Hello I'm Ryan from Colchester in Essex (UK) I would like some help finding some information regarding my grandad, Geroge Henry Oliver who served during WW2. I know I shouldn't post in here but if I could be pointed in the right direction that would be great. He was attached to the Royal Artillery, but his documents also show a brief stint with Black watch and the Welsh guards. I also have merchant navy papers as a deck hand. Along with anti-aircraft certificates. He also survived a U boat attack when Ss Nerissa was sunk in April 1941 and a second on another ship Which I'm trying to find the name of. I'm after any info on him really, I have lots of documents but nothing that tells me clearly what he did. Thank you and sorry for posting in here
Hello Ryan, welcome to the forum. I'm sure someone will be along soon to help, in the meantime the link gives info re the loss of the Nerissa. Regards Peter http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/895.html
Welcome to the forum Ryan for what you have said it appears he was part of the DEMS - Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships, which wer manned by members of the Royal Artillery A Search on the forum on DEMS will bring you to several links http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/57073-dems-gunners/?hl=dems Here is a Wiki link + others on DEMS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensively_equipped_merchant_ship http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12782 http://homepage.ntlworld.com/annemariepurnell/dems.html
Thanks for the warm welcome, there's some good information on DEMS gunners. Also the link to SS Nerissa is interesting, seems that the ship didn't carry many gunners.
