21st Light Field Ambulance

Good Afternoon

Firstly thanks for letting me join this wonderful forum. I have been trying to find out as much as I can about my Father's wars. I have been in touch with the MOD Personal Records Access Services Team who have told me his records will not be made available until 2038. I have appealled this, however I had to wait over a year for the first reply, so we will see.
He was called up on 25th Sept 1941, however the first record I can find amounts his personal papers is when he was in Fleet Hamp 1942. After this he followed on to ,

Bovington Tank Dept
Inveraray
Portsmouth
Normandy JUNO BEACH 8th June
Caen
Falaise
Honfleur
Calais
Walcheren
Tereuzen
Antwerpen
Battle of the Bulge

He also crossed the Rhine on 23rd March 1945
He was among the first into Bergen-Belsen and continued east and meet up with the Russians on the Elbe.

He is in this photo, however I can find very little about the 21st LFA.

I believe there are diaries for the 21st, however its no easy for me to get down south and also I'm not sure how useful they would be.

Once the war in Europe was over he was sent out to India with the West African Division..

I do have this outline of his possible timeline I would just like to find out a bit more detail.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Cameron Greig.

 

Hi Cameron, I was also looking for info on the 21st LFA and my grandfather and your post is almost the only info out there! I have applied for his record and I'll be happy to share when it comes through. Great photo by the way. I have some photos from his service, but they're mainly small groups and there are no names. They are in a frame, I can take a pic of the frame and upload, in case your father is in them. tks Ed.

 

the other info i found was on this link:
Independent Brigades - British Friends of Normandy
and seems to say they were part of the 31st Tank Brigade.
Here is the relevant section:

31st Tank Brigade.
Equipped with Churchill tanks, the Brigade landed in Normandy on 21st June 1944 – the 141st Regiment, R.A.C. had already arrived in Normandy equipped with Crocodile (Flame Throwing) Churchill tanks. Initially under the command of the 15th Infantry Division, the brigade came under the command of XII Corps on 26th July 1944. The 141st Regiment, R.A.C. operated effectively as an independent unit, as it was the only Crocodile equipped unit in North-West Europe at this time. Elements of 141st Regiment, R.A.C. fought in Normandy, the assault on Brest, and the capture of the Channel Ports. The brigade took part in the battle for the Odon between 25th June and 2nd July, and the breakout towards Falaise.

Headquarters, 31st Tank Brigade & Headquarters Squadron.

7th Royal Tank Regiment. Transferred to 34th Tank Brigade on 17th August.
9th Royal Tank Regiment.
141st Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.
34th Tank Brigade Signals Section, Royal Corps of Signals. No. 269 Forward Delivery Squadron, Royal Armoured Corps.
16th Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
21st Light Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
31st Tank Brigade Ordnance Field Park, Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
31st Tank Brigade Workshops, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
31st Tank Brigade Field Post Office, Royal Engineers.
Y.M.C.A. Mobile Canteen.

 

Can help with the following from May 45:
21 Light Field Ambulance RAMC joined 43 (Wessex) Infantry Division in Celle on 21 Aug 45 moving to Sulzweise Camp Lüneburg 8 Sep 45
Company – Second Army 26 May 45 to 1 Jun 45 – Am Markt Lüneburg

Would be interested in the post May 45 movements if the war diaries turn up (WO 177/864 Feb 43 to Nov 45)

21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)

 

I'm sitting with that exact same group photo in front of me. My great Uncle (James Kirsopp) is third from left in the bottom row. A few years ago my late father was able to get a copy of his war records - I don't recall there being a lot of detailed information in them for the period after D Day but will see if can find them and report back.