117906 Michael Bywater McNABB, Royal Scots: POW June 1940

I have another one to ask for your collective opinions. I am trying to determine which regiment Michael Bywater McNabb was with when he was captured 9 June 1940. I believe he died in 2004, so I cannot request his service records yet (as far as I know).

Everything points to Royal Scots, and this seems to be his career regiment as he was commissioned into it, served with them in Korea, and on. However, he does not appear in the 1st RS war diaries for the BEF period, so I presume he was sent with another unit. Does his date of capture hold any clues or is it a blind search?

He was mentioned for his map creation and escape attempts during time as a PoW which I find interesting (and blessed that the details for the MiD were recorded) but it is only brief.

Thanks,
Robert

 

The Casualty records on FindMyPast, do not show a specific battalion, nor do they show a date of capture.

 

117906 Michael Bywater McNabb

Commissioned
2nd Lt. Royal Scots 10th Feb. 1940

 

Thanks, I have this information in addition to what's posted above:

 

Don't think that is a problem, death certificate can be obtained online:
General Register Office - Online Ordering Service - Login

Details:
Name: Michael Bywater McNabb
Death Age: 85
Birth Date: 23 Jun 1919
Registration Date: Dec 2004
Registration District: Richmond Upon Thames
Inferred County: Surrey
Register Number: 43A
District and Subdistrict: 248/1
Entry Number: 41

 

re the service records you can apply
you will get a time line of his service due to death under 25 years ago

Apply for the records of someone who's deceased
You can apply for a copy of someone else’s service records if any of the following apply:

• you’re their immediate next of kin, for example their spouse or parent
• you’ve got consent from their immediate next of kin
• you have a general research interest - you’ll only have access to limited information, unless they died more than 25 years ago

Get a copy of military service records

 

Thanks, I was just going to look up the requirements and assumed that the 25 year mark (I thought 30) would yield me the best results - photocopies of original documents, full file, etc. The return I got recently (my first) is about 7 pages of the Army Form B199a with the pages "appointments and movements" being most helpful. Is that something included with the under 25 year request (as a photocopy or transcribed?) or will they only send that at 25+?

Thanks,
Robert

 

The form explains what you would get:
Request service details general enquiries (publishing.service.gov.uk)

 

Syme of Syme's Rifles was Royal Scots

 

I am revisiting this tonight and wondered if anyone has nominal rolls for officers of any of the 51st Div units in action around St Valery. McNabb's POW card explicitly states capture on 10 June 1940 at St Valery. That leads me to look into:


2 Seaforths
4 Seaforths
4 Camerons

1 Black Watch
1 Gordons
5 Gordons

Anyone with war diaries out there?

Thanks,
Robert

 

Not wanted

 

Michael Baywater McNabb Royal Scots POW no. 1405 in OFLAG Vb Biberach
A very active digger in the Real Great Escape.

 

He hasn't given a Battalion and has listed himself as with Burmand Div 1st Line Reinforcements (hopefully that means something to someone), not sure if that means he wasn't actually allocated to a Battalion - maybe its Beauman Division Beauman Division - Wikipedia

 

Thank you!!

I knew this existed and I believe I asked for it from a researcher who goes to TNA but it never came and I assumed it was just....not of enough interest or content. Thank you so much for posting, I'm indebted to you.

It is strange and interesting that he mentions what seems to be a cobbled together unit as his assignment at the time. I don't know too much about it yet but this is the best lead I've had in awhile.

Now to see what content there is for his comrades as well...

Thanks again,
Robert

 

And it looks like the four men mentioned all have several pages of information in their escape and evasion reports (WO/208/3307/25 through 28) which at least one mentions McNabb. One mentioned the 26 total escaping. Duncan also wrote "Underground from Posen" so I will have to get that through library loan and see how detailed it is.

Well it's a thrilling night over here.

Robert

 

A Gordon Highlander officer captured the same day and place notes Beauman Div as well and an East Yorks officer notes No1 1BD BEF (Merry's Rifles). Perhaps they were together?

Anyone with Beauman Div documents?
More specifically, any of the provisional battalions?

Thanks,
Robert