Hello. First time posting. Not sure whether anyone will be able to assist or not but I'm looking to find information on a relative of mine who served with the Royal Artillery at Dunkirk. Unfortunately I have very little information to go on other than his name was Fred Arnold and that he stepped on a mine and unfortunately lost his leg. He was evacuated and spent a long time in hospital before being fitted with a false leg. Again, I'm not really sure what I'm looking for, just any information if possible, or where to further look, etc. Appreciate any help/advice given. Lee.
Welcome, you are correct, not a lot to go on! It is possible that he appears in the RA attestations, but there are too many Freds, Fredericks or with F as an initial. An injury like that should mean he is in the casualty lists but the same applies, did it happen at Dunkirk? More information needed, full name, date of birth, locations, parents, wife really anything. My first port of call would be local newspapers, can find a lot on the web, he may well get a mention with that injury, otherwise it is the advice that we always give and am sure you have seen, get his service records: Get a copy of military service records You DO NOT need any military details to send off for them. Come back with as much as you can and good luck.
Lee On the Ancestry database - UK, World War II Royal Artillery Tracer Cards, 1939-1948 there are 2 x Arnold noted as below Bertram William Arnold 24 Jun 1940 54 Anti-Tank Regt RA WEF Ralph Alexander Arnold 14 Oct 1940 22 Trg Regt RA (Medium & Hvy) The date shown is their enlistment, and obviously both of those dates are after the BEF evacuation at Dunkirk and neither are 'Fred'. So it would seem that more details of your relative will be required to solve this problem TD
Thank you for the advice. It's difficult to attain much information on this because the people who knew most have now sadly passed away. I'll take advice from both posts and continue my search as best I can. Thank you. Lee.