Can anyone please help me. After years of searching I have finally got hold of my Granddad's WWII records. He was in the RASC in 239 GT Coy. Apart from that nothing seems to make sense to me. I would dearly love to be able to give my Mum some information that made some sort of sense for Mother's Day but I realise I may be asking for too much help here. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
glad you were able to log on ok. it says he was in HQ 21 Beach Group in January 1944 here's a bit about them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_groups#No._21_Beach_Group might need to look at their war diary to see what they were up to
239 Coy RASC Oct 1942 726 Coy RASC Jan 1944 HQ Beach Group Mar 1944 72 Coy RASC Apr 1944 HQ Beach Group Apr 1944 Above unit re-designated HQ 215 Sub-Section until the end of the war.
Just shows how fickle Fate can be, as this chap has nearly the same Service Number yet was in the Far East. FAHY, JOHN WALSTON. Rank: Driver. Service No: T/242216. Date of Death: 16/09/1943. Age: 33. Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps Grave Reference: 9. C. 14. Cemetery: CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY.. As Granddad was a Bristolian, might he have be related to these brothers from Round 1? COOKE, HAROLD MAYNARD. Rank: Sub-Lieutenant. Date of Death: 29/10/1918. Age: 24. Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve H.M Trawler "Thomas Cornwall." Panel Reference: 31. Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL. Additional Information: Native of Bristol. Son of William H. and Florence H. Cooke, of "The Plough Inn," Littleton Drew, Chippenham, Wilts; husband of Alice May Johnson (formerly Cooke), of Addison Rd., King's Heath, Birmingham. COOKE, W H. Rank: Private. Service No: 22864. Date of Death: 09/04/1917. Age: 19. Regiment/Service: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 21st Coy. Grave Reference: A. 6. Cemetery: NEUVILLE-VITASSE ROAD CEMETERY. Additional Information: Son of Florence H. Cooke, of The Plough Inn, Littleton Drew, Chippenham, Wilts., and the late William H. Cooke. Enlisted Aug., 1914. Native of Bristol.
My take on one small part of the documents - they show that he was awarded the Africa Star and then the 1st Army Clasp for that medal. The Africa Star was awarded for service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 & the 1st Army Clasp was awarded for service with the First Army between 8 November 1942 and 12 May 1943 inclusive. During this time he was with 239 General Transport Company RASC (from October 1942 to January 1944). Wiki covers the activities of 1st Army - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Army_(United_Kingdom) which mentions improved logistics support. This is where your Granddad would have been involved - moving supplies backwards and forwards from the ports / supply dumps to the front.
Then there is this: "The first RASC Company to see action with DUKWs was B and C Platoons of 239 Company 100 British and American crewed DUKWs took part in the Landings on Sicily from July the 10th 1943." "It was in May, 1943, that we first heard that our Company (239 Coy) was to change its desert role for one of an amphibious nature. It certainly sounded an interesting venture and one which would provide a welcome change from driving over endless stretches of sand." "The first storm boats to be used in the Italian theatre were operated by 237 Anti-Tank Battery, R.A., reinforced by sixty Dukw drivers of 239 Company, R.A.S.C." http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site1634/the%20waggoner/ww11%20dukw%203.pdf Reading further through his records his Italy Star came through plus it looks like he was awarded a Mention in Despatches (MiD) which meant he would have had a special clasp to add to his medal rack. In the London Gazette May 1946 - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37575/supplement/2475
Drew - is it possible you misread 72GT Coy as 726 Coy? I would say that his time at 72GT / HQ / 21 Beach Group was the same posting - just a couple of administrative changes of unit name / command.
After the Allied victory in North Africa in May 1943 the UK 1st Army was disbanded By early in 1944 your Grandad's unit was part of 21 Beach Group which was (sometimes?) under command of the US Fifth Army: file:///C:/Users/David/Downloads/5th%20Army%20History%20-%20part%20three%20-%20The%20Winter%20Line.pdf Service Troops: Headquarters 10 Corps Troops, Royal Army Service Corps Headquarters 10 Corps Transport Column (15 Iine of Communication) Headquarters and 2 Platoons 239 General Transport Company (16 NOVEMBER 1943 - 15 JANUARY 1944) file:///C:/Users/David/Downloads/5th%20Army%20History%20-%20part%20six%20-%20Pursuit%20to%20the%20Arno.pdf Supply and Transport: 1 Section, 12 Field Bakery 19 Petrol Depot (Type A) [-Detachment] 69 Detail Issue Depot 1 Section, 105 Detail Issue Depot 180 and 239 Companies, Royal Army Service Corps (General Transport) (5 JUNE - 15 AUGUST 1944)
The 239th would really like their US 5th Army citation and plaque back - http://www.stjohnthebaptistparishchurch.org.uk/eArchive/documentStore/cutting_rev%20bill%20brockie%20cycles%20to%20st%20johns%2021st%20birthday%20celebrations%20from%20scotland.pdf http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site1634/the%20waggoner/ww11%20dukw%203.pdf 1983 December (The Waggoner) DUKW Reunion 239 General Transport Company (DUKW) RASC met for their 13th Reunion in Lincoln on 22 October. The organizers have written to me (in my capacity as Curator) to ask if the 5th Army plaque and citation is on display in the regimental museum. This plaque was presented to the company by Lt-Gen Mark W Clark, commanding 5th US Army, with a citation which commends the company for outstanding performance of duty at the Anzio beach-head in March 1944. The citation, signed by the General, is displayed in the museum but not the plaque, the whereabouts of which is not known. I would be pleased to learn any other facts concerning the history of this plaque and where and when it was last displayed. Editor
Oh my, I am overwhelmed by all your fantastic updates. I have no idea where to start but thank you all so much. This is indeed going to make fantastic reading over this weekend and I look forward to researching further. Please keep the suggestions coming - I feel my ancestry tree is going to be a bit fuller by the end of the weekend than it is today. Would anyone be able to help me with my Granddad's "Mention in Dispatches" - I would dearly love to know what this was for - I am very intrigued. And I would be intrigued to know why he was docked 4 days pay.....!
First things first - the way I read his file, he was charged and his pay docked for having a jeep rotor in his possession. I suppose we will never know the back story (unless it shows up in the unit war diary at Kew). Removing a rotor was a simple way of immobilizing a vehicle - normally done by the person responsible for the vehicle to make sure no-one else makes off with it. Maybe your Granddad removed it from someone else's vehicle - either as a prank that backfired or because he was short one so he helped himself to one belonging to another unit etc. Onto the "Mention in Dispatches" - this is a literal term, where the unit CO mentions personnel in his monthly return where they have made a noteworthy achievement. Sometimes it can be a specific act, or actions over a specified period (such as during initial landings) or over a longer period. From the unit return those names are compiled and placed into the London Gazette - which is the formal promulgation that the member is entitled to wear the award.
I did think that but if you go up one line from that entry and read across right in to the next book it's a bit clearer as 72 General Transport Company
I did think that but if you go up one line from that entry and read across right in to the next book it's a bit clearer as 72 General Transport Company. Looking again there's actually two entries for this unit and I think you are right, possibly the same unit.
Can anyone let me know what the black oak leaf was for please, as my granddad had this and the bronze one?
got a photo ? sounds like he was 'Mentioned In Despatches.' does it look like this? http://www.awardmedals.com/mention-in-despatches-oak-leaf-p-13666.html?cPath=282_257_242 oops . just read back up the thread. yes it denotes he was ' Mentioned.'
