Casualty Service and Paybook Collection

Alistair, what an interesting hobby. Some interesting and some tragic stories attached to the original owners.
Where do you find these pay books and associated details?

Mike

 

Very interesting Alistair. Any Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in the collection?

 

Mike, they turn up in lots of places mostly Ebay but also auction houses, militaria dealers and shows and general antique/collectable shops - I have aways been fascinated by these as unlike most items issues to a service person these are distinctly personnel and went with the person wherever they went. They have a tracable history and are of a size thats practical to collect. Information comes from a varienty of sources but the internet is a great resource - forums like this being a real help.

Saintconor, I do have ones to Thomas McCarthey, William Sharkey & Arthur Saxton their service numbers are from the Royal Innisking Fusilier block - would you like me to dig out more details? its not always easy to tell someones unit its only really the other paperwork that comes with them that tends to give the unit.

Thanks

Alistair

 

Alistair. I am going to the Essex MVT show next month, lots of stalls there, and I will look out for some Paybooks for you if you like. Any advice on how much they usually are?

 

Hi, Alistar, If you can that would be brilliant. Always interested in anything with a Skins connection.

Thanks

Conor

 

I've added some updates/info to the posts on the first page - more to follow - and in a few days another book will be added.

Regards

Alistair

 

Page 2 updated with extra Scans and Info

Alistair

 

I've updated all the other threads with the info I have available, general details of units position at the time of death (extra info from War Diaries most welcome) along with some extra scans and Grave photos (ideally I'd like to have photos of graves and relevant memorials - CWGC or local eventually to go with them all)

Thanks

Alistair

 

Alistair. I am going to the Essex MVT show next month, lots of stalls there, and I will look out for some Paybooks for you if you like. Any advice on how much they usually are?

Hi Mike,
I will have some for sale at the show.
Keith

 

Another one



Cpl Alfred Surtees 13115148, age 39, 303 Company Pioneer Corps.

303 Company was part of the early waves on Sword beach, from "the Pioneer" magazine one of Cpl Surtees comrades describes them coming in and the Landing Craft taking 8 direct hits before pulling away and transfering the men to another craft to try landing again. The Company was tasked with assisting the medical serives and seems to have worked in the main as stretcher bearers and later grave digging. The Company War Diary notes that Cpl Surtees died of wounds on the 8th - his service book also has the 8th noted, however CWGC has his date of death as the 7th. I'm unsure if Cpl Surtees was wounded in the initial landing or later.

CWGC :: Casualty Details





War Diary entry mentioning Cpl Surtees death from Gunshot wounds to the chest

 

I've added a quote from Sir Harry Secombes diary (from his autobiography) into Roy Newell's entry (post 31) as it mentions his death.

In a few days I should have another book to add.

Alistair

 

22395913 Trooper Gordon McQueen SYMON of the 16th/5th Lancers, he died in Libya on 17/12/51 along with 4 other members of the Regimental (all members of the Regimental football team) Troopers Burns (22395919), Culbert (22462255), Moore (22462922) & Weir (22370381). They all died in some kind of Road Accident, I'm not sure if they were knocked down or in a vehicle that had a crash.


Trooper Symon with a Besa at the Gunnery Wing


A letter from the unit CO to his mother


A letter from "Boy" Browning on behalf of Princess Elizabeth, Colonel in Chief of the Regiment.

Alistair

A photo and article from the Regimental journal of the period

 

6103816 John Allan Butler, born 18/06/22, enlisted 29/01/41, died 10/09/43, 2nd South Staffs
Private Butler was a member of B Company 2nd (Airborne) South Staffordshire Regiment - I think he was with 11 platoon, he was killed on Sicily
CWGC :: Casualty Details


Edit: a picture of Private Butlers grave (found online)


Alistair,
A Minor correction - His date of death is 10th July 1943 (not 10/9/43). Photo of headstone shows the correct date.

John

 

Well spotted, I've corrected it now

Thanks

Alistair

 

Alistair

I have been away and working away, I am quite frankly reeling, that paybook you have of Sgt French is just amazing, he is Verne's grandfather who came on the last Dunkirk march. I have just emailed him to tell him, quite frankly I am in shock

 

Alistair,

I don't even want to try to calculate the odds that my Grandfather's paybook survived, let alone the odds that I would actually be able to communicate with the person who has it. Jon called me about an hour ago (I am in the US) and you could have knocked me down with a feather when he told me the news. As you may know, I went on the 70th Anniversary Dunkirk march last May with Jon and the lads to honour my Grandfather's memory and went to visit his grave at the Dunkirk cemetary exactly 70 years to the day after his death. My mother kept everything she could of his and she was actually wrapping up a piece of her 16th Birthday cake to send to him in France when the notification came of his death. I have a few pictures of him from the 30's and his birth certificate, and Mum always said I was the spitting image of him. If there is any way I can get a copy of his paybook, please let me know. I would be more than willing to pay for any expenses.

Verne Jenkinson

 

Jon & Verne, PM's sent

Alistair

 

A few more books to add over the next few days.



780102 (previously 1023) Trumpeter Frank Swift, 246 Brigade RFA, Killed 10/10/18 age 24 - the BRigade were part of 49th Division who captured the village of Naves on the day he was killed.

CWGC :: Casualty Details

 

977964 George Henry Hart,311 Battery 90th LAA Regiment RA, died of wounds 27/01/44, the unit was with 1st Division at Anzio at this point.

CWGC :: Casualty Details










Grave photo thanks to user minden1759

 

581430 Francis Harold Banfield, 203 squadron RAF, died 19/11/40 when Blenheim IV, L9458 crashed into the sea off Aden - all 3 crew were killed.

CWGC :: Casualty Details