Hello everybody I'm just starting to trace my family tree and I've realised that I know NOTHING about my father's WW2 experience. Added to this I know nothing about the Army either. I am embarresed to admit to both :frown: My father was in the R.E. 157th Rly Con Coy My first question is would this be the correct badge for his Unit?
Welcome to the forum, don't worry, you'll soon be an expert. See here for more info and pics of cap badge.
Welcome to the forum, don't worry, you'll soon be an expert. See here for more info and pics of cap badge. Thanks RemeDesertRat I've already had an offer of Kew help/research I've got a good feeling about this one (and I actually got a piccy to load(second attempt, mind you))
A public Hi and welcome Ady. I've sent you the ref for the first two diaries of units he was with in 1940. The first, The BEF one was a Railway Construction Company. The 157th as of the 10th May when things really kicked off in France they were part of Rennes Base Sub Area, South District. The unit consisted of 3 officers and 207 'Other Ranks'. Regards Andy
Hello and welcome to the forum. The badge is correct and if you look closely at the GR Monogram, at the top just inside the Monogram you will see a small V1, signifying George 6th. The badge was all brass. Regards Tom
Climb aboard Ady B-). These guys are just the mutt's nuts! Like you I wanted to trace a family member and had no military knowledge. Now my family get jammed in the door when they see me coming because I can quote 19/05/40 from dawn to dusk. Just ask, someone here is almost certain to have the answer.
Thanks everyone for the cheery welcome, I'm quite overwhelemed (only just realised this line was taking on comment so sorry for any delay responding) I have sent and been fortunate enough to receive my fathers service records and Andy has kindly offered to find me some more info. from Kew so I'm off to a cracking start Just looked at cap badge closely and spotted the small V1 which I would never have known about, thanks for that Tom. Thanks to all for mesages I'm looking forward to broadening my knowledge and sharing it with anyone who, like me, would like to know more Many thanks to all once again Ady B-)
Can aynone tell me how a Unit such as The 157th RCC comes into exitance and when this might have been please? Thanks Ady B-)
Orbat for RE Shows the following served with BEF 1940, Served with 21st Army Group 1944-45 Disbanded September 1945+ You will need to either get hold of their war diary or try the RE Museum they maybe able to help. A lot of the Railway Companies manpower were drawn from employees of the big four railway companies, Great Western, Southern,LMS and LNER companies of the time
Many thanks Oldman Any and all information is like Gold Dust to me. Andy has kindly offered to search for the thier early War diary for me at Kew so I'm on the edge of my seat at the moment. My father lived at Llanrwst so I'm guessing he might have been with Great Western but I have no idea how to find that out at the moment. Many thanks once again Ady B-)
I used to use this before I got 6 Vols on the BEF Orbat. I don't think the site will go down to the detail you are after though. HyperWar: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940 [Appendix I]
RE Orbat http://orbat.com/site/uk_orbats/files/6/RE%20World%20War%20II.p This will give generic information you need to look at othere sources to get further information
