I've recently begun researching my grandfather who was a Fusilier in 6th Bn RWF - I'm his youngest grandchild and unfortunately he passed away 10 years before I was born and thus I am unable to ask him questions about his service history. I do have limited information about him and I've looked all over the internet for information about the RWF 6th bn and him but hit an epic brick wall when I tried to get more info from the MOD. Being the youngest child of the youngest son I'm nowhere near being immediate next of kin and the NoK isn't about to let anyone get information unless her eldest son wants it. Afaik I am the only person who has asked to see his service history as NoK didn't even know about it until I asked for permission. Apparently he was a scary chap and no one dared ask him about the war and he didn't talk about it. From the finite knowledge my Dad has I know he was in the RWF 6th Bn and as such I've read an overview of what they did during WW2 in The Red Dragon (1960) L-C. P. K. Kemp, however we've found some documents that state he was transferred there from "Heavy A.A. to infantry." Could somebody point me in the right direction of the "Heavy A.A." please? Regards, Sally
Welcome to the forum, Do you have a time period for this transfer that would tie things down a bit. Basically many HAA men were converted to infantry and sent to NWE when manpower became a pressing concern, but without that date I cannot say much. The Red Dragon book is very good, but you would want to find the scarce 6 RWF history, '6th Battalion RWF'. I have a copy and I'm happy to go through it for information incase he is mentioned. Do you have any other information? Home - 53rd Welsh - my site has photos of some of the other RWF Bns, and may well help you in some way.
welcome to the forum have you requested his service records link below Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel
Thanks! I do possess his (tatty) Service Book and his Release Book (for which I count myself very lucky) so I know he enlisted in 1940 at Oswestry. I am assuming that he transferred to infantry mid-1944 as in the testimonial of his release book it notes he served with the HAA for 4.5 years before being transferred. I hope that helps! It would be great to hear if he is mentioned in the book you mentioned - his name was Roland Newton. Thanks, Sally
Is there any chance you could pop scans of the relevent books up here? Should allow us to decipher what hides in it... Would I be incorrect in saying he was transfered to 6 RWF after the 16th July 1944?
Transferring from an Anti-Aircraft unit to infantry around August 1944 makes sense, as they were doing this to most of the units in North West Europe to make up a shortfall of men in Infantry Battalions. They were taking around 250 men from each RA Anti-Aircraft (HAA & LAA ) Regt at the time. In Normandy, they had complete air superiority, so could do this. I've attached a page from 102 LAA war diary for 4 August 1944 with the announcement it was to happen.
Thanks! I do possess his (tatty) Service Book and his Release Book (for which I count myself very lucky) so I know he enlisted in 1940 at Oswestry. I am assuming that he transferred to infantry mid-1944 as in the testimonial of his release book it notes he served with the HAA for 4.5 years before being transferred. I hope that helps! It would be great to hear if he is mentioned in the book you mentioned - his name was Roland Newton. Thanks, Sally hello Sally might be an idea to send of for his service records it may give you more info regards Clive
I took your advice Clive (thanks very much) and sent for his service records which arrived this morning - before being transferred to the 6th bn he was posted with the 109 HAA Regiment. I've had a quick "google" but there is little to no information. I would really appreciate if someone could point me in the right direction for further research. Thanks Sally
109 HAA were a very busy regt, i,am surprised they had men posted away, i have seen many refs to them in different arty war daires, they definately took part in "Veritable" & "Blockbuster" in Feb 45 with 2 Cdn Army Group RA. you need the war-diaries Best Rob
WO 166/2399 109 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HAA). 1940 Sept.-1941 Dec. WO 166/7477 109 Regiment. 1942 Jan.-Dec. WO 166/11592 109 Regt. 1943 Jan.-Dec. WO 171/1154 109 Regt. 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/4916 109 Regt. 1945 Jan.- June WO 171/4917 109 Regt. 1945 July - Dec. WO 171/9098 109 H.A.A. Regt. 1946 Jan., Feb. Cheers Andy
Hello Sally Blimey it looks like you received your grandad's service papers from the MOD in record time-just over 2 weeks? Lesley
