HELP ME ! Research information on Lieut-Colonel Rankin (13th ACG)

I searched everywhere but found nothing.
Can someone help me?


RISKA,

 

Maybe one of these - maybe not - I assume you are interested in WW2 - I ask as there were Lt Col Rankins in WW1 as well

Name: A. C. Rankin
Military Year: 1942
Rank: Lt Col

Name: W. C. Rankin
Military Year: 1939
Regiment: Commands and Staff
Rank: Lt Col
Name: W. C. Rankin
Military Year: 1941
Regiment: Commands (Dominions, & c.)
Rank: Lt Col

Name: H. W. Rankin
Military Year: 1941
Rank: Lt Col

Just seeing if any of the initials fit to help search further

TD

 

ACG = Airfield Construction Group

 

Thank you, I think A.C Rankin matches the person I am looking for!
Can you give me the source ?

 

He was educated at Clifton College in Bristol near Bath.

And I have only one picture of him

 

Never heard of ACG and I am not an expert on such abbreviations. The British Army now has a ACG, well from 1992. However this list might help: https://www.allacronyms.com/ACG/military

The Imperial War Museum Photo Collection refers in mass of text to: AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION GROUP. See: Collection: WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION

Without a first name or initials I would expect the WW2 British Army had several Lt.Col. Rankin. If your interest is Normandy after D-Day, on 22nd June the Queens Royal Hussars had one as the new CO. See: The Queen's Royal Hussars Museum

The QRH were part of the 7th Armoured Division aka The Desert Rats. From an advert for a book (from Japan): Churchill's Desert Rats in North-West Europe: From Normandy to Berlin | Delaforce, Patrick | download

Just to complicate matters there was a Lt.Col. Rankin in the WW2 Canadian Army. From: Rankin films by Huntley Film Archives

Google also returns us to the airfield you are interested in (in French) and minus a full name via a document:
B9 - Aéromodélisme - Site aero-Creully

There were five Army ACG and one RAF ACG in Normandy. From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_logistics_in_the_Normandy_campaign#Construction

 

Concerning Lt Colonel A.C Rankin, he was commander of the 13th ACG R.E which built the B6 and B9 airfield at Coulombs.
Unfortunately, I don't have more information than that.

 

From The London Gazette 29 March 1945:

The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe:

To be Additional Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: —

Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Alexander Cecil Rankin, M.C., D.F.C. (37955), Corps of Royal Engineers (Ayr).​

 

I think you mean AGC (Adjutant General's Corps)

 

Thank you very much for this information.

 

probably

 

From the East Anglian Daily Times:
Portrait of soldier’s life in First World War captured in photo album of Kirton woman.
"Alexander helped to build airstrips between Normandy and Berlin as the Allied armies advanced through Europe".

 

Damn, thank you so much, I don't know how to thank you !!
Your research has helped me enormously

RISKA,

 

WW1 - started life in RE, so seems he was a lifetime soldier

Name: A C Rankin
Military Year: 1914-1915
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Company: WO 329
Regiment or Corps: Officers (Various Regiments)
Medal Awarded: 1914-1915 Star

Progressed to RFC where it could be assumed his liking for airfields arrived
Name: A C Rankin
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: Captain
Company: WO 329
Regiment or Corps: Officers (Various Regiments)
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal

UK, British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Name: A C Rankin
Regiment or Corps: 64th Field Company 9th Div, Royal Engineers
Note on attached the reference to RAF - Observer


TD