My Grandad, Harold Fern - service number possibly -4860369

Discussion in 'Durham Light Infantry' started by garza71, Sep 22, 2022.

  1. garza71

    garza71 Member

    My grandad volunteered and served in the Durham's during the second world war and I am hoping to find out more about where he may have been, we know he was at Dunkirk and that he was in hospital and possibly discharged in Iceland in 1942/3, any help to fill in the blanks would be greatly appreciated
     
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  2. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    Hi

    The service number you have given indicates this - Leicestershire Regiment 4848001 - 4904000
    So if he served in the DLI, he may have transferred to it, but you wont know unless you apply for his service record, then you will get the full picture of where he was.
    See here - WW2 Soldier Research - Tips and Links for New Researchers | WW2Talk

    regards

    Robert
     
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  3. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    4860369 is a Leicestershire regiment number, they were numbered from 4848001 to 4904000.
    Edit; too slow again.
     
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  4. garza71

    garza71 Member

    IMG-20220922-WA0004.jpeg
     
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  5. garza71

    garza71 Member

    Thank you for your prompt replies, we are in Leicestershire so that makes sense

    We have the above documents which is where most of our info is from, like many he didnt talk about the war often

    I have asked my parents to apply for his service record
     
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  6. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    From - Royal Leicestershire Regiment


    Fern, Harold

    Army Number : 4860369

    Biography :

    Enlisted 15.11.1939. Served with Leicestershire Regiment during World War Two. Transferred to Durham Light Infantry 18.4.1940.



    Period of Service : 1930s

    Conflicts : WW2
     
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  7. garza71

    garza71 Member

    thank you all for so much information in such a short space of time I really appreciate it
     
  8. garza71

    garza71 Member


    is there any way to know why my grandad may have transferred, could he request to or would he have been ordered to for some reason?

    My mum seems to think he was ill with flu at a time his regiment deployed, could this be a reason?
     
  9. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Continuing from AB64 ........Transferred to Durham Light Infantry 18/4/1940, Posted to the10th Bn Durham Light Infantry I, Transferred to Class W Army Reserve 5/5/1942 (Class W and W (T) I think was transferred to Civil employment as these soldiers services were deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil than in military employment.) As his sheet confirms he was a miner/colliery worker.

    Kyle
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2022
  10. garza71

    garza71 Member

    Would his transfer mean that he was at Dunkirk as we suspect ?

    more interesting and new information for me, thank you so much, we think he was in hospital in Iceland at some point possibly 42/43 does this sound plausible?
     
  11. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    You cannot tell where he was from the information you have you will need the service record. As he was transfered to the reserve in May 1942 and 10th DLI were part of 70 brigade who deployed as Iceland Garrison from October 1940 to December 1941 he wasn`t in hospital in Iceland 42-43 .Sorry.

    Kyle
     
  12. garza71

    garza71 Member

    thank you again for the additional information, perhaps I misunderstood about the hospital thing, it is likely he served in iceland though? Would you happen to know where he may have been from Dec 1941 until his transfer to reserve?

    Also am I to understand that although he went back to being a miner, he could have been called up again if necessary?

    I am in the process of applying for his service record through my parents
     
  13. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    He would not be called upon to wear uniform or be under any military discipline I think that was the correct wording . I have had to ask a former member about the battalions movements from Iceland:-
    Kyle
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2022
  14. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    Hi

    Can you give a better photo of the top card? It is too blurry to read.
    regards

    Robert
     
  15. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi Kyle,

    Men could be recalled to the colours from Class W Reserve.

    I’ve seen a few regular Scots Guards service records on FMP where men who were mobilised from their reserve employment as Police Officers in December 1939 were then transferred back to the Police Force under Class W terms in 1940/41 only to be recalled to their army service again in 1942.

    Steve
     
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  16. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Sorry Steve the quote I gave was slightly wrong/incomplete it should have read :-

    "They were liable at any time to be recalled to the Colours. From the time a man was transferred to Class W, until being recalled to the Colours, he was not subject to military discipline."

    ARMY RESERVE CLASSES P, P(T), T, W AND W(T)

    Thanks Steve

    Kyle
     
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  17. garza71

    garza71 Member

    Thank you for all of your help, it has been really interesting finding things out.

    I have purchased a couple of books on dunkirk, does anyone know what brigade or division( not sure on the terms) the 10th DLO would have been in at dunkirk?
     
  18. garza71

    garza71 Member

    Sorry this is the only one image i have, did you want something specific from.it? I can try and ask my parents

     
  19. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    Hi

    Just wanted to read the top card to see what it said, the bottom form is fine.

    regards

    Robert
     

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