Hello seeking some help to identify what unit our relative Leslie Wilkins served in during WW2. Photo attached. Clue? Lanyard right shoulder and unit recognition flash left shoulder. It's thought he was a PoW (European theatre of ops). Record of Birth Registration Date: 1923 Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun Registration district: Walsall Inferred County: West Midlands Mother's Maiden Name: Johns 1939 Register Name: Leslie Wilkins Gender: Male Marital status: Single Birth Date: 30 Apr 1923 Residence Year: 1939 Address: 13 Dorothy St Residence Place: Walsall, Staffordshire, England Occupation: Shop Assistant Grocery Dept Record of Death Name: Leslie Wilkins Death Age: 81 Birth Date: 30 Apr 1923 Registration Date: Oct 2004 Registration district: Walsall Inferred County: Staffordshire Subsequently trying to identify service number and when he enlisted
Best route would be to obtain his service records - the forms are on this link - Request records of deceased service personnel this is the only way to obtain his records and will tell you what units he was with, when he was with them and where they were. You do not need his service number if that is the reason you are asking above Do you have any further details for him, medals, personal diaries, cap badges, etc etc TD
You have enough info to get his service records for £30, here; Get a copy of military service records I have done a quick search on find my past but there are several men with the same name and more than 3 listed as POW. TD beat me to it.
Not required - check out the forms - what you will need is a copy of his death certificate, which should also show his date of birth, if it doesnt then you need to add that as details when applying. Its a common misconception that service number is needed TD
If anyone does have some suggestions as to unit drawn from scant clues on photo they would be welcomed
The 2 shoulder flashes that come to mind would be Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery the problem is in black & white photos its often difficult to know which way round they are - at least for my eyesight. But this is the reason we always suggest service records as there is no way of making an error in answering the question 'which unit' TD
White Lanyard Right Shoulder Unit Recognition flash Left Arm = Royal Artillery?? (Thanks for your input)
Loads of L Wilkins on Findmypast but only one RA that I can see;- 932592 Gnr Leslie Wilkins according to the 1939 Attestation there`s a pencil entry `1944 Commissioned `?? However he wasnt ! He was captured in 1944 held at Stalag 4B PoW Number 278991 rank still listed as a Gunner?? Leslie Wilkins posted `missing` Italy 8th February 1944 later confirmed PoW with same date given for capture.Unit given 19 Field Regt. Earlier Mentioned in Despatches for North Africa gazetted 23 Sep 1943 Of course there`s a chance this may not be your Leslie Wilkins Kyle
Links won`t work in subscription services . The RA Attestations are on Findmypast. Have this one on me There`s an L V and a L E Wilkins RA on the PoW list also but you haven`t mentioned a middle name? Kyle
Welsh Cav. 19 Fd Regt RA were one of three Field Regiments in direct support of 1 Infantry Division during their time at Anzio - 22 Jan-3 Jun 44. If Gnr Wilkins was captured on 8 Feb 44 then I am sure that he would have been part of an Artillery Tactical Group - the gunners who were up the infantry calling in fire. An ATG was commanded by a Captain Forward Observation Officer RA. If he had been on the Gun Line, he would not have been able to be reached by the Germans because the Line was a few miles behind the Final Defensive Line at the Flyover. On 8 Feb 44, the Germans were pushing from the north at British positions around Aprilia. It was a fraught few days for 1 Inf Div. The salient that they had established with a breakout from Aprilia towards Campoleone on 29-31 Jan 44 had failed and the Germans were now coming the other way with a great deal of success. Regards Frank
This is the main reason why service records are so important - you need to know you are following the route of your relative not another L Wilkins RA TD
Hi The above Gnr Wilkins was Commissioned, but in December 1946 (new service number = 373627). https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37854/supplement/336/data.pdf But TD is absolutely right. Unless you have absolute certainty that this is your man, then you are setting yourself up for a massive wild goose chase. If you are serious about getting things right from the very start, you need his service records. Hope this helps Gus