Millitary geneology/SOE

Hello,
I am quite new to this, so please bare with me. I am trying to research my fathers army career, he served for 25 years from approx 1934/5 until 1958/9 with the royal signals. I believe he was in Germany/Poland and Italy (he has the Polish & Italian stars). I have in the last couple of days found the recomendation for his B.E.M. on the National Archives, and was highly surprised to also have found 2 records for the SOE, (I had never even heard of them) which are unfortunately closed, (we have requested that these be opened early as my father passed away many years ago). Is there any where else other than the National Achives that I may be able to find these records. Also my mother once mentioned that he was awarded the Polish Eagle medal, is there anyway I can find out whether this is correct and if so where would it be possible to find this information.

Thanks in advance

 

Hope someone can help. Welcome to the forum.

 

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Whats your fathers name and do you know what units he served with in the Signals? I maybe able to help with some information regarding Sigs but the Special Ops Executive is someone elses field.

I have 240 BEM's awarded to Royal Signals members during WW2 on my list of recipients.

Regards
Andy

 

Hi and welcome!

If my memory serves me correctly there is a research guide on the National Archives Website on researching the SOE, including Service Records and genealogy.

 

Welcome to the Forum.

When you get the S.O.E. Personnel File it may give what Missions he was attached to.
Many are well recorded in the National Archives and would give a great insight into his Service.

 

Hello,
Thank you all for your lovely welcome messages, and for the suggestions. My dad's name was Donald Galbraith, service no. 2324250, unfortunately I do not know which units he served with. I will also check out the link posted by James.

Thanks again

 

The S.O.E. File will give all the information regarding Units and Missions.
Given that you can move forward from there.

Brian

 

Cheers for posting his details. He's not on my list which doesn't mean he wasn't Royal Signals as I've found a few not on the list given to me by the RCS Museum.

Do you have his citation? These usually identify a unit or parent unit. I for one would be interested in reading it especially if he's Royal Signals as I have a thread running with all the awards listed amongst other things.

Regards
A

 

Hello Drew5233,

Yes I have just over the last few days found the citation, but am not sure how to put it on to this forum, could you please advise

Regards
Anne

 

Hi Drew5233,

I found the citation on the National Archives, the record number is WO 373/100, hope this helps, if not if there is another way, perhaps by me attaching it in an e-mail, then please let me know and i will gladly do this.

Kind regards
Anne

 

Hi Anne cheers for sharing the citation. I would cut and paste it onto this thread

Its a shame no unit is listed on the citation itself. The next step, if it was me, I would apply for his service records from the British Army. The link below has all the information you need:

Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

I suspect he may have had a rather interesting career.

Regards
Andy

 

Hi Andy,
My older sister did apply for his service records last year, and her cheque was returned. Whether this has anything do with him being in the SOE I don't know, so perhaps if we manage to get his SOE file open then we can perhaps get his service records. I have also just last week written enquiring about his medal card, in the hope that this may also turn up more information

Regards
Anne

 

Hi Anne,

I'd give them a ring and speak to them (the number is in the link I posted). As far as I'm aware ALL the British Army Personnel Records are at Glasgow from 1920-onwards this includes all WW2.

I can't think why they would send the cheque back other than- When they first receive applications they send a letter stating how long they think it will take and you can request a refund. Once they start a search though, they keep the money regardless of what they find.

I think another try maybe in order

A

 

Anne,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

As Andy has already said, further correspondence is necessary and the record should be available, even if it has to be sensored (pehaps due to SOE work and secrecy time limits) a little before you receive it.

It is one of the scenarios where I would not take no for an answer.

There may well be another reason that explained the returned cheque, but questions are the only way you will find out.

The very best of luck with your research.

Regards
Tom

 

2334250 WOII Donald Galbraith R/Sigs took part in Operation Freston towards the end of WWII - 1944, they were overan by the Russians and treated harshley by the NKVD before being repatriated


"All the agents SOE sent to Poland were Polish, until the last winter of the war, when - on the chiefs of staffs' orders - operation 'Freston' was mounted. This was a mission into southern Poland in January 1945, headed by Colonel D. T. Hudson (who had served with distinction in Yugoslavia) and intended to report on the strength and capacities of the Home Army. It landed close to the fighting lines, and only survived immediate capture because a Home Army platoon sacrificed itself to give it a chance to get away; it was rapidly overrun by the Soviet army, and imprisoned in loathsome conditions until the Yalta conference was over. It was then taken to Moscow, mildly feted, and flown out, having achieved nothing."

see
Operation Freston: The British Military Mission to Poland, 1944: Amazon.co.uk: Jeffrey Bines: Books