1. Full Name: Robert Alfred Cope 2. Relationship (to researcher): Father 3. Service number: 938142 4. Which branch of Service. Army 5. What unit. 68th Med Regt. R.A. 6. Which areas served in. North Africa 7. Date of birth. 10/10/18 8. Date of death. 14/1/86 9. Was he a POW ? yes. P.G 70 Italy, Stalag IV-B, Stalag IV-G, Stalag IV-C. 10. Any Gallantry medals. Believe awarded MM. Don't Know 11. Any Campaign Stars/Medals ? Africa Star. The 1939-1945 Star, The Africa Star, The 1939-1945 War Medal. 12. Do you have his AB64 or equivalent ? No 13. Approx age on joining. 20 14. Have you applied for records? yes, only just applied 15. Do you have any photos ? Yes 16. Have you tried researching elsewhere ? Yes 17. If you have, state where. Google and RA websites, ra39-45, pegasusarchive.org, Wikipedia. 18. Main reason for researching the named person ?. He's my Dad Hi, Trying to find out as much as possible about my Dad So far I found that he sailed from Liverpool on November 1940 with the MEF to North Africa thanks to http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/med/page31.html. How do I go about trying to find what Ship he was on ? I know he was a POW, possibly captured at The Battle of Gazala ? I got a list of his POW camps from the Red Cross any help greatly appreciated. I do have quite a few photo's which I will post Thanks
Hi Essex Boy Welcome to the forum. I see that you have applied for his service records - that is the best place to start, in the meantime though - UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 Name: R A Cope Rank: Gunner Army Number: 938142 Regiment: Royal Artillery POW Number: 259372 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: IV-C Camp Location: Bystrice, Czech Republic Others will be along to add info, when you receive his records, scan them and upload to this thread if you want help in understanding them. TD
Hi and welcome You have done all the right things so far. For ships, have a look at this site - http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/index.html For his possible MM have a look here - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/recommendations-military-honours-awards-1935-1990/ Battalion war diaries are here - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_st=adv&_aq=68%20medium%20regiment&_cr1=wo&_dss=range&_sd=1940&_ed=1946&_ro=any There are a few people on this site who can get copies of the war diaries for a reasonable price, don't as NA for a quote! regards Robert
Thanks Tricky Dicky, bofors and Drew5233 Appreciate your help, and bofors will be checking out your links, thanks bye the way is there a "thanks" button ? on the forum. Cheers
Hi I know this is a long shot, but does anybody know where this might be It's Called "Whitehall House", I'm guessing it may be first stop after arriving. Thanks
My money is on Egypt regarding the photo. I'm working all this weekend but I may have some of 68 Med Regt war diaries, I'll have a look when I get time.
I did a fair amount of Googling for both the name Whitehall House and the bank advertisement and went with the assumption that it was either Alexandria, Port Said or Cairo - drew a blank on all of them though. Does anyone have any guesses about the vertical MARBLE on the left wall? Essex Boy, what makes you think it was your father's first stop? I was in Egypt for a few weeks prior to the ongoing upheavals and Cairo is just a wretched mess of a city - the whole place is crumbling, filthy and horribly polluted. There is, I supposed, still a chance it is standing, but I wouldn't put money on it.
Thanks Drew5233 Thanks charley fortnum I'm only guessing it was his first stop, seems very casual, I can't imagine they got much time off. I also googled Whitehall house and the bank, the only thing I came up with was the name Felix Aknin seems to be associated with French banking ? Cheers
If you want to go for a long shot, there's alway Artemis Cooper's Cairo in the War: 1939-45: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cairo-War-1939-1945-Artemis-Cooper/dp/0140247815 - I don't have a copy, but it got great reviews. And this may be of general use anyway: http://www.warlinks.com/cairo/cairo.shtml
I only have two war diaries from June 1941 to May 1942 and they are already in North Africa. Do you know when he was captured?
If the whole regiment was captured that may explain why the diary ends in May 1942. I'll have another look tonight.
Thanks Drew5233 Yes you are correct the whole 35.000 allied troops were surrendered by Major-General Klopper !
I've often read of officers who spoke of the need to maintain discipline and morale during captivity. I'm not claiming that it happened, but if virtually a whole unit was captured in one action, it wouldn't surprise me if the intelligence officer - or whoever - would attempt to keep a unit diary during captivity - albeit a clandestine one.
The next diary starts in Feb 1943 with the regiment diary in the UK series which would suggest the regiment was rebuilt at some point back in the UK.
Hi Drew5233 Long time time away I know. Any chance of a copy of the War Diaries up to May 1942 Thanks in Advance