Research & pet projects - what are you doing; how's it progressing?

Charlie, I believe Gerald Templar had a role in the Emergency.By weird coincidence I had a photo sent to me with the then Lt Col Templar seated in standard military fashion with the newly formed 9th,Royal Sussex Band. The photo appears by my reckoning to date from mid to late 1940. We only have one definate id for those in the group but Templar was the 9ths CO at that point and seems to be the man in the middle.Let me know if you would like to see copy.

 

Thank you.

I'd like to see a copy in any case--out of curiosity. I have a copy of his (brick of a) biography on my shelf with a lot of detail and photographs. It's conceivable that I might me able to shed some light.

 

Charlie, Will look out the photo.Thanks

 

Charley, Have attached photo in above post but am unable to add any text- something is playing up either on my computer or on website.

 

That is amazing!!

Any chance of recording your next conversation? Not for us - I read some recent comments by an author who was interviewed by someone who botched it in multiple ways. One of the things the author recommended was: RECORD IT, don't take notes during.

 

It's going very well and that was a great stroke of luck, but it's the research into my other grandfather, the one with 1/4 Essex, that has been blessed. I've been in correspondence with the son of the commanding officer of his battalion, the son of his company commander, the son of one sergeant in his company who has photographs of them together and the daughter of another sergeant who actually knew my grandfather before I was even born, and they've all contributed little pieces of the puzzle.

I think he must be smiling on me from up there.

 

For myself, on my last visit to Library and Archives Canada I found the file I really wanted to find (working out the technical details of the Canadian-made Valentine tanks) but I was too pressed for time to photograph the whole file! So things would go really well if I could get a day off and go to Ottawa to the archives...

 

currently a 15 year project, but we are finally making headway!
The 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers actions along the Ypres-Comines canal.
Their records were initially lost in 1940 and then again in the 1980's during a fire at the HHQ.

So I started from scratch without even a list of names. I now have 700 confirmed names, loads of photos, personal diaries and other research that will come together in a book over the next year or so!

keeps me out of trouble

 

I am researching Slade Camp, Oxford. Of all the research I have carried out this has to be the most frustrating as there is little or nothing to find, I have got to the point where, contrary to the physical evidence, I am beginning to believe the damn place didn't exist. I have also been frustrated by every personal account being a contradiction of all the others. Unfortunately the less I find the more I want to find it and this makes life very stressful and frustrating.

 

Another update. After looking at my great granddad’s records again I wondered if he’d ever received the Territorial Efficiency medal. He joined the TA in 1936 and left the army in 1945 after coming home from the POW camp. 12 years is the qualifying period but then I noticed that war service counted double so I put a query into the medal office a while back.

Lo and behold another package arrived at my mum’s today.

 

Well worked out and what a lovely result.

 

It’s a nice bonus - like most 1940 POWs he wasn’t entitled to anything beyond the British War Medal and the 39-45 Star (which I got last summer) nice that there was some other recognition for his service.

 

Is the TM impressed with your great grandad's Army details? This would be the icing on the cake for me, what with all WW2 Stars and medals being un-named.

 

I don’t know. My mum never said. She’s going to give it to me next time I visit. Would be nice but not the end of the world if they didn’t have the name on.

 

Territorial medals are never issued un-named so I would assume this one wont be the exception ? If it isnt named send it back it should be !

Kyle

 

Just texted my mum. She confirms the edge had rank, name and regiment pressed on it.

 

That's excellent.

 

Almost finished my book on the actions of the 2nd Bn RSF along the Ypres-Comines canal 26th - 28th May 1940.
It's just being proof read and i will print some for the relatives of the RSF that join me this year for the battelfield tour and memorial service.
so pleased that their story is not going to be forgotten.

 

Just received an unexpected email. I wrote to the editor of a Forestry Commission newsletter a couple of days ago to enquire about an article by a member of his association, now retired, who mentioned having served in 25 Field Regt R.A. in Hong Kong and Malaya in the early 50s--the article was a number of years old, but I thought it worth a shot.

I've just this evening received a reply directly from the author of that article who was not only in the same regiment as my grandfather, but was in the same battery at the same locations and says he'll be pleased to help me with any questions I have.

I have one or two thousand lined up.

Result!