Royal Army Service Corp N Africa and Italy

I am new to this site. I am trying to find out about my father Benjamin (Ben) Severn. I understand he served with the RASC. His service number 1686305. I have a photograph of him with a corporal's stripes but I understand by 1945 he was acting Sergeant. I have his medals which include Africa Star and Italy Star. My father said very little to me about his war experiences and all I can remember is his mentioning the North African desert, Sicily and Mont Cassino. I would be interested if my father's nam ehas cropped up in anyone's researches

 

Hi David welcome to the forum, good luck with your research.
Just a thought have you got his service records from the MOD Glasgow
Here is a link if you need them. Well worth it at £30

Error


David

 

Thank you Lotus7, but maybe the wrong link? It seems to take me to a DVLC site!

 

https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

OOPPPPSSSS BIG error sorry.

Hope this ones right Ha Ha. The info you can get from his records is fantastic

Red faced David

 

David, good luck with your enquiries. My Dad took a similar journey with the RASC, went to N Africa in 1941 and then on to Sicily in 1943. However he then returned to England before going to Normandy rather than Italy.

Brian

 

HI David

My Dad did the same, but was in the RA.
Worth getting his service records, then maybe you can get war diary when you know what battalion.

regards

Robert

 

Thanks to those who have commented. I wonder if you could enlighten me on how the British Army was organised as I am totaly ignorant on this subject. I found a reference to a Benajmin Severn of the Royal Army Service Corps. That would fit with my father as what little he said about the war I can remember that he drove a lorry. But having now obtained a photo of him in his uniform it shows quite clearly that he has on his left epaulette the distinctive Axe badge which I understand belongs to the 78th Infantry Division ( and as that served N Africa, Sicily and Monte Cassino that would also fit with my father). So when applying for my father's service record do I say he was in the RASC, or the 78th Infantry Division ( or both!)?

 

Hi David, no you do not have to specify what unit/units he was in. They do not need to know that
Hope this helps


David

 

Hi

I have the war diary for the 78th Division CRASC from July to December 1943. Once you have your fathers records I would be happy to see if his unit appears in this document. My fathers RASC unit was (briefly) under command of 78th Division as they fought up the Adriatic side of Italy in late 43.

Are you aware of Ken Fords excellent book, Battleaxe Division published by the History Press, ISBN: 9780750931991

http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/index.php/military-history-books/battleaxe-division-pb.html

This contains a number of accounts describing the work of the RASC in supporting troops with food and ammunition, often right up to front line positions.

 

David

The 78th Division was primarily made up to land on the Algerian coast with 1st Army and fought their way to Tunisia before fighting in Sicily -with 8th Army then on toItaly in the September

of 1943 where

they captured the main Airfields at Foggia - later took part in Battles # 3 & #4 at Cassino…..after Rome was captured in june '44 they were near Florence area when they were sent to Egypt

for rest and reinforcement - returning to fight at the Gothic Line in late August / September during the Spring campaign they crossed the River Po and finished up in Spital in SW Austria

cheers

 

Thank you Tom, hutt and David for your very helpful comments

David

 

If you do apply for your fathers records it would be great to see them posted on here and I am sure we can point you further, particularly with war diaries from the National Archives at Kew.
Good luck