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British deception formations in World War II - Wikipedia

4th Airborne Division
4th Airborne Division was part of Operation Cascade, a 1943 order of battle deception during the North African campaign, and initially based in Palestine.[7]
The division comprised both fictitious and real units. In 1941 Dudley Clarke had conducted Operation Abeam, to play on Italian fears of airborne assault, in which he created the 1st SAS Brigade. During 1941 and 1942 it formed part of Clarke's non-specific plans to deceive the Axis command as to the true size of Allied forces in the region. By the end of 1942 airborne units were training in the Middle East; one such unit, the 4th Parachute Brigade, was combined with 1st SAS to become the 4th Airborne Division. In addition, the division notionally included the 7th Parachute Brigade (comprising Greek Squadrons, Special Forces, and a French Parachute Battalion).[7]
In June 1943, the 4th Parachute Brigade completed training and was assigned to 1st Airborne Division; it was replaced in the 4th Airborne Division by the fictional 6th (Gurkha) Parachute Brigade (comprising the 6th Battalion, 6th Gurkha Regiment, the 160th Parachute Regiment (Gurkha), and the 161st Parachute Regiment (Gurkha)).[7]
The 4th Airborne Division was utilised as part of the fictional British Twelfth Army during Operation Barclay (where it was supposed to be destined for an assault on Greece and Crete) and Operation Zeppelin (where it was presented as part of a simulated threat to Crete).[7]
Unlike most of the other British airborne divisions, 4th Airborne was given an individual insignia. This took the form of an open white parachute with black wings on a blue background.[7]


The other problem is normally when tranferred between theatres there is usually some sort of transit code but in these records there is nothing - we often have people as what code TDBVUJ means and we respond saying its a boarding pass type code to ensure the right people are on the right ship

TD

 

Further ideas:
Posted 30/08/45 to 176 Field Regt RA - this was a holding Regiment
Posted 20/09/45 9th Battalion South Lancashire Regt.
This is where the S. Lancs POW Camp entry comes in. Obviously became POW guard.
See promotions/reversions section in documents. POW Camp 404 was at Ivybridge in Devon. POW Camp 186 was at Berechurch Hall, Colchester.
(Camp 187 was at Ivybridge so it's just possible there is a numbering error).

Tim

 

ABDW. This entry ties in with him becoming part of the Army Air Corps rather than RA. I think ABDW may mean Airborne Duration of War.

Tim

 

Hi Guys, I've just been to talk to the son and what he says his dad told him bears no resemblance to what's on his record. I've got some more details which I'll post. Unfortunately,it raises more questions than answers. 4th Airborne Division had me puzzled too. It was a deception unit created to give the Germans the impression that an invasion of Crete was imminent. PCRA- practice camp royal artillery (I think).
He told his son that he trained at achnacarry and was on an operation to Norway and that he was part of the unit that trained for the tragino operation. Also, he was part of operation stutter.
His red service book is even more puzzling As it states that he was in Special Air Service whilst he was in arnhem but then says Parachute bttn when he was a pow.
Very intriguing.

 

Thanks for your replies, there is so much to get stuck into.

 

I've also found out that he was in three POW camps IV-b, IV- F and xII A. Also, one of the letters home it has him down as Capt. Wood.

 

I'll post all the stuff Glasgow sent through as well. Does anyone know what his brother's service number was. He was called Douglas and was also wounded at Oosterbeek.

 

Hi, the above post should say he was part of operation squatter not stutter (predictive txt) thats the photo I've posted earlier.

 

Hi 13thbattalion,

Your photo in post 8 looked familiar. It's a cropped version of rather famous photo, apparently taken after the disastrous first drop by the SAS in Libya, November 1941. An article from the Daily Mail (Sept. 2016):

1941 photograph of SAS shows The Originals men who survived Operation Squatter | Daily Mail Online

Google Images also brings up quite a few other hits for the photo here.

Regards ...

 

Cee - you just beat me with the photo!
At the moment I can see no major differences between the information being supplied and the Service Records. There are very minor inconsistancies but they can be allowed for bearing in mind he was with Special Forces. There is no reason why he could not have been in the Norwegian Campaign, trained at Achnacharry, trained for Tragino (Operation Colossus) and been in Operation Squatter.
I believe the sequence to be: Joined the RA. Volunteered for Special Forces (Independent Company/Special Services/Commandos) all whilst nominally being in the RA. Was then in 54 HAA which was attached to Royal Marines/Commandos before again volunteering for Parachute Battalion.
Interestingly if the above is correct (training for Tragino and Operation Squatter) it may mean he completed his parachute training in the UK.
A very interesting thread and a very interesting man.

Tim

 

The first No.2 Commando was formed on the 22nd June 1940 for a parachuting role at Cambrai Barracks, Perham Down, near Tidworth, Hants. The Unit at the time consisted of four troops - 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D'. Eventually 11 troops were raised.

In November 1940 the unit would be redesignated as 11 Special Air Service Battalion. They were the airborne part of the Commando "Special Service" units, and had no connection to the SAS later raised by David Stirling They would be renamed 1st Parachute Battalion in September 1941.
Commando Veterans Association

During his time with 2 Commando he was parachuted trained. This is the information that clarifies why the family believed there was a S.A.S. connection. 11th Battalion Parachute Regiment was raised at Kabrit in March 1943.

 

Hi, I think the picture is the one from the newspaper., a relative recognised him from the photo and passed it onto his daughter. When he was with 2 commando, would it still have his parent unit down on his record. It would make sense if that was the case because his book has him down as being in 2 commando, SAS and then para with no mention of RA. My friends brother recalls him talking about L detachment and Stirling, he also was told that Frank had to rebadge before dropping into oosterbeek because of Hitlers commando order. In one of the letters he says he is beaten everyday. Could this be because the Germans found out he was in the commandos.

 

Whats interesting is that after contacting the author of The SAS and LRDG Roll of Honour 1941-47 there is no mention of him, so perhaps Guy's description fits the bill better than your friends memories.



TD

 

Operation Squatter took place on the 16/17th November 1941 in North Africa.

Your man was in the U.K. serving with the 54th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.


54th (City of London) Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
HQ, 160th-162nd (City of London), 312th Btys: Drill Hall, Lytton Grove, Putney S.W. 15

The regiment served under 48th Anti-Aircraft Brigade at the outbreak of war and was still under command in February 1941. On 6 August 1941, 428th Battery replaced 162nd Battery, but left on 29 December 1941.
The regiment was sent to Ceylon in May 1942 and served there under 23rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade in October 1942 and 24th Anti-Aircraft Brigade from February 1943.

The regiment was sent then sent to Egypt and was located there in May 1943.

under 8th Anti-Aircraft Brigade at Tahag.

 

That's what I was thinking when I first read the records. I suggested things might have gotten mixed up But his son is adamant that he remembers correctly. Why would his book record him as being in no. 2 commando, then SAS, when his paper record says he was in HAA? That's what is confusing us.

 

I wonder whether theres an element of family myth cropping up with regards to Stirling and North Africa but like I said, his son is convinced his dad was telling the truth.

 

L detachment LRDG only existed between early 1940 and Sept 1942 - from what has been copied here he was in the UK during the time that detachment was in existance.

It would seem he was a Para as his POW record and service record show, however we often have enquiries made about this or that relative trying to boost their ego, this may be one of them or else relatives have remembered what they were told and have since embelished the stories.

I think for me I have gone around in enough circles on this thread

Cheers
TD

 

Thinking out loud. A few questions:
I note that, apart from Royal Artillery, under Corps in the notebook, the entries have been made at a different time, and maybe in another hand, to the other entries. The notebook shows RA Home to 5/5/42. Whilst he would have nominally been in the RA it makes no mention of the fact he was during this time attached to 2 Commando, Special Service Battalion or 6th PCRA.
Has anyone found out anything about 6th PCRA? Most would only spend a week or two at a RA Practice Camp unless they were on the Base staff. I do wonder whether it is a cover (pure speculation) for Special Service attachment rather like female SOE were attached to the FANY.
Are we certain that it is Frank in the photo or is it merely 'it looks like Frank'?
According to RA 1939-45 54 HAA Rgt 54 HAA were with 1 AA Brigade RM in Ceylon but Guy's info may be more accurate.

Tim

 

TD - think I'm running round after you!
Tim

 

Thanks for your help guys, I really appreciate it. Sorry its ended up going in circles.