My auntie's "real" dad died with this unit in October 1943 and is buried in Salerno War Cemetery. I'll be getting the war diary for them some time in the next couple of weeks, but ,in the meantime, can anyone tell me anything (at all) about them (ie what higher formation they were part of, where they were in Oct 1943, what they were up to, etc etc...)? I've searched my own references (I don't have much on Italy) ,and looked online, but can find practically nothing! Thanks. Dave.
Using Geoff's Search engine, would this be him? CWGC :: Casualty Details I know you know who he is already I just wonderd. Your right nothing online not even here. Orders of Battle Index of Units Dave, are you sure there is a war diary for them? I looked at the TNA catologue and the only one I can find is for them in the Great war.
Some RE units are just described in the catalogue (which is poor for WW2) as 'Coys' (no mention of Field), sometimes they are just shown by a number. So I typed in '102' to search under WO169, and found it straight away.
So I typed in '102' to search under WO169, and found it straight away. As I did (sort of anyway - I just put "WO" in and it was on the 2nd of 3 pages) . Cheers anyway. As Paul says, the catalogue is bad for WW2 diaries. Best bet to rely on the on-site catalogues. ...and, no Owen - my "sort of" relative is here... CWGC :: Casualty Details I presume that "102 Army Field Company" is the same unit? Cheers. Dave.
I presume that "102 Army Field Company" is the same unit? Cheers. Dave. I couldn't find it in a Divisional ORBAT so this confirms it was an Army asset. I suspect they were probably 8th Army troops? The REs didn't generally repeat a Company number so this should be your unit.
Hi Dave, I hope the following is of interest: 102nd (London) Army Troops Company, RE: Bethnal Green, London (Supplementary Reserve) in September 1939 - http://web.me.com/dryan671/ordersofbattle/September_1939.html 102nd Army Field Company was prt of HQ Royal Engineers (GHQ Troops) with the BEF in 1940 attached to I Corps in May 1940 - http://niehorster.orbat.com/017_britain/__uk.htm 102nd Army Field Company was part of 16th Army Group RE (part of 8th Army in Italy) - www.milhist.net/ordbat/8armybr.html Best Regards Mark
Thanks for your replies Paul and Mark. Apologies for not responding earlier - I must have lost this thread! Dvae.
I finally got around to getting the diary (and my memory card didn't fail me!!!). Quite interesting to see my "sort of uncle" get a mention by name...
Paul - No troops from 8th Army were involved at Salerno until 5h Div came up the west casot to join them later in September - the troops involoved were of the X corps) Maj Gen Mc Creery) and attached to 5th US Army under the infamous Gen Mark Clark. they were 46th and 56th Div with elements of 7th armoured divs and also two Commando units. 5th div then went over to the Sangro with 8th Army and returned to 5th Army for the Garigliano River crossing.. cheers
Dave - what a sad tale. Killed by a bomb from their own side. Indeed it is. Wasn't there a similiar story in 'English Patient' ?
Dave - what a sad tale. Killed by a bomb from their own side. Mmm...problem is - how do I tell my auntie (his daughter) that there "may not" be as much of him in that grave she visited as she thought there was! dave (don't worry - I'll just do my usual trick and just stick to cold facts)
Hi Dave, I hope the following is of interest: 102nd (London) Army Troops Company, RE: Bethnal Green, London (Supplementary Reserve) in September 1939 - http://web.me.com/dryan671/ordersofbattle/September_1939.html 102nd Army Field Company was prt of HQ Royal Engineers (GHQ Troops) with the BEF in 1940 attached to I Corps in May 1940 - http://niehorster.orbat.com/017_britain/__uk.htm 102nd Army Field Company was part of 16th Army Group RE (part of 8th Army in Italy) - www.milhist.net/ordbat/8armybr.html Best Regards Mark Mace, I'm not sure if you're still a part of this discussion but you seem pretty knowledgeable about 102 Army Field Company RE. I'm writing a book about the son of a fellow who was assigned to the unit from September 1939 to September 1940. I've been trying to trace the movements of the unit during this time but having a fair degree of trouble. It doesn't help that I'm in South Australia, although I will be in Britain for a short time later this year when I was planning to look at the war diaries in the UK archive. If you have any information or can direct me elsewhere, I'd really appreciate it. Best wishes, Anne Johnson
Here's the BEF ref no. WO 167/926 102 Fld Coy RE 1939 Sept.-1940 May. The diary contains 129 pages inc all appendices.
