Great-Uncle - 2617497 Serjeant Thomas McLAUGHLIN, Grenadier Guards

Hi everyone,
I am new to the forum but have found it very helpful when in my search so apologies if I'm posting in the wrong place.
I am looking for more information on my great uncle. Thomas McLaughlin, Service number: 2617497.
I was able to retrieve his # through MOD but more information can take 12 months.

From my research, I believe he was a Grenadier Guard (also confirmed on his marriage license). Maybe a Sergeant as well (also on his marriage license). Other than that, I have his DOB and birth place and that's it unfortunately. My mum says he used to talk about being in North Africa and was a tank commander. Again, those were stories he told, not confirmed.

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated as I am at a stand still with my research. He seems like a myth at this point lol

 

Welcome to the forum

You mention his service records so I assume you have applied for them.
Other members with expertise on Guards Regiments might be able to help further

 

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

There isn’t a lot of information about WW2 soldiers freely available on the internet as MOD still hold the service records. Casualty records for wounded/captured personnel are on findmypast site and gallantry awards are available via London Gazette with some citations at UK National Archives.

If he was in North Africa he was in either 3rd/5th/6th Battalion (disbanded late 1944). They fought in North Africa & Italy as infantry from 1943/45. If he was a tank commander he would’ve fought in Europe with 2nd/4th Battalion in Guards Armoured Division after D Day through to the end of the war. 1st Battalion were a motorized infantry battalion.

The date on the marriage certificate may help but I really think you will struggle to make any progress until you get sight of his service record and have a firm factual basis on which unit(s) he served in and from which you’ll be able to research further.

Forum member dbf has created a helpful GG reference thread here /

Grenadier Guards: Reference Thread

The 2 volume Regimental history is available via hathitrust site.

Link to volume 1 - neither volume is Downloadable.

The Grenadier Guards in the war of 1939-1945, by Nigel Nicolson and Patrick Forbes v.1.


Steve

 

After unsuccessfully applying for records from MOD, I am turning to this forum once again.

I am looking for my Great Uncle T (Thomas or Tommy) McLaughlin. Good news is, I am in contact with his son now and found out some new info:

"He joined the Grenadier Guards and spent 3 years infantry training. In 1943(approx.) he was transferred to the Guards Armoured Division. By D-Day, he was a sergeant and tank commander. His company went to Normandy on D-Day plus 4."

Bad news, his son has to do some looking for company or squad name. I do have his service #, but that seems to draw blanks every where I look. I am guessing he was apart of the 2nd bn or 4th bn.

I am also very new to researching all of this so I am hoping someone can help me out a bit more. Is there somewhere I can search for companies or squads and start looking into them? Does it make sense that he was a sergeant and tank commander? I am very lost with the break down of ranks, etc.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

Why were you unsuccessful in applying for his records?

 

Sorry, should have worded that better. MOD turned me down and said there is sensitive medical info in his file?

 

Hi,

If he was GAD he was part of either 1st Lorried Infantry or 2nd Armoured GG. No GG units went to Normandy on D+4. GAD went over about 28th June 1944.

4th GG were also an armoured unit. They went to Normandy about 20th July 1944 as part of the independent 6th Guards Armoured Tank Brigade.

If MOD (or was it UK National Archives?) have rejected your application you should appeal that decision under Freedom of Information Act and ask that the file is reviewed with a view to partial release of the file.

I can’t recall a MOD refusal reported on the forum previously but TNA regularly do so - usually for men born less than 116 years ago - and the way forward is to appeal under FOI.

In respect of “company ” details - no companies (or platoons) in armoured units they were Squadrons & Troops - you may find them in the original War Diaries at UK National Archives - forum member dbf has placed some WD transcripts on the forum.

I previously mentioned -

Grenadier Guards: Reference Thread

Good Luck.

Steve

 

Yes Steve, it was TNA that denied me. Sorry, so much information I have been reading, trying to keep it straight gets hard lol. I will definitely try to appeal it.
I'm thinking he was in the 2nd BN, just can't find him anywhere, and unfortunately myself being from Canada, limits my research options.
Thanks again for the info!