/ The CWGC database oddly does not return result for his unit; it takes time to work it better! Another 551 Coast Regiment gunner died that day: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2705831/harry-james-edwards/ He is buried in Bedfordshire. It appears the unit remained in Kent throughout its service until April 1944, when it was disbanded: 551 Coast Regiment RA - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 It shows a few locations: Dungeness, New Romney and Lydd; with seven batteries. I expect the batteries follow what happened at one site, a two-gun 336 Battery, with six inch guns. See: Heritage Gateway - Results Another similar site, for 194 Battery - with different guns! See: https://webapps.kent.gov.uk/KCC.ExploringKentsPast.Web.Sites.Public/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MWX51319 For 213 battery: https://webapps.kent.gov.uk/KCC.ExploringKentsPast.Web.Sites.Public/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MWX51318 For 374 battery: Ariadne portal and For 333 Battery: Unpath'd Waters A Tenby memorial site - no copying or screenshot allowed - has an entry for a Sgt Goodridge who died that day too; it suggests there was an accident. See: Tenby WW2 War Memorial - WW1.Wales and https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/f...-details/2421795/william-john-jack-goodridge/ I have not searched for individual batteries online, that may help. You need to identify a regimental history - if there is one! A more likely official record for that day will be their War Diary.; held at the National Archives. members here offer a research and copying service. Incidentally CL1 wrote: Contact https://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=2401.0 appears to have the war diary. It is a 2012 entry and you will need to join to ask!
His death certificate may tell you: First name(s) Edward Last name Blundell Sex Male Birth year 1922 Age 20 Death quarter 2 Death year 1942 District Folkestone County Kent Volume 2A Page 2012
This is something that I cannot substantiate so you will need to investigate yourself. In Findmypast here is a mention of RA Gunner Edward Blundell being an air raid casualty at the Sands Hotel, St Mary's Bay, Romney Marsh. There is no source or further information other that he was a WW2 civilian casualty which is of course a query. Researching the Sands Hotel there is a suggestion that the St Mary's Bay battery was in the grounds. State of British Ground Forces, September 1940, Sealion - Page 23 - Axis History Forum This site suggests it was 358 Battery of 551 Coastal Regiment. Heritage Gateway - Results Also see here: Coast Battery Locations UK - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 Over to you.
