Service history on my Grandfather Royal ulster Rifles

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Fiona_daniel, Jun 13, 2012.

  1. Fiona_daniel

    Fiona_daniel Junior Member

    Ok second pic in post 15 shows your pops wearing a maroon beret as opposed to a GS cap and more than likely on the bottom of the right sleeve is a glider badge this puts him in the 1st battalion.

    Wow, I just thought he looked handsome in his uniform.. Ok great lead......... I don't know how to thank you, So thank you!!
     
  2. Fiona_daniel

    Fiona_daniel Junior Member

    The 1st Battalion RUR was part of the glider-borne 6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division. As such, the battalion participated in the D-Day airborne operation (MALLARD) and fought on through much of the rest of the campaign. The 6th Airborne and its units next fought in Operation VARSITY, the airborne assault across the Rhine in 1945. Despite its lack of organic motor transport, the 6th played a vigorous part in the subsequent pursuit and exploitation across the north German plain. After the end of the war in Europe, I believe the 6th Airborne went to India for possible operations against the Japanese. The war in the east ended before it got into action again, though. The division also spent some time in Palestine after the war, dealing with the violence there. If your father was with 1st RUR through it all, then he had a very eventful war. So, if he was in the 1st Bn he was not exactly a paratrooper but he was airborne.

    I know Poppa had a medal from the Palestine war 100%, This information is sooooooo awesome... Here's hoping I can find out more on him! Brilliant!! I don't know how to thank you, Truly don't!!:lol:
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I'm beginning to feel like I have every war diary going these days - I'll have a look for a nominal roll. Be right back.
     
  4. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    Hi Fiona.

    Here he is on the 1st Bn RUR Medal Roll for the GSM (General Service Medal) + Palestine Clasp.
     

    Attached Files:

    CL1 likes this.
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Sorry no Nominal Roll so hard to tell if he is listed without reading the whole file - 336 pages.
     
  6. Fiona_daniel

    Fiona_daniel Junior Member

    Hi Fiona.

    Here he is on the 1st Bn RUR Medal Roll for the GSM (General Service Medal) + Palestine Clasp.


    Thank you so much! :Cartangry:
     
  7. Fiona_daniel

    Fiona_daniel Junior Member

    Sorry no Nominal Roll so hard to tell if he is listed without reading the whole file - 336 pages.


    Thats ok, can you access this roll online? I have 12 hours in front of a computer for a job, This will keep me going for at least a few of those hours!! LOL..
     
  8. Hi Fiona,

    My advice, given that you know his service number and regiment IS to contact your new found cousins and ask their permission if they are next of kin in order to make a request for his service details - it will get harder to do this the longer you wait. Knowing the service number is priceless because without this you'd need to know the unit he was discharged from which might not be the regiment he joined. With their permission, a copy of death certificate (think an obit is OK as well???) and the service number you'll have no problem.

    You might also consider using the services of other members who will copy the regiment's War Diary. The chances are that he won't be mentioned by name if he wasn't an officer (commissioned or non) - they were simply referred to as OR's (Other Ranks) but it will let you read on a day by day basis where the regiment was and what they were doing.

    I'd certainly recommend PsyWar.Org who posted earlier and who has already done a few for me and I need to use again.

    Once again - contact your cousins - you don't want to wait 13 years do you?
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I just received my copy of 'The Rifles are There' by David Orr and David Truesdale (RUR History of WW2) today and my first impressions of the book are rather good, especially from 1944 onwards.
     

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