Hi, I'm trying to research my Grandfathers involvment in the SAS during WWII, we unfortunatly only got fragmentary infomation regarding his involvment in the SAS/SBS during his life time as a Radio Operator, he discussed his involment in the SAS REG 1 and active service within the SBS serving under Jellicoe and and with Larssen in the Aegean theatre, this was followed by active service in Yugoslavia along with the partisans and later in Italy including Monte Cassino. Following his death we requested his military records and they state him serving under the following units folowwing his transfer from the RAC, Raiding Forces Signal SQN (SAS REG 1) 10/11/43 Royal Signal Troop Raiding Forces 22/05/44 HQ Raiding Forces 07/06/44 SBS 06/09/44 I'm trying to patchwork together which War Office Diaries would be best to research his involvement, primarily the period above, I have attempted some research and understand the reorginisation of the Rading Forces HQ to Raiding Forces HQ Aegean in 1943, that they have operational reports covering the period from Oct to Dec 43 in WO 201/799, and that the Command and Control of the Rading Forces themselves came under the remit of Force 266, whom likewise have an adminsitration entry in WO 204/1944 covering Jan to Jun 44. Are there further WO Diaries covering the operational aspects of Raiding Forces HQ Aegean covering late 43 to change over to Force 266 in Jan 44, a also is anyone aware of any operational reports that cover Force 266 and any of the above mentioned units for the time period and are they of any worth in trying to establish his involvment. Any assitance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Grouchy -- can you give us a name for your relative and possibly post up his documents, we have found it is better to be able to read the documents first hand Thanks TD added There may also be details in Reference: WO 218/102 Description: Raiding Forces Signals Date: 1943 Mar.- Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description Reference: WO 218/110 Description: Raiding Force Signals Date: 1944 Apr.- Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description This is as you will be aware a clandestine area so finding info is always difficult hence the more info available now, probably the easier the search
Hi there sorry for the delay, took awhile to get the scanner working correctly. I've scanned 3 pages of his service record, mainly the one concerning his time in the SBS and also I've inlcuded one with some photo's we have, the image on the bottom left has the following written on the reverse side, "On Board the anti aircraft cruiser "Columbo" in Zara Harbour Yugoslavia Spring 1945" Another scan is off a hand written note my Grandfather wrote discussing the Germans looting of Castelrosso, quite a vivid and haunting desciption of the unfortunate actions of the Axis Powers on the Island, might help tie down which unit he was serving in within at the time. I've also unearthed a number of my grandfathers good friends Hank Hankcock epistles that he sent every xmas to SBS veterans, I have some from the early 1990's up to 1999 where Hank has hand written that the Veterans were sad to here of Leo, My grandfathers nivkname in the units, passing. As an Aside is this the same Hank whom is major contributer to Gavin Mortimers The SBS in WW2 an illustrated History?
