Pioneer Corps 9th Coy in North Africa

Hello
I am new to this site and just starting out deciphering my father in law's WWII army service records which we received from TNA a couple of days ago. I am a newby to WWII lingo too.

I have managed to decipher a lot already using your really useful guidance,but am struggling on a couple of areas, which I am hoping someone can help with.

He is from Newcastle and enlisted in October 1939 in the Green Howards as a Pte aged 21, then after moving through several battalions (5th, 50th & 12th) transferred to the Pioneer Corps 114 Coy in June 1942, then 96th Coy in August 1942-all somewhere in the UK.
Q1. Any advice on how to find where in the UK these battalions/companies were at points in time? I have found a link to the 96 Company war diaries on TNA. Is it worth the initial £8 to have these assessed for copying or could there be other info available?
Q2. Why did soldiers get posted to lots of different Battalions/Companies?

On 13 November 1942 the records show he "W1569/5035 Disemb NA" (North Africa)
Q3. I can't find any info on where in N Africa this company landed ? Possibly Algiers as we know from hospital info he was there shortly afterwards??

After 1 month he was admitted to 96 General Hospital, the list of hospitals only has this as 'overseas'.
He was then in 31 Gen Hospital (Oued Athmania, Algiers), then 95 Gen Hospital (Beni Aknoun, Algiers).
No medical info though on why he was in hospital over that 6 months, the admission & discharge card is blank on diagnosis. The family seem to know that he was shot in the leg in the war.
Q4. I assume that TNA have sent us all of his war records or could there be something else we can request?

He was disembarked to the UK in August 1943 and posted to R&D.
Q5. Any idea what R&D is?

thanks very much in advance of any replies.
I'm sure I'll have more queries as we get further into this.

 

Hi June,

Reference Pioneer Company War Diaries - you can access them here but will require a small fee:

96 Company - 1940-46 - page 1 - The Royal Logistic Corps Museum
114 Company - 1940-46 - page 1 - The Royal Logistic Corps Museum

Regards

Bruneval

 

Thanks very much for the links. I will have a more detailed look at these.
Regards
JuneO

 

JuneO,

Can you please add your subject's full name, Date of Birth and Service Number? That will help to conduct research and we can check if he has appeared here before your post.

Q1. Any advice on how to find where in the UK these battalions/companies were at points in time?

A. You could try Wikipedia, it can help, though not perfect. Secondly, try searching here with an online search, so for example "Pioneer Corps" + "114 Company" site:ww2talk.com (you could try using Coy separately. The Green Howards Wiki should have some information. As will: Royal Pioneer Corps - Wikipedia

Q2. Why did soldiers get posted to lots of different Battalions/Companies?

A. Initially newly enlisted soldiers joined their regiment / corps, were given initial training and assessment before being allocated to a unit (later the Army changed this in early 1942). I would suggest he was not found to fit in an infantry battalion, so was posted to the Pioneer Corps. Soldiers went where the army needed them, sometimes in groups, even whole units changed role etc.

Q3A I can't find any info on where in N Africa this company landed? Possibly Algiers as we know from hospital info he was there shortly afterwards? On 13 November 1942 the records show he "W1569/5035 Disemb NA" (North Africa).

A. He would have been part of the Anglo-US Operation Torch on 8-16/11/1942 that landed in Vichy French controlled Algeria and Morocco. It was initially opposed by the French, then attacked from air and sea by the Italian & German forces. He would have missed the advance eastwards to Tunisia, where the Axis forces surrendered on 13/5/1943.

Q3B. He was then in 31 Gen Hospital (Oued Athmania, Algiers), then 95 Gen Hospital (Beni Aknoun, Algiers).

A. All will have short histories on: Hospitals WW2 - Scarlet Finders Note the colonial names may have changed after independence. Some members can search paid websites for Casualty Returns, hopefully they will be along.

Q3C. No medical info though on why he was in hospital over that 6 months, the admission & discharge card is blank on diagnosis.

A. The MoD & TNA do not normally release any medical information under confidentiality. Others have asked before if hospital records exist, no-one IIRC has found any!

Q4. I assume that TNA have sent us all of his war records or could there be something else we can request?

A. You are right to assume. I suggest you upload the images and sleuth here can offer their knowledge. (Details on uploading via Private Message).

Q5. He was disembarked to the UK in August 1943 and posted to R&D.Any idea what R&D is?

A. Research & Development. That can mean anything, e.g. weapon development included testing and sites had to be prepared and guarded. For abbreviations I rely on: WW2 Abbreviations and Acronyms | Researching the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers

Good luck.

 

Thank you again. I will work through this and then post more info.
Really helpful!