I'm trying to trace my father's war record. I'd be grateful for any information about 617 Assault Squadron
Best to add as many details of your father here, for the experts to help and of course apply for his service record (even if there is a long turnaround time). PM sent with another, longer pointer. It appears there is only one thread here which has mention of the unit: Op Overlord unit patches That may be as they formed part of the 79th Division, with their "Funnies" on D-day and beyond. There are many Google hits on them, have you looked through them? Good luck.
Welcome if you supply your fathers name forum members might be able to add further service records are the way to go Get a copy of military service records require date of birth and death certificate currently a long wait due to the pandemic you will not find any info on the pay for sites on the internet regards Clive
617 Sqn. | The National Archives Reference: WO 171/1816 Description: 617 Sqn. Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description 617 Sqn. | The National Archives Reference: WO 171/5332 Description: 617 Sqn. Date: 1945 Jan.-July Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description There are some members on here who offer a copying service at very competitive rates to those of the TNA (The National Archives), but obviously the situation either way is difficult at the moment TD
Thank you for your suggestions. Do I add details as a new post on here or can I edit original post? Thank you
His name was ( Cecil ) Eric Symonds and he enlisted as a British Latin American Volunteer in 1940. He was in 617 Assault Squadron RE and his service number was 1941472. From documentation he left, I believe he took part in the Normandy Landings D Day + 6.
My father,R.E.Stubbs,was the seargeant major of 617 assault squadron,RE,through to the end of ww2. the unit was equiped with petard churchill tanks. He was radio opperator whilst in tank,call sign 2-Fox,i seem to remember him telling me. he also used a M3A1 White scout car for reconnaissance work etc,and had a gunner whilst so employed. I remember many fascinating stories,but only remember the names of captain White,sgt Finan,i think his tank commander,and a man,an officer i think,named Savage. he appeared on the front cover of a publication called the Sphere,i think,driving armoured car on bridge crossing river maas,although i have never tracked this down. My father obviously,would have known your father. unfortunately i have no photographs.
Have movements post VE Day 8 May 45 – changed from Assault to Squadron at the end of WW2 617 Armoured Engineer Squadron of 42nd Armoured Engineer Regiment – 30th Armoured Brigade command 1st Canadian Army Officer Commanding: Major PB Dunham Headquarters: Meppen north-west of Osnabrück 10 May 45 – Coevorden-NL north-east of Zwolle-NL 4 Jun 45 – Erbstorf north-east of Lüneburg – Hesteburg north-west of Lüneburg 9 Jun 45 – regiment command 1st Armoured Engineer Brigade of 79th Armoured Division 19 Jun 45 – Bucholz south-west of Hamburg-Harburg 13 Jul 45 – United Kingdom – rear party to 25 Jul 45 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)