Re: William Connor Birchall- Desert Rats

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by William Birchall, Oct 6, 2012.

  1. William Birchall

    William Birchall Junior Member

    Hi,
    This is my 1st post to this forum, so apologies if it is in the wrong section.

    The above was my father and he served in the 11th Hussars and was a Desert Rat.His Army No. was 7953799 and he was a Trooper and Gunner Mechanic Class III. He served in the North African campaign, through into Italy and subsequently right through to Berlin. He was awarded:-
    1939/45 Star
    Italy Star
    France and Germany Star
    Africa Star
    War Medal 1939/45
    Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate any more detailed information, but I do have a few photos, one of which I will try to attach. The back of the photo says 'first morning in Hamburg, we were first in most of it after they surrendered'
    1) Bunny Austin
    2) Busty Whittaker
    3) Tich......... My father!

    If anyone can throw any light on his army career, I would be extremely grateful. I am really looking to find what he was involved in. I have got a few other photos, if they might be useful, but this one named individuals, so I thought that might be more useful.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Welcome. For starters, have you seen the online 11 H War Diary? It might be worth searching the text for Birchall - no guarantees, but the smaller units with low turnover (casualties) are often more detailed. For an overview there's also the 7 Armd Div site.

    May I also be the first to recommend applying for his service records, but be prepared for a long wait. Though, if he was with 11H for the duration, they will probably only bookend his service.

    If you can narrow down his squadron (of which there were several in the regiment), that will help immensely as the squadrons often operated independently.
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hello and welcome to the forum
     
  4. William Birchall

    William Birchall Junior Member

    Welcome. For starters, have you seen the online 11 H War Diary? It might be worth searching the text for Birchall - no guarantees, but the smaller units with low turnover (casualties) are often more detailed. For an overview there's also the 7 Armd Div site.

    May I also be the first to recommend applying for his service records, but be prepared for a long wait. Though, if he was with 11H for the duration, they will probably only bookend his service.

    If you can narrow down his squadron (of which there were several in the regiment), that will help immensely as the squadrons often operated independently.

    Hi Idler

    Thank you for the advice. I have looked at both websites and unfortunately 'Birchall' does not figure. I am unsure how I would know which Squadron he was in. Where would I get that from?

    I believe that my Mother applied for his Army Records, but I cannot now, locate them. I do recall, that they appeared to say very little.
    Someone on one of the Military websites, some years back, said that he had reports which showed my Father on them, and said that he would forward them, but never did, despite reminders. So there must be something out there, it is just a question of finding where. He was in the 11th Hussars throughout the war, from North Africa to Berlin.

    Bill
     
  5. William Birchall

    William Birchall Junior Member

    Hello and welcome to the forum
    Hi Drew5233,

    Thanks for the link, but I am not even sure, what I would be looking for, knowing nothing but my Fathers Army No.

    Bill
     
  6. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    Hi and welcome to the forum.
     
  7. idler

    idler GeneralList

    The only likely source might be wartime letters and, of course, he may not have been in the same squadron throughout the war. It was really a bit of wishful thinking on my part!
     
  8. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hello and welcome to the forum

    Good luck with your research

    Lesley
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi William,

    If he was with the 11 Hussars throughout the war here are the war diary ref's at The National Archives for all of them. They will contain whats on the website that Idler posted plus they may contain a collection of admin orders, standing orders, maps, nominal rolls, field returns etc etc. Note I said MAY, you never really know what you are going to get in a war diary until you look.

    WO 169/220 11 Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) 1939 Sept.- 1940 Dec.

    WO 169/1390 11 Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) 1941 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 169/4490 11 Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) 1942 Jan.- 1943 Jan.

    WO 169/9320 11 Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) 1943 Jan.-Nov.

    WO 169/9321 'A' Squadron 11 Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) 1943 Jan.-May, Sept., Oct.

    WO 169/9322 'B' Squadron 11 Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) 1942 Dec.-1943 Oct.

    WO 169/9323 'C' Squadron 11 Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) 1943 Feb.-Nov.

    WO 171/844 11 Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) 1944 June- Dec.

    WO 171/4690 11 Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) 1945 Jan.- Dec.
     

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