Does anyone know where 71 Coy (TC) CMP was between Nov 43 and Feb 44. The war diary is listed under British Forces Middle East but as anyfule kno that covers a large theatre.
Mention of 71 coy here. Deciphering a service record - Help with abbreviations <Pte. Frederick Arthur Thompson. 6026147. 23rd Sept 43. Examined by Med board on 23/9/43 at 96 General Hosp and placed in Med category B6. At the time the 96th British General Hospital was situated in Guelma, Algeria which is south of Annaba. 25th Sept 43. S.O.S. (Struck of Strength X(iv)list) & posted to 71 coy (TC).> Then believed went on to Italy. So timeline of Italy campaign might indicate where they could have been. Corps of Military Police: 71 Company (CMP) | The National Archives
Thanks RCG - However that is exactly the record I am looking at and I am totally happy with the jargon*. My query was to find where 71 Coy was in MEF when he was posted there (I know the war diary is at Kew). Italy is likely as he leaves 71 Coy in Feb 44 and after some brief stops along the way he was posted on 25 Jun 44 to 45 LAA Regt RA which was in Italy by then. So although I am pretty sure it was there, I had hoped to have confirmation without having to see the diary. Thank you anyway for posting. *That said, if you know what and where 3 Battalion 1 RTD (or IRTD) (or ITRP) and LMC Pool were then I'd be most grateful for a translation.
It was me that enquired on both forums, don't worry. I'm hoping to order the war diary, but it would be convenient if anyone had previous knowledge of this. He was with 18 TC Coy before so alternatively if it is possible to find out where they were stationed, it may be of some use.
Corps of Military Police: War Diaries: Central Mediteranean I found this website. Shows extracts from 71 TC Coy in the North Africa and Central Med locations. From this, it looks like they went to Naples in June 1944, so were in Algeria beforehand. Nothing on 18 TC Coy. I Will have to check in greater detail later.
nem120 - the lack of war diary for 18 Company and the fact that the dates in his record are when he was in UK point very closely to the fact that the unit was in UK as I indicated elsewhere. The Algeria reference ties up with the hospital stay. I don't think I can add anything to what I have said before, drafted to North Africa in July 1943, Med board in Sep 43, the some quick postings to odd units including 5 Equipment Assembly Company (I gave the link to the war diary elsewhere) then, and you have now uncovered this, 71 Coy in N Africa itself and thence to Italy where he later transferred to 45 LAA etc.
