Hi, my dad (1917-2008) was C B 'Don' Gowlett, 1/4 Essex, B.Co.

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by romit3, Nov 15, 2015.

  1. romit3

    romit3 New Member

    Pleased to hear from anyone with relevant or interesting info.
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi & Welcome to the forum

    I would suggest your first action, if you have not already, is to obtain his full service records - link - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records#how-to-apply-for-service-personnel-records these records are the vital starting point for researching military personnel.

    As this is in 'user introductions' I would suggest starting a thread on him in the forum itself (try here http://ww2talk.com/forums/forum/13-searching-for-someone-military-genealogy/), this section is normally reserved for new members to, well, introduce themselves. When you start a new thread I would suggest adding his service number, if you have it,

    TD
     
  3. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Hi romit3 welcome to the forum good luck with your research. As suggested If you do not have his records they are well worth it at £30.
    Do you have any photos you could post on here.



    David
     
  4. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Romit,

    I read your email five minutes ago and them you appear on here! There is some limited information on the 1/4th on the thread I began here - including a photo of yours that I pinched before I contacted you:

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/57041-family-soldiers-14th-essex-25-field-regiment-ra/page-1

    I'm also trying to get in touch with the daughter of another B-company man. I emailed her a few days ago, but have not yet received a response. I'll keep you posted.

    It's stupid o'clock here, but I shall try to write tomorrow evening with more information.

    Am most pleased that you got in touch.

    Charley / J
     
  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Romit3.

    If you are interested, I have lot of information on 1/4 Essex's time at Cassino.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  6. romit3

    romit3 New Member

    Thanks Frank, I'll keep you in mind.

    Rob
     
  7. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Belated news: by pure chance both your father and his friend Pte Wise are mentioned in the battalion diaries for Cassino:

    Your father and the rest of 10 platoon got separated from the main body of B Company as they ran into a German counter-attack shortly after leaving the Castle on their way to support 1/9th Gurkhas on Hangman's Hill on 19 March:

    P6220530.JPG

    And Pte Wise had a prolonged close call on Pt.165 (near the castle - see map below).

    P6220549.JPG

    Locations:
    Map-9-The-Third-Battle-large.JPG

    Map from the following book:
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monte-Cassi...qid=1454867020&sr=8-1&keywords=parker+cassino
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2017
    Owen, Drew5233 and 4jonboy like this.
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Nice one !
     
  9. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    At some point recently a second interview with Tom Stringer has been uploaded to the IWM site:

    Stringer, Thomas Alfred 'Tom' (Oral history) (32588)

    It's much shorter that the other one his made but includes more detail on certain aspects of his service, notably his capture at Cassino. A conversation with Don Gowlett is mentioned in REEL 3 (note, rules have been uploaded back to front '5' is in fact '1') and there is some later speculation about the route he must have taken to get back to Battalion HQ (and not the Castle) without running into enemy soldiers.

    Tom Stringer is lucid and charismatic - the interview is much recommended as is his much longer one:

    Oral History Recording (31466)
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2016

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