268424 Lieutenant Ernest Thomas George RANDALL, Royal Engineers: 21/01/1945

Hi,

I’m looking for more information about my adopted grave’s soldier; Lieutenant Ernest Randall from the Royal Engineers.

Unfortunately I haven’t had much success in my research so far.

The CWCG only has this information:
Lieutenant Ernest Thomas George Randall | War Casualty Details | CWGC

Information of the cemetery he’s burried:
The burials in the cemetery, apart from a few dating from November 1944, are almost all from the months of January and February 1945. The men buried here belong mostly to the Scottish regiments of the 52nd (Lowland) Division, engaged in the battle in this vicinity from 18th to 24th January 1945, which had as its object the clearing of a salient west of the River Roer which was still held by the Germans. There are now over 230 1939-1945 War casualties commemorated in this site.

Unfortunately the Royal Engineers Museum has no records of him.
I unfortunately can’t apply for his records at the MoD yet, because of their international payment options. They will offer a new way to apply in the coming year.
A lady of the RE Museum pointed me to this forum, so hopefully any can help me with some information about him.

Thanks in advance!

 

Name: Ernest Randall
Given Initials: E T G
Rank: Lieutenant
Death Date: 21 Jan 1945
Number: 268424
Birth Place: London SE
Residence: London NW
Branch at Enlistment: Other Corps
Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
Regiment at Death: Royal Engineers

Spouse: Norah Patricia Goff (1905-1983)

 

Army LIsts:

1943




1944



1945

 

Thank you for the information provided so far!

 

Other information I found:
- His DOB is 23/9/1916
- According to Ancestry there’s a (assumably alive) relative called Nicola Randall.

 

Can someone please help me with the war diary?
Or tell me more about the Royal Engineers (and possibly Lt. Randall’s) role during Operation Blackcock?

 

Here’s a complete report on “Operation Blackcock” that can be downloaded at this link

World War II Operational Documents - Part 1

World War II Operational Documents - Part 2

World War II Operational Documents - Part 3

 

Temujin Thank you for al the info you shared so far. It’s greatly appreciated! It’s so “weird” seeing all those places close by here mentioned in the reports. It’s really thanks to all those brave men that we can experience freedom in this part of the country.
Can I please ask you some more questions about the info you shared?
Is it only known Lt. Randall had a spouse? No information about any children or just not known?
Did he went to school for 2 year to receive his promotion from Cadette to 2nd Lieutenant or did he earn that through battle? If I understand correctly he did get promoted to Lieutenant rank after 6 months of serving as 2nd Lieutenant?

 

-

 

I’m not sure if Lieutenant Randall’s grave is in the War Grave thread, but here’s a picture of his grave for anyone interested.

 

Hi if he was a RE involved in operation Blackcock he would have been in 621 Field squadron, 4 field squadron, or (very unlikely as they weren't directly involved at the sharp end)) in 143 Field Park Squadron, Also i'm seeing some mention of 280 field squadron coming under the command of 7th Armoured division for this operation. If you look on History of the 7th Armoued Division (The Desert Rats), plus the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades (Black Rats and Green Jerboa) Main Page you will find a link to the War diary of 621 Fd Sqn which may help.

 

Thank you for this I am also looking into operation blackcock as my father was in a Scissors bridge laying numerous bridges during this operation. From the map, and cross referencing WD of 143fd pk sqn and 621 fd sqn, I have been able to locate the bridge he laid as part of the pre-operation bridging of the Vloed beek on 12/13th Jan.

 

You could try a method I’ve employed to mostly success.
Go on Facebook and search for Nicola Randall. Message a few of them, see what happens. I’ve found at least a dozen relatives of men from my Grandads battalion that way.
Alex.

 

Thank you so much for pointing me to the war diary of 621 Fd Sqn. Looks like I’ll have something to research again the coming days, it’s greatly appreciated!

 

Hi Alex, thanks for the tip! I’m not active on any social media, but it indeed might be worth to just make a profile to contact some Nicola Randall’s.

 

It is a bit of a fishing exercise, but, like I said it has worked for me before.

 

Hi Jill, my father was 621 Field Squadron and I have a small Facebook group with 621 families ‘ 621st 21 & 210 Field Squadron Royal Engineers 7th Armoured Division ‘ we are slowly trying to put the boys history together, if’s of interest.

 

Yes i would be very interested in that. Do I just search on Facebook?
I am currently putting together a list of all the Scissors bridges my fathers troop laid under the command of 621 Fd Sqn and 4Fd Sqn from D Day to the end of the war and am currently immersed in Operation Blackcock. I'm finding the war diaries totally engrossing and the day to day life and operations of the Division fascinating.
Looking forward to joining the facebook group
Jill Tate

 

Wondering if this entry in the 1939 register for '2 The Avenue Torre Court, Yeovil, Yeovil M.B., Somerset', might be one and the same? He was married in 1938.
Not unusual for transcription errors. Ernest T Randall's birthday is exactly one year out and married to Norah P, born same year as Norah Patricia Goff.
Occupation looks the sort of job and officer in the Royal Engineers might have done pre-war.