938142 Gunner Robert Alfred COPE, 68th Med Regt, Royal Artillery

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Essex Boy, Mar 25, 2016.

  1. Essex Boy

    Essex Boy Member

    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
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    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
     
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  3. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    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
     
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  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I've had a quick look online and I can't see any citation at the National Archives for your chap.
     
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  5. Essex Boy

    Essex Boy Member

    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
     
  6. Essex Boy

    Essex Boy Member

    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

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Yes - you can use the green arrow for 'thanks' and the red arrow for 'cr*p'

    TD
     
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  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    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.
     
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  9. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    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.
     
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  10. Essex Boy

    Essex Boy Member

    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
     
  11. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

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  12. Essex Boy

    Essex Boy Member

    Thanks Charley Fortnum

    Second link very interesting
     
  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    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?
     
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  14. Essex Boy

    Essex Boy Member

    Hi drew5233

    Yes my Dad was captured 21. 06.1942 in Libya

    thanks
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    If the whole regiment was captured that may explain why the diary ends in May 1942. I'll have another look tonight.
     
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  16. Essex Boy

    Essex Boy Member

    Thanks Drew5233

    Yes you are correct the whole 35.000 allied troops were surrendered by Major-General Klopper !
     
  17. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    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.
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    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.
     
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  19. Essex Boy

    Essex Boy Member

    Hi Drew5233
    Long time time away I know.

    Any chance of a copy of the War Diaries up to May 1942

    Thanks in Advance
     

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