I recently discovered that what I'd thought to be an ad-hoc organisation within the GAD, was in fact 268 FDS. Bovington have provided the 268's War Diary which is all the Unit's archival material they hold. My interest: my Father 2657980 Gdsm David Blyth was attached to 268 FDS from 1st (Armoured) Battalion Coldstream Guards. His one of two Shermans "issued" to 2nd (Armoured) Battalion 3 August 1944. The tank crewed by Coldstreamers & commanded by an Irish Guards officer,was knocked out at La Marvindiere 24hrs later. Grateful for any further information on 268 FDS or where it may be found please. Thank you.
268 Forward Delivery Squadron | The National Archives Reference: WO 171/897 Description: 268 Forward Delivery Squadron Date: 1944 Feb.- Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description 268 Forward Delivery Squadron Royal Armoured Corps | The National Archives Reference: WO 166/14615 Description: 268 Forward Delivery Squadron Royal Armoured Corps Date: 1944 Jan.-Feb., Apr. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description Access conditions: Closed For 29 years There may be others TD
I see there is another thread on the same subject - 268 Forward Delivery Squadron RAC - Guards Armoured Division TD
Greetings TD. Thank you for the File References. They may be 268's War Diaries......but there's only one way to find out. Er,me having finger trouble may be responsible for t'other thread!
Is there much then in the 268's War Diary which Bovington has provided? And did you also get the tracer card, and what did the full records say? When the 24th Lancers were disbanded at the end of July 1944 / Start of August 1944 - 24th Lancers Regimental Nominal Roll and Postings August 1944 ...a lot of the 24th Lancers went as unposted reinforcements X(iv) into various FDS's. This would have been prior to their moving to other regiments, mainly, and the other regiments war diaries, for instance can contain refs. to the FDS's i.e. the SRY war diary has a (small) number of ref's to 265 FDS. e.g. 265 Forward Delivery Squadron
Aye,268's War Diary is about an inch thick. I'll dig it out & provide a bit more detail. I've just moved so it may be easier said than done! Wait out.
