552824 Harold HILL - Service research help

Hi everyone. I've been trying to trace information of my great grandfather who I know served during WW2 in France and North Africa in the Royal Tank Corps. I've found the following and was hoping someone could help read it?

The first part says 10H which I presume is 10th Royal Hussars given the 7H and 13/18H present further in the document. The rest however makes no sense to me. I presume the first two words are abbreviated judging by the full stops, but the last word looks foreign to me? That's a 'â' in there.

His service number was 552824
This is his enlistment document from Oct. 1932, at a time when I thought X Hussars were in India. I can find nothing else about him so this is all I really have.

If it's any use, he enlisted in Birmingham, UK, he was technically 17y 11m at enlistment.

 

Hi,

You really need to apply for his service record via this link -

Get a copy of military records of service

The 3 words look to me like Mech Cav Depot = Mechanised Cavalry Depot.

Not 100% convinced about Cav. Depot is written in the old fashioned French style of Dépôt.

Steve

 

That would make sense actually. I know he got married in York in 1939, and that's where the Hussars cav depot was. Interesting no one else has that remark on their file though.

 

I'm trying to apply for his record at the moment but I'm waiting for his death certificate in the post as I didn't have one to hand and his certificate isn't digitised yet. Hopefully I get an update soon.

 

What was your subject's full name and DoB? That can help too.

His Service Number has not appeared here before your post.

Assuming he remained with the 10th Royal Hussars, Wiki has a pre-war entry:

A slim WW2 history:

From:

If you search online with: "10th royal hussars" site:ww2talk.com that will identify a number of threads here. Slightly fewer id'd with: "10 royal hussars" site:ww2talk.com

You wrote he was with the RTR, the 10th RH were part of the Royal Armoured Corps.

 

His name was Harold Hill, he was born 1.11.1914
I believe his middle name was John but that is recorded on his enlistment paper.

I also have this second photo which I assume refers to updates after his enlistment as there are others on this paper with KIA or died written on there. I think this says Transf. REME **** 30.12.1944.

I know he sustained a leg injury in an accident, while not in combat so not sure if that is related.

 

He died 1980 in Kingston Upon Thames.

I was confused by the RTR and RAC difference as the file I'm reading is from the Royal Tank Corp's enlistment records 1919-1934, but the file itself details 7H, 10H and 13/18H. I'll attach the full file but quality might be poor.

 

Looking at the index of the British Newspaper Index in summer 1939 the 15/19th Hussars were stationed at Fulford Barracks, York, & the 10th, 3rd & 4th Hussars at Tidworth, which fits with this notice of trooping movements from 1936:
.. Cavalry of the Line—3rd Carabiniers, Hounslow to Inklia; 10th Hussars, India o Tidworth; 15 19th Hussars, Tidwoith 1o York; 16th/sth Lancers, York to Hounslow, ...
Published: Thursday 20 February 1936
Newspaper: Naval & Military Record and Royal Dockyards Gazette
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1930-01-01/1939-12-31?basicsearch= hussars york&somesearch=hussars york&exactsearch=false&retrievecountrycounts=false

In April 1939 the 10th along with four other Hussar regiments became part of the RAC at its formation. The Royal Tank Regiment also became a wing of the RAC at this time.
List of Royal Armoured Corps Regiments in World War II - Wikipedia

Harold's number does not show in the WW2 casualty list on ancestry nor on the WW2 medal cards index at that site.

 

Interesting, I'd thought they were in York but I had seen Tidworth mentioned. I guess his reason for getting married in York is unrelated then.

I suspect I won't find out anything really until I get his service records. I hope it is worth the wait.

Thanks for the help!

 

If he was in 10 Hussars in Sep 44 then he would have been involved in the catastrophic destruction of 2 Armoured Brigade at San Clemente on the Gothic Line near Coriano.

Regards

Frank