Forgive me if this request has been posted previously, but I could not find any information on a quick scan - does anyone have the WW2 records for the RE 1017 Docks operation company - My father was in this regiment in North Africa and Palestine early 1942 - end of war I have received his war records, but they do not tell you much Many thanks H
Here's the units diaries if you can get to Kew WO 169/5381 1017 Docks Operating Company 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/10834 1017 Docks Operating Company 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/1812 Companies: 1017 Company 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/5331 Companies: 1017 Company 1945 Jan.- Oct.
Desertman There is not a lot out there about the dock/port operating companies your best bet is to follow Drew,s advice and look up their exploits in the war diaries.
Many thanks guys - looks like a redaers ticket and a visit to Kew is in order.. The problem with the war records I received is they on one or two occasions they mention 'relocated to an uknown destination' - thet helps a lot!! I know my father was in Libya, Italy Egypt and Palestine over the 4 years plus he was out there..just a matter of tracing his routes and from what I can recall he told me many years ago - I recall he mentioned being involved in behind the lines supplies at Monte cassino at some point... Many thanks
Desertman Have a look at Bari & Taranto they both were main supply ports for the push to Monte Cassino and during the battle. Naples was also used in that kind of capacity
I have decided to set up a website in order to assist my research into my father's exploits while he was in North Africa/Mediterranean areas - I know Egypt especially well as I have been visiting there for nearly 20 years, in my capacity as an archaeologist - so the areas and terms etc are quite familiar with me. I have included a page with links, including one to this useful and great site I hope this will help many others who are tracing their relatives in this regiment - the site is in its infancy and will be updated regularly as I discover new information and trawl through the old photographs etc Please visit the site and any comments or information would be welcomed RE1017 dockopcoy
In my ongoing research, and gathering all my father's old personal war files, I came across an Army form N1492 - dated after the war, but concerning a salvage operation in 1943. The form was a 'special award' of £20 for the salvaging of MV Saroena.. I did a search on this vessel and discovered it was a Dutch vessel which was attacked by U boat 81 (U81) in 1943. In fact it was this U-81 that sunk the 'Ark Royal' in 1941. The MV Saroena was attacked on 10 February 1943, the vessel limped into Beirut, where my father was staioned with the 1017 Docks coy, and the ship ran aground, on purpose, in St George's Bay. Repairs were made at this location, where my father must have been involved. From here the vessel sailed to Suez canal, and eventually to Calcutta Dry Dock where it was laid up for some time as no one with experience was able to repair efficiently. The search continues.....
Update - I have now included a section on the website RE1017 dockopcoy which covers the background of the MV Saroena and the relative form sent to my father. If anyone has any additional information on this event, or anything else of interest please comment here...thanks
I will be visiting the Kew National archives early July to search the references above for the war diaries of the R.E Docks operational company 1017 - I will post here if I find anything of interest and of course will add to the website at RE1017 dockopcoy H
Update - I have to go to London to attend a colloquium next week so will be at Kew archives on the 11th - I have the references so hopefully I will be able to extract the information I need if I get in as soon as they open..
Update - well I spent all day at the Kew Archives yesterday...5 main files of the war diaries of the 1017 dock coy ..about 400 pages plus in each including a rather large box stacked inside with the last diaries late 1944 - 45...Needless to say I ran out of time towards file stack number 4...so looks like a return visit is a must, soon. I have many photographs of the files and will sort through when I get time...interesting reads, but had to be strict and was looking for information mainly rgarding my father, of which there were a number of mentions..fortunately all good! mainly concerning awards and promotions and letters of comendations etc... Interesting additions of 'free films' at the Beirut local flix, such as the 'Four Marx bros' and a live performance of George Foreman and his wife Beryl et al...etc I also noticed they had a good water polo team in 1943-44 seemed to have beaten a number of visiting units, including the RN The jig-saw continues...
I will be updating on a weekly basis at my research site RE1017 dockopcoy As I trawl through the info I collected from the unit's war diaries, I will post regular snippets etc. I will notify here when I post a new update/section etc If anyone else is interested in the events of the 1017 Docks operating company in North Africa/Med - or had a relation in that unit, I would like to hear from you Thanks
Update as at July 16 2012 - I have added the R.E.1017 Docks coy report of the salvaging of the MV Dutch vessel Saroena that my father helped to save - it certainly is a different report from the Shell company one! The Saroena was attacked by tha famous Uboat 81 which sank the Ark Royal in 1941. The Saroena incident occurred in February 1943 off Beirut... Here is the link MV Saroena If you scroll to the bottom I have added a link to a pdf file of the unit's report
Hello Desertman Interesting thread and website about your dad and his unit, well done. In your reading through its diaries was the unit ever stationed at Taranto in April 1944? If so, I am curious about any mention of the unloading of vehicles and equipment bound for Polish armored units near Naples. Regards Chris......
Hi Chris - many thanks - received your email and replied - I have yet to read and copy the unit's diaries for 1944 January to December... a Kew visit is scheduled for later in the summer I suggested we could meet up at Kew but I noticed you are in Calgary...so quite a ways to come! Hope you are not flooded out! Regards H
Hello Howard Was a worrisome week. Flooding just missed me as I live next to the Bow River but I've friends who were evacuated and others who lost their home in High River. Look forward to seeing what WO 170/1812 says about Taranto, thanks and much appreciate your keeping me in mind. Chris.....
Hi - I have as yet to make a follow up visit to Kew, hopefully soon to check out the last war diary entries. In the meantime, I have written up, and will be on the website soon, a 12 page article on the connection with my father, the salvage of the Saroena, the Ark Royal sinking and U-boat 81 - I have called it 'The Beirut file - 1943' - as soon as it is up I will update here - The main site is http://www.ambilacuk.com/re1017dockopcoy/
My grandfather, Temporary Major Harry Colwell Gay was in charge of the salvage operation and wrote the docks company report. He received an MBE for his efforts
