Research: Frederick Arthur Roper b. 27/07/1910 @ N Africa 1942-3

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by J T Wilson, Nov 15, 2019.

  1. J T Wilson

    J T Wilson New Member

    My Grandfather's WW2 service is very difficult to find. But I do know that he served in the Army in N Africa and was probably stationed to Suez sub area c.1942-3.
    His rank was Sergeant and it is likely he served as a Army Territorial before the outbreak of war. His UK address was Kingsbury / Edgware, Middlesex.

    I have no record of the Regiment / Unit he served with. Request to MOD, Glasgow for service record has not been responded to.

    One earlier record from 1927 turns up when he joined Navy straight from school, but he was discharged / invalided out in 1927.

    Please, where might I continue to search for his unit?
     
  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    When you say that Glasgow have not responded when did you apply? (has the cheque been cashed).This is the ONLY route for the official service records and, accordingly, there can be a long wait, others may be along to give an idea of the present delay but it was, at one time, 9 to 12 months.

    Edit: are you saying he was JX128461, born Newport IOW?

    Edit: Can I assume that is your family tree on Ancestry, in which case he is also shown as J108790 who was born 29 April 1908 and also being awarded a Naval Long Service award in 1942 under number KX78297?
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2019
  3. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    There are two soldiers called F.A. Roper in the casualty lists.

    6141864 Pte F.A. Roper. 2nd Btn East Surrey Regiment who was captured by the Japanese on the 15th February 1941 at the fall of Singapore.

    2148244 Sgt F.A. Roper. 926 Railway Bridging Coy, Royal Engineers who was wounded in Western Europe on the 8th March 1945.

    There well may have been other F.A. Ropers in the British Army during WW2.

    THE 5TH RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE GROUP RE REPLACE A DEMOLISHED BRIDGE OVER THE ORNE AT CAEN (PART 6) [Allocated Title]
     
  4. J T Wilson

    J T Wilson New Member

    Many thanks for the above gents.

    I intend to call the Glasgow Helpline, as my mother made the request more than 12 months ago.

    Hello Tony - Yes, he is JX128461 born IOW - and discharged from Navy before he completed training. He is not J108790 and that record is attached to the Ancestry tree in error. i assume the same is true for KX78297, as my grandfather was already discharged and could not have re-joined?? However, i will look closely at KX78297. Thank you

    Hello High Wood - I had a look at 6141864 on Ancestry and am fairly sure he is not the same. Also there is no family evidence my F A Roper was a POW and I believe he did return on leave during the time of the Japanese imprisonment.

    2148244 is a possibility - before the war my grandfather was a Bricklayer, so i assume this skill would find a place in the Royal Engineers. I had seen this before and rejected it, but i will look again. Presumably there is little chance of finding links between this 926 Bridging Coy and any units he may have been in at Suez?

    Julian
     
  5. wibs12

    wibs12 Well-Known Member

    Looking into link between Suez and 926 Railway Bridging Coy to check the case for him being 2148244 FA Roper..... nothing definitive, but suggestive that this is not your guy so far.

    Link to page on this forum (see here) suggests Railway Bridging Coy elements of RE didn't appear on war establishment until Dec-43 (you mention Suez being a link in 12m prior, 1942-3), and the Roll of Honour for the Railway Transportation units of the RE (SVR, Highley... see this link) shows x2 deaths of guys in the 926th, both between Dec-43 and Apr-44, both buried either side of the Holland / Germany border near to Njimegen.
     

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