My father like many said little of his actual experiences in WW2, he spoke openly of being in Western Desert and Italy and being in Rome on 'VE day. I have his Army Records which are almost as vague on detail as he was and pose many questions and I'd like to find out more if possible. I've read many accounts of the Desert War and numerous books on the war in Italy and tried to research various lines on the internet to find more detail but to no avail. My father's records show he was a driver in the RASC with 1st Armoured Div, 2nd Army Brigade and in 910 & 925 company. Does anyone have knowledge of the 910/925 company and its route from Africa to Italy and through Italy or could suggest how I find out more please. AndrewG
Hi I have a couple of cross references to 925Coy in one of my fathers unit diaries late in 1945 in Italy. I'll post the details over the weekend. The Kew search engine seem unreachable at the moment but from one of my spreadsheets there is a diary for 910 Coy in the WO166 (Home forces) series and will try a more detail search another time but I suspect 910 was an Anti Aircraft Company, ie supplying AA regiments engaged in the air defence of the UK. Would you be happy to post his record or at least transcribe it in detail? Graham
Graham, Thank you for your reply. The records show the following 2 coy BD Embarked UK for ME 8/1/42 disembarked 5/3/42 By 7/9/42 had become part of 910 (record logs an injury) 910 SOS MEF to BNAF 1/9/43 SOS to 925 Armoured Brigade coy 20/10/43 It appears my father remained with 925 until his return home on 31/12/45 when he then becomes part of 749 coy until his demob in 46. My father had a couple of periods in 56 rest camp Rome one Jan 45 and a further one in Apr 45 and was medically 're graded C1 Sept 45. There are various listings with regard to his promotion to l/cpl, vaccinations and LIAP in July 45 interspersed in the above, but nothing as to where he left North Africa or where he landed in Italy, any detail would be much appreciated. Andrew
Hi Andrew-These are the war diaries you seek: WO 166/4901 910 Anti-Aircraft Company 1939 Aug-1940 Mar WO 169/6076 910 Company 1942 Jan-Dec WO 169/12013 910 Company 1943 Jan-Oct WO 166/4909 925 Anti-Aircraft Company 1939 Nov WO 169/6080 925 Company 1942 Jan-Dec WO 169/12017 925 Company 1943 Jan-Dec WO 170/2609 925 Company 1944 Jan-Dec WO 170/5868 925 Company 1945 Jan-Dec WO 170/8422 925 Company 1946 Jan-Feb Cheers Andy
Andrew Here are the references to 925 Coy that appear in the diary of the 1503 Arty Platoon RASC (Heavy) between June and September 1945 during the period of their disbandment and the distribution of the men elsewhere. My father had already left in March / April and was back down in Naples on a course then onto Taranto until he returned home in November 45. Obviously the diaries that Drew refers to wil give you a full picture but I would guess your fathers unit may have been in the broad vicinity at the time. Dolo is about half way between Padua and Venice. There is also a diary for 56 Rest Camp which may be of interest at WO 170/7304. 19/06/1945 Dolo mr G 508503. Warm and Sunny. 30 vehicles on detail. 3 ORs posted to 925 Coy RASC (Armd. Bde). 01/09/1945 Dolo mr G 508503. Warm and Sunny. Normal details. 1 OR posted to 925 Coy RASC (Armd Bde). 1 OR posted to 59 Port Det RASC. 2 OR posted to 57 DID RASC. 10 OR posted to 19 Fd Butchery RASC. 14 OR'S proceed on Rail LIAP. 14/09/1945 Dolo mr G 508503. Warm and Sunny. Preps for disbandment continue. 22 OR's posted to 277 Coy RASC Awaiting joining instructions. 4 OR's posted to 88 Coy RASC (Amb Car). 14 OR's posted to 216 Coy RASC (BPT). 1 OR's posted to 309 Coy RASC (GT). 1 OR's posted to 925 Coy RASC (Armd Bde). 1 OR's posted to 241 Coy RASC (Stn Tpt). Unit accounts closed. Graham
Graham/Drew, Thanks for the info, really interesting, I'll consider the Kew route, but if anything else comes to mind that is relevant it would be much appreciated. Regards Andrew
