I'm researching Louis George Blinco, born 1923 Eton, Gunner, 14511011, 1st Airborne Light Artillery, Royal Artillery. His son is helping me pull together photos etc but no pay book or service records yet available, we do know he was at Arnhem he is listed in the Regimental History booklet which was in his possession and personal anecdotes from his son confirm he was there . This disc was also found and I'm wondering if it would give a clue to which Battery he was with at Arnhem? It seem that the 1st Airlanding L.A. were at the old kerk in Oosterbeek for the period of Monday 18 Sept onwards but not sure when they left this position though and anyone who can pinpoint that date and where they then went would be very helpful. Thumbnail_20211018_225159 by oxlade posted Oct 18, 2021 at 10:53 PM
Found an identical item in an internet search that was marked with X 78 C rather than S 2321. There was no suggestion in the listing as to purpose, what do you think it was actually for?
As he was a gunner with an artillery unit I was thinking of a key ring for keys to do with the guns or ammunition.
The Gunners at Arnhem makes no mention of any moves by the regiment after the 18th. Individual guns and some troop command posts were moved a few hundred yards to better positions but on the whole the batteries remained where they were until the end. 1 & 2 Batteries were in the fields just north of the church, 1 Bty in the eastern field & 2 Bty the western one. 3 Bty were immediately south of the church.
For more info on 1st A/L Light Regiment read "Arnhem Bridge Target Mike One" which shows him as with RHQ - in terms of the disc I'm not sure it relates to his time in the Army, probably best person to ask if its related to a 75mm is Packhow75
I will read this thanks. Louis being with RHQ would explain some things. On return in 1944 and after being married in October in Boston he seems in 1945 to have been transferred as a motor bike driver to another RA? unit to Burma. His son sent this photo to me with anecdote that he had mentioned Burma malaria and a Francis Barnett bike. Louis is passenger in this vehiclei definitely looks warmer
It could well be I agree. Look at my photo and comment on service in Burma maybe it was a key ring from that period odd that it would be stored in his pay book pouch if not related to the war.
I don't disagree, merely that after some time spent on searching I can find no positive correlation. In fact I was surprised to find only one other example as I mentioned in my post.