John E Sutton 1921-1984 born Worcester.

Hello can anyone help me find my grandfather's service records he fought in WW2 and I believe either for the Worcestershire reg or staffordshire regiment. He apparently become Sgt Major according to family stories but I have nothing to prove this.
Any help appreciated.

 

Service records are only available from the MOD, Get a copy of military service records: Apply for the records of someone who's deceased - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Have a look as some of the other posts as changes are in hand Service Records | WW2Talk

 

Are service records not Available online e.g Ancestry?

 

No.

 

You will need a death certificate, is this him?
First name(s) John Ernest
Last name Sutton
Gender Male
Birth day 12
Birth month 7
Birth year 1921
Death quarter 2
Registration Month 6
Death year 1984
District Birmingham
Register number 684
County Warwickshire
Volume 32
Page 290
Country England
Record set England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007

 

Yes that's grandad.

 

If the family haven't got a certificate you will be able to order one here:General Register Office - Online Ordering Service - Login

 

There were a number of Regiments raised in Worcester:
Worcestershire Hussars
Worcestershire Yeomanry
Worcestershire Regt
67th Field Regt RATA
Edit : 119th Field Regt the 2nd line 267 & 268 Batteries from the 67th Field Regt

You need to get his Service Record from the TNA/MOD as suggested by Tony 56 to be sure which he was with.

I will take a look through my 67th Field Regt files to see if he is there but I don't have them all.

Was he a Worcestershire man, as I have colleagues who may have known or heard of him.
Was he a Dunkirk Veteran as he might be in one of the photos that I have.

 

Hello Uncle Target, I am unsure as to which Reg he was in I think he may have been in South Staffs Reg now I think about it

 

He could have been in any unit in the British Army in the war. Men were transferred from one to another. The only time that men joined a local Regiment was when they signed up to their local TA unit. Birmingham was split into several counties before 1971 when the West Midlands area was created.
Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire were all on the fringes.
Service record as per Tony 56 suggests I'm afraid. You will be applying to a Govt department.
His full name and Date of Birth plus Death Cert will find him wherever he went.
His Army Number would be a bonus and might speed things up but not necessary.
It will cost but you should find out where he went, with whom and what courses he might have done.
Leave, Embarkation abroad, times off sick etc.
You will need to drop by to get it transcribed so that you understand it all.
Use the official application as suggested in #2

Its entirely up to you.

 

His Twin Brother Robert L Sutton was killed in 1941, he was part of the 1st Bn South Staffs reg

 

He might be wearing Jungle Greens but the people in the background suggest post war UK.
The subject is a Corporal not a Sgt Major. The Cap badges are blurred but don't look like Worcester's or South Staffs.

This is a very long shot but can you recognise him in any of the photos 7th Worcester's in Burma.

Worcestershire Regiment (29th/36th of Foot)

Worcestershire Regiment - Wikipedia

South Staffordshire Regiment - Wikipedia

Still think that Tony56 advice is best the way to go.
Been here before with Regimental Museums, most are run by private trusts who charge for searches and advice
but don't have access to the MOD personal Service Records. I know both museums, I live close to one, they are run by the same Trust,
as is the Sherwood Foresters museum. All now called the Mercian Regiment Museum. Worcester, Lichfield and Nottingham.

 

Twin Brother Robert L Sutton was killed in 1941, he was part of the 1st Bn South Staffs reg
CWGC Details
Search Results | CWGC

Not born Worcester but Balsall Heath Birmingham.
Seems to tie in with details by Tony56 on #5

 

Yes grandads twin brother was killed at 19yrs old in Asmara, Eritrea

No he was born in Worcester, as my grandad was too. Born 12 July 1921.

 

Anyone on Ancestry or Find My Past to check the 1939 Census or electoral role in Worcester or Birmingham

Son of John and Mabel Blanche Sutton, of Balsall Heath, Birmingham.

You can download a Memorial Certificate for free from GWGC see the link I have posted.
Press the button for more details you can see the entry in the Register and details on the stone.
You will also see the Download Button for the Certificate.

I will do a bit more digging but really need more info.
I will come back if I find out more.

Service Record should reveal all but I think I understand your reluctance.

 

Hi

I've had a look at the 1939 Census on Find My Past and there is no trace of John Ernest nor his brother Robert L.

Entry for parents (and siblings) as below -
Address - 72 Holloway Head, Birmingham
First Name(s) Last Names(s) Birth Date Sex Occupation Marital Status Schedule Sub No
1. John Sutton 07 Nov 1893 Male Carpet Repairer Master Man Married 166 1
2. Mabel Sutton 30 Nov 1901 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 166 2
3. The record for this person is officially closed. (166) (3)
4. Irene Davidson (Davison,Sutton) 19 Dec 1928 Female At School Single 166 4
5. Harold Gordon Sutton 21 Sep 1932 Male At School Single 166 5
6. Gracie D Legg (Sutton) 01 Jan 1935 Female Under School Age Single 166 6
7. Sheila Gloria Blakemore (Sutton) 01 Apr 1938 Female Under School Age Single 166 7

You will note that record (3) is closed.

There is also a RA Attestation for a John Ernest SUTTON as follows -
First name(s) John Ernest
Last name Sutton
Service number 954156
Regiment The Royal Regiment Of Artillery
Year 1939
Country Great Britain

Steve

ETA - the R.A. attestation would fit in with post #8 above re 67th Field regiment R.A.

 

John Ernest Sutton 12 July 1921 Worcester, Worcestershire. - June 27th 1984 Birmingham.
Robert L Sutton 12 July 1921- 5th May 1941 Asmara, Eritrea, Africa. Buried at Asmara War Cemetery.

 

Robert Sutton
[R Sutton]
Rank: Corporal
Birth Place: Worcester
Residence Date: 1941
Residence: Birmingham
Casualty Date: 5 May 1941
Regimental Number: 4915693
Enlistment Regiment: South Staffordshire Regiment
Enlistment Unit: Infantry
Theatre of War: East Africa (include Abyssinia)
Casualty Regiment: South Staffordshire Regiment
Casualty Unit: Infantry