Hi all, I’m new here so forgive me if I’m asking the wrong questions. I have recently started looking into my grandfather’s service record and was hoping if any of you could point me in the right direction to find out any more information. I’ve attached photos of his service record. I also have his medical records and his medals but for now I’m just looking at where he served. He used to tell me a few stories (he would not tell them to anyone else other than me) If you can spare the time to have a look at the attached photos that would be great. Many thanks Paul
Unless I'm being dim (not unheard of) I can't see anything in those 4 pics that notes which specific part of the Royal Artillery he was attached to. Whilst he was no doubt a very well travelled bloke with a heck of a service in the expeditionary forces in France 1940, the Med, North Africa and North West Europe, it's difficult to pinpoint further without knowing which bit of the RA he was with etc. Applying to the MOD for his full service records is the way to go........ see here for guidance. Other than that, post images of his medical records see if that helps us?
March 1940 he was with 16th Heavy Battery, 1st Heavy Brigade according to the casualty returns which have him dangerously ill at that time
Confirmation of the above two posts who were quicker off the mark. Casualty list No. 163 dated 27 March 1940 Expeditionary force / Dangerously ill / Date of casualty 23.3.1940 886741 Sowerby Dvr C / 16th Hvy. Bty. 1st Hvy. Bde. His Royal Artillery Attestation states "Extracted to NSRW". I stand to be corrected but believe this is 'National Service Reserve Wing'. But, as suggested above, send off for his official records: Get a copy of military service records
BEF = British Expeditionary Force MEF = Middle East Force BNAF = British North Africa Force NWE = North West Europe Note that your grandfather had the Africa Star with the 8th Army clasp.
Hi Thanks do much for your information, I will apply for the records but see it could take a few months for these to come through. What we do know is that he was in the desert rats 8th army and also served in Arnhem I've attached his medical records if this helps. Any information you can provide before the records come through would be amazing. Here are the medals that we have I also have his Attestation , He actually lied about his age as he was born in 1922 but signed up when he was 16 so lied to say he was born in 1920 (Mod edit; merged 3 posts)
Hi, Thanks for sharing the images. FYI Another reason to apply for his service records is to clarify the inconsistency between his Medal Entitlement recorded in his B108 book and the actual medal images you’ve posted above. His B108 entitlement shows 39/45 Star but no Defence Medal and you've posted a Defence Medal image but no 39/45 Star. Steve