Leonard Boxshall - Service Records - Royal Engineers WW2

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by Ro55box, Feb 23, 2017.

  1. Ro55box

    Ro55box Member

    Hello

    I am new to this site an am visiting it now as I am just doing a little work on my father's war service history.

    I have just received his service records (and am trying to decipher those) and have just received news from The MOD as to the medals he will receive. He was a Sapper with The RE & promoted to Sgt in 1945.

    I was wondering if anyone knows if The Royal Engineers awarded any form of Company medals for WW2 service and if so, where I may be able to apply for it/them?

    In anticipation ...
     
  2. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    The UK did not award Company medals.

    FdeP
     
  3. Ro55box

    Ro55box Member

    Thank you for taking the time to help me. Do you who issues ribbon bars & where I may get a replacement?
     
  4. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  5. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Ro55box
    Post your fathers records and then we can give you any assistance you require.
    Welcome to the Forum
     
  6. Ro55box

    Ro55box Member

    Thanks Clive - we have and they are 'in the post'. We will be getting (by all accounts here) a fairly standard set .. but great to have .. being:

    1939-45 STAR
    ITALY STAR
    WAR MEDAL 1939/45
    GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL with clasp ‘PALESTINE 1945/48’

    My latter question was regarding my fathers ribbon band, which I have not seen for a number of years, but was wondering where I may get a replacement. I am trying to get a photo of it sent to me currently.
     
  7. Ro55box

    Ro55box Member

    Thankyou. I will do so this coming week.
     
  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Just be sure to use a reputable shop, its worth going that extra mile to have them sorted professionally - as with most things today cheap replicas abound

    TD
     
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  9. Ro55box

    Ro55box Member

    Do I upload the records here, or should I start a fresh thread?
     
  10. Ro55box

    Ro55box Member

    Do I post the records here or do I create a new thread?
     
  11. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    I would post them here and if you edit your original post you could then change to title to include your fathers name, that way this thread will be his thread and hopefully the information will stay here ad infinitum.

    You could also create an album and post them in there, with a link to them within this post

    Oooooooh all these choices

    TD
     
  12. Ro55box

    Ro55box Member

    I have attached below all the records that I have received from the MoD regarding my fathers war service record. I would really love to find the time to decipher these myself, but with 4 young kids, I really don't have that time & would really appreciate any help on offer.

    My father always refused to discuss his wartime experience with my mother or any of my siblings, so I am hoping that we can learn more from these.

    I am particularly keen to understand where he was based & where/when he spent his service. We can see from 1B that he was in Italy, but it is not clear when he was in a Africa (after 1943 according to the medals office) and The Palestine & indeed, if he went anywhere else.

    Titbits ..

    We know he came under friendly fire from US fighter planes whilst setting up camp somewhere in Italy & refused to eat Italian food post-war!!!

    He built a Bailey bridge across the river Arno in Florence, the concrete pillars for which I believe are still there & can be seen from The Pontevecchio, or the next bridge downstream!

    I look forward to chatting with anyone willing to offer your valuable time to help!
     

    Attached Files:

  13. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Looks like he was in 248 Field Company RE whilst in Italy.

    I need to work out to whom they reported.

    I have a photo somewhere that bridge over the Arno in Florence. It is huge.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  14. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Your father joined 248 Fd Coy RE on 23 Mar 44 during their time in the Anzio beachhead supporting 1 British Infantry Division. This was during the 'stalemate' phase between the landings on 22 Jan 44 and the breakout on 23 May 44. He could have endured some horrors in the 'wadis'.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

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  16. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    16/5/40 Leonard enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Shornecliffe Kent.

    As, Sapper (Private) 2014607 Boxshall, and was placed in B Company of the 1st Training Battalion of the Royal engineers.

    And mustered as a Tinsmith and White smith Grade 3 (This would be the starting grade).

    He was placed in this trade possibly as his previous job was a sheet metal worker.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinsmith

    Then on the 15/6/40 he was released from army services for a fortnight, with effect from (WEF) 15/6/40. Later changed to indefinite.

    Authority W P to m 8413/MOB 2. This was the order no from the War Production (WP) Mobilisation 2

    Relegated to class W (T)/ TA. R WEF 15/6/40.

    This means that he was still in the army but as a territorial army reserve. The time he spent in Class W, 2 years 220 days counted as army service.

    These orders came about as the government realised that a lot of skilled men were being taken away from industry so production was being lost.

    And as this was just after Dunkirk they had plenty of men to get back to fitness and retrain, but not the equipment for them to use.

    So the priority was to get the skilled men back to work making the equipment and training others (particular the women who were itching to do their bit) to take over their work at a later date when the men would be required to fight.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2017
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  17. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    IWM has photo of this bridge over the Arno, the next one downstream from the Ponte Vecchio, location 43.769021, 11.250322
    THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1944 (NA 17848)

    Been rebuilt now but piers recognisable.
    Ponte San Trinita.jpg
     
  18. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Late 1942, industry running well, America as allies, N Africa campaign going well and plans being made for the invasion of Italy and Europe going ahead.

    Leonard was recalled back to Depot Coy 1 T.B.R.E. And placed in A Coy, where he completed his training 20/1/43. (Place unrecognizable).

    Then remustered as a sheet metal worker grade B3. 18/10/43

    23/11/43 Posted to 502 Field Coy RE.

    So wherever they were in the UK he would have travelled to join them.

    30/12/43 Posted to 2 D B R E Halifax wef 30/12/43.

    2nd Depot Battalion Royal Engineers Halifax. This would be classed as their home address as they actually went to Kirkby Lonsdale, edge of the Lake District.

    Here they would be getting all the kit and equipment together for what they needed overseas and marking it with the Draft code RGZZH. This code ensured that everything was kept together and went on the same ship.

    At this point in time no one could say which ship or port would be available for them to go overseas, that would be another reason for being at Kirkby Lonsdale as it is between the two main ports, used Liverpool and the Clyde.

    18/2/44 Embarked UK.
    Ship and port unknown at the moment. May have be an independent ship as convoys OS.68/KMS.42 Departed Liverpool 12/2/44. Split at Gibraltar 24/2/44.
    OS.69/KMS.43 Departed Liverpool 23/2/44. Split at Gibraltar 5/3/44.

    3/3/44 Disembarked Italy. Naples,Taranto or Bari. Naples is favorite, re franks info.

    Put on X4 list (Reinforcements) TOS Taken on Strength RE Transit Depot.
     
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  19. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    248 Field Coy. Posted in from no 1 Reception camp. 23/3/44.
    This would be when he went to Anzio.
    Adm non BC 132 Fd Amp TOS X(2) list WEF. 7/9/44.
    Admitted Non Battle casualty to 132 Field Ambulance Taken on strength X(2) list.
    X(2) list comprises all ranks evacuated on medical grounds beyond regimental first aid post.
    Field Ambulance, WW1 but basically the same in WW2.
    The British Field Ambulances of the Royal Army Medical Corps 1914-1918

    R T U. from Hosp SOS X(2) list 29/9/44
    Returned to unit from Hospital, Struck of strength X (2) list.

    SOS CMF to MEF 18/2/45.
    Struck of strength Central Mediterranean Force to MEF. Middle East Force.
    TOS (Taken on strength MEF from CMF).
    Change over from Italy to Palestine.

    Ref. PTO Fcd 79/9 Hosp Adm dtd 6th April 45.
    Delete all ref. Unknown.

    Passed Trade test Sheet metal worker B 3 and reclassified. 28/5/45.
    Leave with HRM @ 5/9 19/26 June 45.
    Leave from 19th to the 26th June 45.With Higher rate messing. Pay at 5 shillings and 9d pence. Today 29.25 pence.

    4/12/45 to 23/5/45 Dates all mixed but Leonard’s Promotions are
    U/L/Cpl. Unpaid Lance Corporal. Usually a short probationary time, then a
    P/L/Cpl. Paid L/Cpl.
    A/U/Cpl. Acting unpaid corporal.
    P/A/Cpl. Paid acting Corporal.
    same with Sgt. U/L/Sgt. P/L/Sgt. A/U/Sgt. P/A/Sgt.

    An acting Cpl or Sgt is usually appointed when the normal Cpl/Sgt is away from their unit, and only holds that rank until till the other Cpl/Sgt gets back or a replacement is found.

    Medically examined prior to release and found to be fit for military service.

    Category A1. 28/11/46.

    1/12/46 posted to X8A. 156 Transit Camp from 248 Field Coy.

    When on X8A list that means you are going home.

    And embarked from Me to UK (Release) and SOS MELF 6/12/46.

    ME Middle East. As war was over MEF was changed to MELF Middle East Liberation Force.
     
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  20. Ro55box

    Ro55box Member

    Gents

    Great research & info so far, many thanks. I particularly love the images of The Ponte Santa Trinita in Florence. The wartime image of it being built is fantastic and that the chances that my father maybe one of the men in that photo! Brilliant!

    Fate would have it that I have photographed the river from that bridge on a number of occasions!

    Can anyone tell me anything about the ribbon bar? What do the colours signify? Should his medals be hung from it's pin?

    Many thanks again & I hope there maybe more to come!
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2017

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