Can you find out which particular unit someone served in from only his Name and regimental number, he was in a POW camp in Thailand 1942 to 1945?
Not really, the Number will only signify which Regiment they initially enlisted with. Why don't you post the name & number here and maybe someone can check POW registers for you. Cheers Paul
Thank Paul, Details as follows; Rank unknown 6918647 William Bragg Camp TH Date of capture 15.2.42 Date of liberation 02.9.45 Cheers Steve
As Paul says all that can be told is what regiment/Corps he enlisted into . That's all. 6918647 This case it's The Rifle Brigade 6905001 - 6972000 see this thread. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/4837-army-number-block-allocations/ Have edited thread title & moved to POW section of forum.
Just looked on CWGC at chaps with similar number. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1 There are 3 starting 69186** that are listed as 18th Recce. Doesn't mean that your chap was with them but might be a lead as they only ones with that number that are in the Far East. They might have had a block of Riflemen transfer to Recce Regt. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2089353/CULLEN,%20FRANCIS http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/4017936/DENYER,%20WILLIAM%20CHARLES http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/4017932/DENTON,%20HENRY%20WALTER
Thanks for the information chaps and apologies for posting it in the wrong forum Owen. I am waiting on a photo of my mothers uncle which has a clear shot apparently of his cap badge so I am hoping I can work out from this which regiment he belonged too and get some research done whilst I am awaiting his service records? I cant believe how I have been drawn in to this researching! It started out with tracing one grandfather (Tpr Greening T.E "141 Regt the Buffs"), then onto my mothers side ( Pte Bragg G.M "Pioneer") only to learn he had a brother (Pte Bragg W.E) who was a POW in Thailand. Have been doing a lot of reading of late on various theatres of World War Two, and I would be lying if I said their hasn't been a time when I have found myself wiping away a tear and feeling somewhat "not sure if this is the correct word" But very humble. Cheers Junkyard
Steve , research on a personal nature of ww2 is very distressing and I think everyone feels very humble on learning what they all went through. Researching my dads war years made me distraught but then these ww2 Vets on here share a moment of the lighter side of their war and l read their stories on here and I am in awe of them. Knowing these chaps and ladies on here they will soon have your questions answered.. Elsie
Steve, To put a couple of more accurate dates on this: Sent to the Railroad on 02.11.42 , this was known as "P Party". Sent to Saigon on 02.02.45 (actually sailed 04.02.45) on the Haruyasa Maru. (Not Aug 45 as he had entered on his Liberation Q) I believe (someone correct me if I am wrong please) , that the 18 Recce were still known as the 5th Loyal Regiment when they sailed from UK. Mike
Steve great to have another Recce on board. I will add your uncles name to my Nominal Roll that I am attempting to compile. 30th April 1941: Formed from the 5th Battalion of the Loyals (North Lancashire Regiment) at Madeley Heath, Staffordshire 9th May 1941: 18th Reconnaissance Battalion (The Loyal Regiment) 15th February 1942: Captured at the fall of Singapore where it had arrived just at the time of surrender and never had a real chance to fight. It was termed a Reconnaissance Battalion & not retitled as a Reconnaissance Regiment as it was captured prior to the adoption of the cavalry nomenclature by Recce Corps units. Link to War Diary http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/31055-18-recce-war-diary/ Cheers Paul
Fantastic information form all of you, Paul thanks for the link to the war diary and the added info cant wait to start reading. And Mike thanks for the accurate dates, ship and work party name. Cheers Steve
Did the 18th reconnaissance Battalion serve in any other theatre of ww2 prior to sailing to Singapore? Cheers Steve
