Trace my Dad and his regiment

I recently came across this picture of my Dad and signed on the back I think it says 2nd airbourne 1944.
His name was William Bolton born 1927.
He never spoke of WWII until one night he mentioned he lost a good few mates when they got parachuted in somewhere and they were machine gunned down while in the air.
He made out as though he wasn't there that day but I honestly don't know if he was or not as he kept his experiences to himself and very rarely spoke of it.
He would have been very young so I think he wither lied about his age or only signed up near the end of the war. I just have no information other than the picture. At the time he would have lived in the North West of England.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

Your starting point ought to be to apply to MOD for his service papers via this link -

Requests for personal data and service records: a detailed guide

You don’t need an Army Service Number as MOD will search on full name and DOB.

Depending on which month he was born in 1927 it is unlikely he served during WW2 as a conscript (probably called up for Post War National Service when he turned 18) but may have enlisted in the Regular Army under age.

You’ll likely need to return to the forum for further assistance once you receive his service papers.

Dint get sucked into paying for supposed information on any internet site just wait for the official service records.

Good Luck

Steve

 

Heeley.

Tullybone's advice on getting hold of your father's Service Record is absolutely sound.

The bit that has foxed me is that the photo says 1944 Austria. That would make him a Prisoner of War.

Regards

Frank

 

The problem with writing on the back of photos, as I have found with some of my family photos,is that one often doesn't know when it was written or by whom. It can sometimes be very misleading.

 

The thought occurs that if he did lie about his age to enlist then the DoB on his service record may not be 1927 which might make retrieving it difficult.

 

Let's try and confirm DoB
These are these 6 in 1927.
William Bolton birth registration: 1927. Bolton, Lancashire, mother: Robinson
William Bolton. birth registration: 1927. Wigan, Lancashire, mother: Harrison.
William R Bolton. birth registration: 1927. Chelmsford, Essex, mother: Mould
William R B Bolton. birth registration: 1927. Bolton, Lancashire, mother: Ramsbottom
William F Bolton. birth registration: 1927. Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales. mother: Wood
William A H Bolton. Birth Registration: 1927. Gloucester, Gloucestershire, Mother Day.
There may be others!
Do any of them match?

 

To my eyes the date seems to have a 7 overwritten on a 4?

The uniform seems to be of a postwar vintage and he’s the cleanest, happiest and most well nourished POW I’ve seen?

Steve

 

Harrison rings a bell, I hardly know anything about my grandparents as we left for Australia as a £10 pom in the 60's and they past away when I was young.
I think Harrison was my dads mums maiden name I think she was irish as well if that helps Thanks

 

William Bolton found in 5 trees

1. William Bolton from tree Bolton/Hill family tree
   Record information.
   Birth 06/1927 Wigan Lancashire England
   Marriage 04/1952 Wigan Lancashire England
   Death 01/1992 Wigan Lancashire England
   Record information.
   Father Gilbert Bolton (1902-1976)
   Record information.
   Mother Agnes Harrison (1906-1975)
   
   TD
   
2. The very best way to answer your initial question is with service records - details are given above

 

That's him

 

England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007
View Record
Name
William Bolton
Death Age
64
Birth Date
10 May 1927
Registration Date
Jan 1992
Registration district
Wigan
Inferred County
Greater Manchester
Volume
39
Page
2660

You will need a copy of his death certificate when you apply for his service records
TD

 

Ok thanks so much for the help, I'm not very good at all this

 

Use the link Steve gave in the second post for guidelines and access to the MOD forms - fortunately it’s not too complex

TD

 

Will do, the date on the picture might have been altered from to 1944 I'm not sure by who or at what point.
The only thing he told me as a kid that stuck in my mind was he said he was the on border patrol and I'm not 100% whether it's my mind playing tricks but I seem to remember him saying they were there to capture escaping Germany soldiers probably said that as Dads do to kids oh and they shot a few wolves. As a child they stuck in the old memory bank but I like to think he was there saving they day but alas the truth might be alot more mundane. I still loved the geezer all the same

 

I don’t think it says “2nd Airborne”. What was 2nd Airborne?

The “2” looks more like a “Z” and the word starting with “A” is too long for “Airborne”. A place or mountain name perhaps. If so I haven’t been able to find it!

Richard

 

Looks as if the 7 in 1947 has been written in the continental fashion with a crossbar but the word does appear to be Airborne

 

I did a search for places similar written to airbourne but I didnt come up with anything

 

Can I suggest you obtain his service records first. Knowing what units he was in and when will allow the diaries for those units to be obtained and they will provide details of where that unit was and when it was there - it will z as void you and others from going down blind alleys etc

TD

 

Hi,

My two penneth is that I think the “2 Airborne” is actually Zee (Lake) Something, Austria (May be written phonetically).

It’s more likely a person would write the location of the scenic photo than his unit.

British troops were in Austria until the mid 1950’s as an occupying force with the Russians - who had kept many soldiers in their zone while most ex German soldiers in British hands had been released by 1948.

Steve

 

As it's in the Austrian mountains, could it be "zur Ambonneren" or some such similar word, meaning "to the glacier/ski slopes" or whatever?