Help for info- Grandfather served with Grenadier Guards

Fran.

Great to see you on this forum. I am hoping that Gary will join us on the Mar 13 Garigliano & Anzio trip. There will be blue red blue everywhere!

Regards

FdeP

 

Looking forward to the trip. Very interested to see another member looking for info on the 5th Battalion Grenadiers.

 

View attachment 89088

Hi
I have dug out my Grandad's documents, read them through again and have clarified a few things.
It appears that he did serve with the 5th Battalion in North Africa from July 43 to Feb 44. I have yet to speak to my brother who currently holds his medals but Im assuming I was wrong to state he had the North Africa star as it was no longer issued after May 1943. Im sure I saw 2 Star Medals in his collection but it looks as though one wasnt the North Africa Medal.
I have attached a few documents that I have (hopefully) managed to upload. This includes a letter from his Commanding Officer to his wife and a letter to him whilst at Stalag XIA. I note that the numbers (608/2) is written after Stalag XIA. Im assuming that this is some indication that he was located at a venue for forced labour near to Stalag XIA?
I have been unable to upload a copy of his service book (Im assuming its too big a document) but if anyone out there is interested in the history of the 5th Battalion Grenadier Guards I am happy to email them copies as well as original telegrams stating he was missing etc etc.
Regards
Gary

 

Gary.

The letter from Capt Hohler is superb. Thank you for posting it. I must get round to learning how to post docs and pics.

It is always good to see a face behind a name.

Regards

FdeP

 

View attachment Campaign medals.docx

View attachment Doc2.docx

View attachment Doc3.docx

View attachment 89108

View attachment Doc5.docx

View attachment 89110

Hi
I have now managed to upload some of the other documents I have from my Grandads service in the Grenadier Guards.
They include:
Report of him missing 9 Feb 1944 at Anzio
Report of him as a prisoner in Germany
His Army Service Book including pages from when he joined up in 1940, his service in North Africa and Italy and his discharge as someone not deemed fit enough to continue in service
I have (and thanks for the forum for this) rechecked his medas and he did not recieve the North Africa Star but recieved the four medals listed on the certificate that was sent to him

Sorry if they are not particularly clear. As the forum only accepts certain size documents I have had to copy them before uploading.
Thanks again to everyone for their help
Gary

 

Gary.

All I can see is 'Campaign Medals.docx'.

Am I missing something?

Regards

FdeP

 

Owen.

I am a muppet!

Thanks for the guide to posting. That is just what I need.

Regards

FdeP

 

Im pleased it can be viewed..beginning to worry that my efforts at copying and uploading had failed miserably (not for the first time).
Gary

 

Hi Gary,

Thanks for posting all the material.

You might consider your next step is to apply to the Red Cross online (ICRC) in Switzerland for details from their records. It is free but takes about a year. I got my Dad's papers in mid October.

If I had the IT skills I would attach the link but I am sure that a forum member will do thst shortly.

You can also consider checking the returned POW questionnaire files in the National Archives. Not all completed one - I went to look for my dad's and 3 others (all guards POW) but only found my Dad's and one other.It filled in some more gaps.

I also applied to Coldstream Guards regimental HQ Wellington Barracks and paid my £35 for his papers held there. The vast majority of the information was recorded in his regular army discharge book but they did provide copies of his returning POW medical papers - the Aug 1945 45 Div medical in your documents.

I have attached a copy of P1 of the POW questionnaire so you have an idea of what you might find.

All the best.

Steve Y

 

Thanks Steve
I have this morning applied for his records from the Grenadier Guards
I also intend in the fortnight to go to Kew to look at the 5 th battalion diary etc as there are a few things I am hoping to clarify
Specifically, if my Grandad is shown on his service book as being in North Africa 18 July 43 ,where would he have been based between that date and landing at Anzio on 22 Jan 44. The North African fighting had finished in May 43 so I'm assuming he went over as a replacement for the 5th battalion and may have been based inTunisia or perhaps Algeria.
I'm hoping it also sheds some light on where he sailed from to get to Anzio. It seems the majority went via Naples.
Finally I'm hoping that his POW questionaire is held on record by the Guards as I my contain useful information
Thanks again and thanks to those who have advised/assisted me.
Gary

 

View attachment Doc7.docx

View attachment Doc5.docx

Hi
I am still in the process of discovering items relating to my Grandfathers service with the Grenadier Guards.
Plse doube click on the attached files and have a look at items that I have just found in a box in my fathers loft.
The first one was with some GG items. It is in the name of my Grandfather (although slightly misspelt..his name was Lawrence no Laurence).
Perhaps someone will be able to let me know whether this was some type of dog tag item. It is made of thin metal and looks as though it is intended to be worn as a bracelet?.
He was a POW so perhaps it relates to his imprisonment?
Any help would(as always) be gratefully recieved Thanks

The other document I believe relates to the Armoured Division of the Guards?
If Im correct then that confuses me a little more as my Grandfather was 5th Battalion GG and I have no knowledge of him as part of an Armoured Division.
Again perhaps someone can kindly clarify whether they do refer to an Armoured Division in the Guards
Thanks
Gary

 

Gary
The 5th GG were in 24th Guards Bde - which was attached to 6th Armoured Div in Italy- now and again - the ONLY Guards Armoured Div was in NWE....

Cheers

 

Thaks for the information. Hopefully someone else will identify the 'bracelet'. It was with his GG items and I think it would relate to his war service... so here's hoping

 

View attachment Doc6.docx

Sorry all.....
Amongst the Guards memorabilia I discovered what appears to be rank insignia. The one Im interested in is the top one in the attachment above. It consists of 5 red stripes.
This culd relate to my Grandads service in the 2nd World War or (possibly) may originate from my father who served in the Royal Artillery (41st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery) in the Suez and Canal Zone in the 1950's.
So I suppose it could be something to do with his service.

Any ideas would be most welcome
Thanks
Gary