Hi all I am completely new to tracing my history so I'm a bit unsure where to start. I am trying to trace my Great-Grandfathers WWII history, we know he was killed travelling between North Africa and Italy but after that my family know very little. If anyone could point me in the right direction or offer some kind of knowledge I would be so grateful (and so would my Grandmother). The only information I hold is Name - Joseph Barnett Service Number - 13112852 Died - 20/09/1943 Pioneer Corps attd. 1015 Docks Operating Coy. Royal Engineers Thanks Nik
Hi Nik To anyone in your postion the first place to start is by obtaining the service records of the person involved and these can only be found from this link - Request records of deceased service personnel, this will provide the framework on which to build the rest of your research UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Joseph Barnett Given Initials: J Rank: Private Death Date: 20 Sep 1943 Number: 13112852 Birth Place: Staffordshire Residence: Staffordshire Branch at Enlistment: Other Corps Theatre of War: At sea Regiment at Death: Pioneer Corp Casualty It would seem his body was not recovered and was lost at sea, as yet I cannot find the actual incident, but obtain his service records first TD
Hi, The War Diary for 1015 Docks Operating Coy is in the National Archives, Kew. Reference No : WO 169/10833 Royal Engineers: 1015 Docks Operating Company (RE) Date : 1943 July- Dec. This may or may not contain information on the location of the unit and what they were doing that day. If you are thinking of getting a copy and cannot get to Kew yourself you could contact PsyWar.Org (Lee) or Drew5233 (Andy) on the forum who both offer a copying service that will be cheaper than the National Archives. http://ww2talk.com/index.php?members/psywar-org.2876/ http://ww2talk.com/index.php?members/drew5233.6786/ Regards Danny
Hi He wasn't the only member of his unit to be declared missing believed killed at sea between N Africa and Italy on 20 September 1943 and are on the Cassino Memorial. 1080423 Private APPLEBAUM DAVID Pioneer Corps 1015 Docks Operating Coy. 13112852 Private BARNETT JOSEPH Pioneer Corps 1015 Docks Operating Coy. 13007081 Private BROWN ROBERT Pioneer Corps 1015 Docks Operating Coy. 4865157 Sapper TOMLINSON FREDERICK ARTHUR Royal Engineers 1015 Docks Operating Coy. Extracted from an RE WW2 Order Of Battle. 1015th Docks Operating Coy, RE. With First Army in Dec 1942. Served with CMF (probably Italy). Disbanded Sep 1945+. Hope this helps Gus
Have just checked out RN losses in the Mediterranean for September 1943. British naval vessels lost at sea in World War 2 - 1942-1943 There isn't an entry for 20 September for any vessel but the following landing craft were sunk between N.Africa and Italy - I am assuming that the Pioneers were on a landing craft - perhaps someone can put me right September 2 - Landing craft infantry (Large) LCI(L) No.107 (380-384t), wrecked off Reggio, Italy September 9 - Landing craft tank (MkIV) LCT No.572, 626 (total 2, 611-640t), lost in Mediterranean September 24 - Landing craft assault LCA No.675 (11-13t), lost during gale at Salerno September 28 - Landing craft personnel (Ramped) LCP (R) No. 1019 ()-11t) sunk during heavy weather in Salerno Bay Italy As always, the service record is the only way forward, Vitellino
I noticed that when I looked in UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945, its just those 5 who died on that day "At Sea", so I am wondering if something happened to the boat they were in, where they being transferred to shore etc, the WD's might indeed tell us. David D Applebaum Private London E 20 Sep 1943 At sea Joseph J Barnett Private Staffordshire 20 Sep 1943 At sea Robert R Brown Private Greenock 20 Sep 1943 At sea Christopher C Henderson Private London E 20 Sep 1943 At sea Frederick F A Tomlinson Sapper Leicester 20 Sep 1943 At sea The top 4 are Pioneer Corps, and the last one is noted as Royal Engineers TD
