Finding Fathers Records

Hello, I am trying to find out any information about my Father who saw service in France and Belgium (to my limited knowledge) but unfortunately the gov.uk could not help me. I am hoping by attaching a picture of his arm badges that it will be possible to find out a little more. His name was Sgt. Stephen D Church and after being evacuated from Queen Mary College, London to Kings College, Cambridge and joining the Local Defence Volunteers as soon as he could he then went into the RAOC.
Any help would really be much appreciated and I have attached a picture of his arm badges.
Kind regards, Ann

 

Hi Ann

Have you applied for his service records? Request records of deceased service personnel
Can you supply a picture of the medal ribbons above his left pocket, they will give some guide as to where he was.

regards

Robert

 

Hello Ann,

You may already know this, but if not it's a start.

RAOC shoulder title is Royal Army Ordnance Corps. The A E within the wreath is a trade badge denoting your father as an Ammunition Examiner.

Good luck with your quest.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Welcome, Ann. And good luck with your search.

 

Hi,

MOD are occasionally unable to locate a service file if the subject had made a post war application for a sickness/ill health war pension.

The Ministry of Pensions at Blackpool would request the service file from MOD to make their assessment/decision and it would appear files were misplaced/lost between MOD & MOP during this process.

Steve

 

Ann,

What was his full name and date of birth (DoB)? That can help the sleuths here. A home address helps too. plus when he died. Some tips via PM next.

 

Welcome to this happy throng Ann.

The red chevrons on the sleeve denote his length of service, each one representing each completed year of service in the war. I cribbed the following from the British Badge Forum, which explains it more fully, and I have marked the relevant section:

 

Hello Wobbler,

Thank you this is very interesting.

I am just wondering why there is one chevron not taken account - could it be due to sickness or not being involved in the War as he was involved in ammunitions? What was the maximum number that could be worn?

I am so grateful he came home even though he never talked about his time and what he did.

Best wishes,

Ann

 

Hello Davidbfpo,

My Father was Stephen Douglas Church born 10/7/1919 in Epping. He died in 2000. Hope this helps?!

Any information would be wonderful.

Best wishes,

Ann

 

Hello Dave55,

Thank you for your welcome.

The information that has been posted so far is very interesting and even if I never find the answers it will not have been wasted time posting

Best wishes,

Ann

 

Hello Jim,

Thank you for your information.

I was always under the assumption that he laid bombs but clearly I was very wrong. My Father did a very dangerous job and fortunately lived but did not tell.

Best wishes,

Ann

 

Hello Owen,

Would you have knowledge as to whether he was seconded to this unit as it seems confusing to me?!

Best wishes,

Ann

 

Hi Ann,

Are you referring to the gap in those chevrons? If so, I think one has just simply come off. The maximum number that could be worn was, I think, five.

 

Ann when you receive his service records it will become clearer.
Family history and trying to remember what was said many years ago can sometimes get lost in the mists of time
The service records will give you a good grounding and take you forward

 

Hello Steve,

Whilst I understand how this could have happened due to workloads it is just a shame that there are not other avenues!

Best wishes,

Ann

 

1939 Register @ Epping, Others may correct me, but I assume the comments in the last column are:
University of London O.T.? Is that Officer Training Corps
Infantry D Coy O/CDT. Possibly Officer cadet?

 

Hello CL1,

I have tried to get his records to no avail from the gov.uk website and this is why I have come to this forum who I have to say have been very giving of their knowledge.

Kind regards,

Ann

 

Ann,

Given the scale of British military mobilisation and reliance on paper records it is not surprising a service record can disappear.

It also makes it hard to find details online, unless the subject was awarded medals etc. Nor is an individual likely to appear in any books published since.

Your grandmother has a very slim death notice in the local newspaper: CHURCH, Marjorie | East London and West Essex Guardian Series Have you tried a newspaper search, the British Newspaper Archive is usually free to use in a local library. Might be worth considering an Epping newspaper - as his father died there from: http://old.essex-fire.gov.uk/_img/pics/pdf_1558522311.pdf

 

Hello Davidbfpo,

Thank you the booklet with my Grandfather in it was very very interesting as I do know that he was in WW1, he was a Special Constable and a retained fireman and was a butcher by day!!

I shall just have to keep plugging away?!

Best wishes,

Ann