550722 Charles Edward CALVERT, MiD, Coldstream Guards & RAMC

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by Tim Calvert, Jan 30, 2017.

  1. Tim Calvert

    Tim Calvert Member

    Hi All,
    I am trying to find out about my Grandfathers military career. I know he was in the Coldstream Guards ans also RAMC.
    A listing of 550722 Liutenant C.E.Calvert appears in the listing in this forum. I know he went on to be Captain.
    I would be grateful if anyone could point me in the right direction to find out more.
    Cheers for now.
     
  2. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Could you post his full name, date & place of birth?

    Do you know anything else about him? Was he a Doctor in civilian life?

    If he was RAMC then he would be "attached" to a CG unit so his service papers would be held by MOD in Gladgow - available on payment of £30 - rather than in CG Records in London.

    Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK

    If I was you I would post a new topic about him do RAMC experts as well as persons with CG interest could possibly chip in with information.

    Good Luck

    Steve Y
     
  3. Tim Calvert

    Tim Calvert Member

    Thanks for getting back to me Steve.
    Charles Edward Calvert. Born 13/08/1913.

    We believe that he may have started his military career with a cavalry unit before joining his brother, Albert Lancelot Calvert, in the CG.

    We don't know why/how/when he went to RAMC.

    There is a conection with Elston Grey Turner who we believe was a surgeon with/attached to 2nd battalion CG. My uncle has the second name Elston due to my Grandfathers connection with him.

    Thanks for the link to the GOV web site. I'll get the appropriate forms sent off.

    Thanks for your help.

    Tim
     
  4. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    He is shown as a Sgt (not an officer) in CG in below link to 1943 list of Mention In Despatches.

    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36180/supplement/4225/data.pdf

    Here is the link to his RAMC non medical Commission in Oct 1944

    Page 624 | Supplement 36912 | The London Gazette | The Gazette

    I can't see any LG mention of him relinquishing his commission.

    You may want to contact RAMC Museum at Keogh Barracks.

    Good Luck

    Steve Y

    PS

    Just seen Drew's post. As he clearly transferred to RAMC on Commission his CG papers should have gone to MOD. You're best best is to apply to MOD in first instance but include both his CG service number and his officer number.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2017
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Remember is you are applying for records for someone who was in the Guards the application goes to Wellington Barracks rather than Glasgow.

    You should be able to look up his commission and any promotions in the London Gazette which may give clues to his cap badge. I looked in one of the 2 CG war diaries quickly last night and couldn't find him in the officer field returns and he's not mentioned in the regimental history index. In fact there's two Calvert's mentioned in the index but one was a PSM and the other was a Sergeant.

    Edit: See Steve's post above ;)
     
  6. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    I've just looked at my copy of "No Dishonourable Name - informal
    WW2 History of 2 & 3 CG and see Turner is shown as MO 2 CG when they went to Tunisia with in late 1942.

    The roll of honour pages confirm the MID for Sgt Calvert. Platoon Sergeant Majot (PSM) 2654108 A Calvert is also shown as being awarded MID - is he the brother?

    Steve Y
     
  7. Tim Calvert

    Tim Calvert Member

    I think I'll need to get a copy of this book.

    Turner was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during the battle of Mt Ornito 8th-20th Feb 1944. I have obtained a copy of the recommendation for this award from the national Archive.

    I presume MID is mentioned in dispatches. I don't really understand what that is/means. Are there any details of the MID?

    The only details I have for his brother are his name (Albert Lancelot) and the fact that he was captured in Singapore and died on the Burmah Railway.

    Here's a couple of pics.

    CECalvert.JPG Wedding.JPG
     
  8. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    You're making good progress. Nice photo's. My late father is pictured on the left in my Avatar. Taken in Jerusalem early 1939 whilst on active service with 3rd CG.

    Here is link to CWGC details for Albert. There must be an interesting story behind a CG Sgt being in Singapore in 1942. He was likely attached to another unit as CG didn't serve in Asia in WW2.

    Unfortunately there are no details recorded about why MID's were awarded.

    Wait until you get service papers from Glasgow. You'll then know which units he served in and will be able to chase up the War Diaries. Drew will be your best bet as he likely already has copies of 2nd CG.

    Good Luck

    Steve Y


    Casualty Details
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Found him. He joined the battalion on the 20th October 1942
    [​IMG]
     
    4jonboy and Owen like this.
  10. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Well Done Andy.

    I had a quick look through No Dishonourable Name today and Elston Grey Turner gets several mentions - from the Battalion going abroad until the end of the war. Sadly no mentions of Sgt Calvert.

    Steve Y
     
  11. Tim Calvert

    Tim Calvert Member

    Nice one Drew5233 (Andy I presume but don't know the etiquette for use of names on forums.)

    I have a photo with EGT from 1945 and his recommendation for MC from 1944.

    I am beginning to believe that my Grandfathers and Grey-Turners lives are quite closely linked during campaigns in Tunisia and Italy. Apparently "Tunisia: The 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards 1942-1943" has several references to Sgt Calvert, including mentions in Grey-Turners diaries. I have ordered the book and look forward to learning more.
    Capt Turner 1945.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Tim,

    The 1945 officer group photo you've posted is in No Dishonourable Name - you may even have posted a reprint of it as the type setting is the same!

    Steve

    PS

    If you aren't aware - the officers shown as "SG" are from S Company a Scots Guards Company posted to 2 CG in mid 1944 to replace casualties that CG could not replace.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2017
  13. Tim Calvert

    Tim Calvert Member

    I hope I haven't infringed upon any copyright. I found it on a Facebook page "2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards 1939-1945".

    No I didn't know about the SG suffix, thanks for the info.
     
  14. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

  15. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    If Capt Grey Turner got an MC on Monte Ornito in Feb 44 then he deserved it. Just staying alive up there in the dead of winter snow was quite an achievement.

    FdeP
     
    Tim Calvert likes this.
  16. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Hope this helps:

    Royal Tank Corps Enlistment Records
    Calvert, Charles Edward
    Service No 550722
    Enlisted 24 Oct 1930, Regular for 6 years
    Transfers
    4th Hr}
    8th Hr} 24.10.30
    4th Hr 19.11.30
    1st Bn Coldstream Gds a/13.10.1931

    Edit: Service number corresponds with Hussars
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2017
  17. Tim Calvert

    Tim Calvert Member

    Hi Tony,

    That's very interesting. My uncle thought he may have belonged to another untit, possibly cavalry, before moving to CG. So that would all seem to fit.

    Thank you very much for posting that info.
     
  18. Tim Calvert

    Tim Calvert Member

    Hi Steve,

    Research going well and very interesting. Have discovered the first MO he worked for was Capt. C.P. Blacker. I have found a few letters mentioning a book that Blacker wrote which has a dedication to Sgts Calvert & Dawson. There is no mention of the title of the book in the letters, the only possibility I can find online is "Notes for an RMO of an infantry unit". I was wondering if you were aware of this book or any others the might fit the bill?
    Cheers.
    Tim
     
  19. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi Tim,

    Pleased you are making progress but sorry I'm not aware of any WW2 era publications by Captain Carlos Blacker MC GM.

    He secured the position of MO 2nd CG on the outbreak of war through his friendship with the CO Lionel Bootle-Wilbraham (Lord Skelmersdale) with whom he served in 4th (Pioneer) Battalion CG 1915/1918. I have a copy of his WW1 memoirs "Have You Forgotten Yet" (editted by his son) as my gf served 4th CG 1916/18 on recovery from wounds sustained at Ypres Nov 1914 with 2nd CG. From an entry on his discipline record I suspect Blacker was my gf Company Commander.

    Blacker went to France with BEF but was quite old for a Battalion MO so was replaced by Elston Grey-Turner before 2nd CG went to North Africa.

    As I'm sure you have discovered Blacker was an eminent psychiatrist.

    You may want to contact the RAMC Museum as they may have details of Blacker's book.

    Regards

    Steve
     
    Tricky Dicky and dbf like this.
  20. Tim Calvert

    Tim Calvert Member

    I'm looking for a copy of "Notes for the RMO of an infantry unit". By C.P. Blacker. M.C., M.A., M.D. Oxford War Manuals. Published by Oxford Univeristy Press 1943.

    I believe that there may be a dedication and/or photograph of Sgts Calvert & Dawson in the front.

    Also trying to find out if Elston Grey Turner wrote a book about his experiences during the war. I can't find any reference to this so far but some members of my family think there is one.

    If anybody has any info on either of these books I'd be very grateful.

    Thanks.

    Tim
     

Share This Page