Trying to find service number and records for my Great Uncle Jonathan George Howells. Born Gilfach Goch, Glamorgan, South Wales on 3 August 1911 and died in Stafford on 14 November 1977. All I know about his military history is that he was wounded in Dunkirk and was honorary guard to Edward (Prince of Wales). Think he was private (Guardsman) Welsh Guards. Any info would be hugely appreciated.
Hi If you are searching for his Army Number for the purposes of applying for copy service records, it shouldn't be necessary. You have his DOB and that should be sufficient for an application to WG RHQ at Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London SW1E 6HQ (fee and copy death certificate required). Sounds like he may have seen service with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards e.g. No. 1 Company of the 1st Battalion was and is still referred to as Prince of Wales Company. Without copy service records we can only speculate as to dates and battalions. Records will provide more than just confirmation of his service number, it will show when exactly he enlisted, with which battalion(s) he served, as well as any courses, transfers, promotions or medals issued. Good luck with your research
No luck with that search, I didn't write but spoke to someone who did a search over the phone but there were no records for Jonathan Howells. I found his uncle WWI with no trouble at all. Are there any other avenues I could try?
If the Guards can't find him, is it possible that he came out before the war started to be recalled and put elsewhere? His Guards service records might then have been transferred to his new regiment/corps. If you do an application to MoD that should flush him out; I don't think they will take the fee if they can't find him.
As you say he was wounded he should appear on a casualty list. Tony56 and harkness found some chaps recently so will ask them to look .
Via FindmyPast, these are the results of a search for all Casualties with Howells + Welsh Guards ...none with initials JG Ignoring DJ Howells, as he was a WW2 fatality, this leaves... First name(s) E Last name Howells Year 1945 Capture year 1945 Service number 2739073 Rank - Rank as transcribed Gdsm Regiment Welsh Guards Regiment as transcribed 1st Battalion Welsh Guards Sub-unit 1st Battalion Archive reference WO 417/89 PIece description Casualty Lists - Other Ranks 1693 - 1712. Archive The National Archives Record set British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945 Category Military, armed forces & conflict Subcategory Second world war Collections from Great Britain, UK None First name(s) S Last name Howells Year 1940 Capture year 1940 Service number 2733112 Rank Guardsman Rank as transcribed Gdsmn Regiment Welsh Guards Regiment as transcribed 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards Sub-unit 2nd Battalion Theatre of war France Archive reference WO 417/18 PIece description Casualty Lists - Other Ranks 304 - 322 Archive The National Archives Record set British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945 Category Military, armed forces & conflict Subcategory Second world war Collections from Great Britain, UK None First name(s) S Last name Howells Year 1940 Capture year 1940 Service number 2733112 Rank Guardsman Rank as transcribed Gdsmn Regiment Welsh Guards Regiment as transcribed Welsh Guards Theatre of war France Archive reference WO 417/12 PIece description Casualty Lists - Other Ranks 201 - 226 Archive The National Archives Record set British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945 Category Military, armed forces & conflict Subcategory Second world war Collections from Great Britain, UK None First name(s) S Last name Howells Year 1945 Capture year 1945 Service number 2733112 Rank - Rank as transcribed Gdsm Regiment Welsh Guards Regiment as transcribed 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards Sub-unit 2nd Battalion Theatre of war Germany Archive reference WO 417/91 PIece description Casualty Lists - Other Ranks 1737 - 1755. Archive The National Archives Record set British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945 Category Military, armed forces & conflict Subcategory Second world war Collections from Great Britain, UK None
There is Trooper 3911103 GJ Howells, RAC, 4th/7th DG, wounded 2/10/44, NW Europe Or A/Bombadier 887590 JG Howell, RA, 240/77 Hy AA Regt, died 29/6/43 Edit Pte 14623431 GJL Howells, 1st Bn. Welch Rgt, Wounded, Italy. Date not reported, but on casualty list dated 25 Jan 1945
I've checked every single casualty J Howells: none of them have an Army Number which corresponds with Welsh Guards block allocation - 2730001 - 2744000. Units range from Durhams to CMP, too many to risk a guess. The thing is if he'd served with Welsh Guards and then transferred, RHQ really should still have a record of him on their Rolls. My grandfather had an Irish Guards Regimental Number, as well as one of their Army Numbers. When he reenlisted with RA in 1939, he got a second (RA) Army number but they still managed to transfer his previous IG paperwork to Foots Cray. When I applied to IG RHQ with only a Regimental Number, they sent me copies of what little they had but they still had a record of him under both numbers. However, that and the rest of his service records should now be with MOD, apparently. So, I'd still go with Idler's advice on contacting MOD, nothing ventured and I also believe they shouldn't charge you if they can't find any paperwork. This lot have been very helpful to others enquiring about WG in the past The Welsh Guards Collection
Thank you for your help on this, I do appreciate it. I will let you know of any results from the MOD.
