Help researching grandad

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by leighb4, Apr 16, 2011.

  1. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Just saw this, and will be sorting through my stuff today.

    I have a SAS/Bayeaux theory, and actually I am in contact with veterans of 2 of the 3 major RWF units in NWE, so he may open up with a chat to one of them (who want to meet other RWF vets).
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Just saw this, and will be sorting through my stuff today.

    I have a SAS/Bayeaux theory, and actually I am in contact with veterans of 2 of the 3 major RWF units in NWE, so he may open up with a chat to one of them (who want to meet other RWF vets).

    Can you check to see if any of the battalion 'Badges' (RSM's) are mentioned by name in the war diaries?
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Can you check to see if any of the battalion 'Badges' (RSM's) are mentioned by name in the war diaries?

    Actually, I'm just thinking it may be General List cap badge. I'll get my coat :)

    Good luck
    Andy
     
  4. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Leigh -
    on having yet another look at his round bakelite "dog tag" - I would say - that it's just possible - perhaps - maybe - his number starts with 1 making it 14422179 which is a General Service Corps number which would tie in with the Drews "RSM " insignia which is actually the General Service Corps cap badge.
    And his religious affiliation was that of RC.

    That would mean that he was actually called up in the spring of 1943- did his six weeks primary training at a PTW - then qualified for Infantry and did his main training in a holding Battalion then on to a regular battalion and then into NWE-
    so he is probably around 84 - 86 at this point .......?
    Cheers
     
  5. leighb4

    leighb4 Junior Member

    Hi Tom-I think you may be correct with the "1" at the start of the tag number.He will be 86 in december coming so your theory could well be spot on.I did research the cap badge and as you said it is a General Service Corps badge,thanks for the information.

    I have also been researching the badge with the crossed swords on a blue cross with red back ground i think it might be a 21st Army Group badge i was wondering if this could be somehow linked with the SAS badges?

    Since my 1st post on this thread i have found out he could have possible landed in Port en Bessin some time after Dday and possibly wounded around the Villers Bocage area.
     
  6. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Sadly no mention of him in any of the Battalion histories, or in my War Diaries.

    Try and see if you can get a Battalion number, as I have a very strong theory on this. And his name has not been mentioned in my interviews as of late. So coming up a blank on definate facts.
     
  7. leighb4

    leighb4 Junior Member

    Hi Swiper thanks for looking, i have just spoken to my uncle his oldest son and he says he was in the 6th battalion 53 division and wounded at thury harcourt and was in bayuex hosptial from roughly the 1st of july 1944 for 3 weeks but knows little more than this.
     
  8. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Ok, that is very useful.

    I have the 6th Battalion history, and I have spoken with a 6 RWF (and have a full HD interview with him) he is very eager to speak to anyone else who served in 6 RWF making your grandfather possibly the only other 6 RWF chap from this period. If you want I could ask him if he remembers your grandfather, who may open up about it?

    The other chap was captured during Operation Greenline's attack on Evrecy.

    Your grandfather cannot have been wounded at Thury as 158 Brigades HQ was located 20km north of there at Grainville-sur-Odon, however he may have been wounded there later on.
     
  9. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Leigh
    The crossed swords badge is indeed the 21st Army group badge and has little to do with the SAS - Monty was not too chuffed with little piddly units swanning around as he preferred to fight with divisions as he made it quite clear when he joined the 8th Army in the desert - so groups like LRDG - SAS - POPSKI's- JOCK Columns got short shrift from him- if indeed your Gfather served in the SAS it couldn't have been for too long after his hosptalisation in July '44...
    Cheers
     
  10. leighb4

    leighb4 Junior Member

    Hi swiper,still trying to get some info out of my grandfather.you said u had a theory what would that be? cheers
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    If he is still alive ask him what battalion he was in-Thats the only Q you need ask. You can get the unit war diaries then and all your Q's will be answered.
     
  12. leighb4

    leighb4 Junior Member

    Yes i have asked him,he was 6th Battalion RWF this was his parent regiment but he was attached to the SAS. I have given Swiper details of where he was wounded and dates etc but this does not match up with the 6th RWF Battilions movements around this time.I am begining to think he was serving with the SAS around this time as he wasnt where he should have been if he was with his parent Battilion.
     
  13. GPRegt

    GPRegt Senior Member

    I think this is definitely at the point of getting your grandfather to apply for his records.

    Steve W
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I think this is definitely at the point of getting your grandfather to apply for his records.

    Steve W

    Agreed...They will list when he was wounded etc and it maybe the diary is correct and he's got the dates wrong of when he was wounded it was nearly 70 years ago and memories fade. I don't remember the day or month of when I was hospitalized in Iraq in 2003 and a WW2 veteran on here doesn't know exactly what day he was wounded other than the month and the country.

    Good luck with getting him to sign the form.
     
  15. leighb4

    leighb4 Junior Member

    Yes agreed thanks to everyone for your help............ !-)
     

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