190 Railway Operating Company RE

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by stevejm, Aug 20, 2022.

  1. stevejm

    stevejm Member

    I am researching my Uncles service with the above unit and have his service records but there is a gap between him leaving Persia in early 1943 and arriving in Sicily and Italian mainland in late 1943. Does anyone have any ideas where they may have been posted. The WD is available in the NA but not for download and as I am located overseas I won’t be able to access it. Any other info on the 190th that members can share would also be appreciated
     
  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Have you checked this thread: Royal Engineers in Persia/Iran 1941/2

    Post 3 states:
    Could be worth asking the author where he got this from; he is an active member.

    This website (though my IT defence warning was activated) shows three memebrs of the company whilst serving in Italy were awarded medals: http://www.********.co.uk/WW2data/WO373-73.html

    The thread refers to 190 and Post 4 refers to war diaries downloaded by a researcher Lee Richards. Note the link shown no longer works, so try this: Archive Research Lee drops in here and was logged in this week.

    I see the IWM has a pamphlet on their service (not available online) and it states:
    Link: 190 in Persia : some notes on a war-time railway operation

    The IWM also have (not online):
    Link: Collection: SPEIGHT DON COLLECTION

    A local press article on a 190 veteran: War hero to ride train through Bristol to celebrate 100th birthday and a longer veteran's account in: http://harakevetmagazine.com/downloads/HRKIssue105s.pdf

    Some photos of the route in Iran today, which refers to 190: Spectacular Railways in Iran 2017 and another railway enthusiast website refers to them: Railways in Iran – Part 9 – Foreign Articles – Collection C

    In 2010 on a family history website a lady posted he had her father's memoirs as an officer with 190, alas no-one responded: Show Posts - woodsetton She still uses the website, minus any other posts though.

    An Italian site (in English) refers to 190 being in Italy, though only once it shows who they were with: Railway reconstruction Italy 1943-1946 - Chapter II Section III Subsection 4

    It might help if you post his service records, others may give advice.
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2022
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  3. stevejm

    stevejm Member

    Thank you. I will try your suggestions but I can’t post his records because they are with my cousin and he is not tech savvy
     
  4. stevejm

    stevejm Member

    The account in Harakevet magazine was actually very interesting because it includes a first hand account by a member of 190th who describes how after Iran they went to Baghdad, Beirut then Sicily.
     
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  5. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    From a RE OOB I found on the internet many years ago.

    190th Railway Op Coy RE Served with BEF 1940. Served in Persia (Basra) from Dec 1941 to Jan 1945. Served with CMF (probably Italy). Disbanded Sep 1945+.

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
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  6. stevejm

    stevejm Member

    Thanks. What I have from his service records and his son is that he went Basra, Sicily, Italy, Austria and demobilization in 1946 and I found other accounts on line describing stays in Bagdad, Beruit, Egypt before Sicily but experience tells me that guys were sometimes placed apart from their unit especially if they were hospitalized so it’s hard to deduce one man’s service from another’s. Therefore it will be difficult to determine definitively where he he was posted if it isn’t on his record.
     
  7. David_FK

    David_FK Member

    Hi Steve,

    I've just been pointed to this thread from mine - Researching my relatives' service records | WW2Talk

    My Grandfather's unit, the 159th Railway Construction Company, was partnered with your Uncle's. My Grandfather was posted to Tunisia (the B.N.A.F.) after his time in Persia with PAIForce (Persia and Iraq Force), following the Axis surrender in Tunisia on 12th June 1943. From there he went to Sicily and Italy.

    Could it be that your Uncle also was posted to Tunisia? Just thought I'd suggest this in case it helps.
     
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  8. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    As the OP hasn’t signed in to the forum for over a year I’ve used the forum message system to alert him to your message.

    Can’t guarantee he’ll respond though.

    Steve
     
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  9. stevejm

    stevejm Member

    Thanks for your message. I believe that my uncle’s unit was transferred to a training camp near Beirut in Lebanon after leaving Iraq then they went to Egypt before joining the landing in Sicily.
     
    David_FK likes this.
  10. stevejm

    stevejm Member

    Thanks for alerting me. I have replied to the new post already
     

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