Hi from Wandsworth

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by hwallen14, Sep 9, 2024.

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  1. hwallen14

    hwallen14 New Member

    Hi everyone,

    Recently joined the forum and have found lots of useful information so far.

    Today is the 81st anniversary of my great-uncle Sapper Charles Hayward, 22 Mechanical Equipment Platoon R.E. being awarded the Military Medal for his actions on Uncle Green Beach at Salerno.

    Interested in finding out more about 22 Mechanical Equipment Platoon and 35 Beach Brick.

    Keep up the good work.

    Harry
     
    hwallen14, Sep 9, 2024
    #1
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  2. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Hello Harry,

    Should you not have seen it already you will hopefully find this thread of interest:

    Beach Brick/Group in Operation Avalanche 1943

    Good luck with your research.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
    JimHerriot, Sep 9, 2024
    #2
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  3. hwallen14

    hwallen14 New Member

    Thanks for the pointer Jim, much appreciated.

    Harry
     
    hwallen14, Sep 9, 2024
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  4. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce Patron

    Hello and welcome to the forum Harry. We're a (mostly) friendly bunch on here ;).
    Lesley
     
    4jonboy, Sep 9, 2024
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  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Welcome to the forum
     
    CL1, Sep 9, 2024
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  6. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Welcome aboard Harry.
     
    bamboo43, Sep 9, 2024
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  7. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Harry.

    In case you have never seen his citation. He was supporting the 46 Infantry Division landings - the ones closest to Salerno town/port.

    upload_2024-9-9_19-5-52.png

    Regards

    Frank
     
    minden1759, Sep 9, 2024
    #7
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  8. hwallen14

    hwallen14 New Member

    Hi Frank,

    Thanks for that, I have a copy back at home.

    Would have loved to have met him, but he was killed on 25th November 1944 and is buried in Forli Military Cemetery.

    Regards

    Harry
     
    hwallen14, Sep 9, 2024
    #8
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  9. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    His MM was shown in The London Gazette 13/1/1944: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36327/page/257/data.pdf

    His Service Number was 2136942; shown on the commendation plus originating from London SW16, the Gazette entry and: https://test.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2206983/charles-hayward/

    Always valuable to capture in the text of a post as others often come here having found the number.

    He has not appeared here before your thread.

    There are a small number of online hits on "35 Beach Brick" and has this:
    From: https://rafbeachunits.info/units/middle-east-beach-bricks/35-beach-brick/

    I expect the unit was disbanded before his death; the RAF component left in November 1943. Note a Beach Brick had 3k members.

    Background: Beach groups - Wikipedia and a soldier's memoir which includes his time with the unit: Fred Cornwell’s War and J.C. Roberts War History
     
    davidbfpo, Sep 9, 2024
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  10. hwallen14

    hwallen14 New Member

    Thanks for the additional links David.

    I have requested his service record from The National Archive.

    Hoping to visit his grave next year.

    SW16 certainly makes sense as the family lived in Norbury from the 1930's to the 1990's.

    Regards

    Harry
     
    hwallen14, Sep 10, 2024
    #10

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