R E Preece 77 coy

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone could be of assistance please because I'm struggling to find any information past what i have now. I'm looking for information on my grandad. I've received this from a helpful researcher at the Museum of the Mercian Regiment:

Reginald Ernest Preece (4980924) enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters on the 13th June 1940 and was posted to the Infantry Training Centre at our Derby Depot.
I can see on his service record that he was promoted to Lance Corporal on the on the 6th July 1940 and is listed as Traffic Control Corps, 77 Coy. On the 25th January 1941, he transferred to the Traffic Control Wing of the Corps Military Police.
He attended the school of military administration between 28th November 1941 – 19th December 1941 to become a clerk. He received a ‘Distinguished’ result for this and is listed as Class I, Group C, Clerk. This was likely due to the fact that his civilian profession was a bookkeeper, so he would have been suited to the role. It was often the case, that soldiers with a profession were transferred in order to make the most of their skills.
I can see online that a record exists for his time with the Military Police:
Soldier
His mention is dispatches can be found online here: Page 3741 | Supplement 37184, 17 July 1945 | London Gazette | The Gazette

I'm struggling to find any worthwhile information on his time as an MP with 77 Coy. The link to the corps of military police has no information at all in it. I'd like to try to glean some information on the units movements and the work they carried out so I can share it with my dad. I've attached a snip of his service record. I think I was assigned to b company within 77 Coy if I'm reading it correctly?

Many thanks

 

subseastu,

Welcome aboard. Your subject's name and number have not appeared here before your post.

We always recommend applying for the subject's full service record. Yes, it may take a year to arrive - either from the MoD or National Archives (TNA). It is not available online and is the definitive record. There is nothing you can do about the wait. The records were never intended to be read today. See: Get a copy of military records of service

Currently TNA do not display his record. That can mean they are processing it or the MoD still have it. If follow the web link and ask you will get a reply who has it.

The cited MiD is for a R.E. Preece, a CQMS (Company Quartermaster Sergeant) but with a different Service Number 49800927. Hopefully his full record will show his rank and that it is an error. His Record is shown by TNA, his DoB being 24/12/1914 and the record is 'Closed' till 2030 - TNA policy is to close the record till 116yrs after his death, unless proof is provided of their death. See: Name: R E Preece . Service number: 4980927 . Date of birth: 24 December 1914 . | The National Archives

There is a procedure - if his DoB is known and matches - to open such a record - as displayed on the link.

I note from the document uploaded he was a Sergeant and was posted to North Africa.

As regards what he did you are in luck there are four War Diaries (WD) at TNA, they cover: 1/1/1942-30/11/1942, 1/12/1942-30/6/1943, 1944 and 1946. Yes, a few gaps and unclear what happened to 1945! I found them using: 77 military police coy. See: Search results: 77 military police coy | The National Archives

Note their initial role in the first three WD is shown as Traffic Control and in 1946 Vital Points. The last two refer to them being assigned to the Central Mediterranean Forces (Italy & Balkans, later Greece). I expect the first two will refer to serving in North Africa.

You can book a visit to the TNA to view them or commission a researcher (several here) to tell you how big the WD are before they copy them.

 

Hi David

Thank you for the swift reply. I have received my Grandads records electronically after applying for them (Provided a copy of his death cert). The information you've posted is correct apart from the service number on his record is written as 4980927. I did try posting the full record but the file is too large hence the snip of the (hopefully) most relevant part. I'm hoping someone can provide some information on the unit he was attached to. My dad says he was North Africa and Italy. apparently he was blown up there and a German medic patched him up! How true that part is I don't know. I'd love to know what 77 coy Traffic Control (b company, if I read it correctly) did and where they went. I know he's mentioned in dispatches 19 July 1945

 

You could search online with: "military police" + "traffic control" site:ww2talk.com plus change to "vital points"

I used online "vital points" + "ww2" and there are several answers there to peruse.

Glad the number puzzle was resolved.

 

If he was “blown up” in North Africa he will likely feature in the official casualty list that is available via findmypast site. If he was injured there should be some mention in his service record?

Steve

 

Hi subseastu,

The MID award was for services in Italy.

The LG record has him with the rank of CQMS which means he was a Company Quarter Master Serjeant.

The war establishment of a TRAFFIC CONTROL (SIGNAL) COMPANY, CMP, according to the Trox part of this website is:

LIAISON, PUBLIC RELATIONS, ATS and PROVOST

War Establishment IV/263/1. May 1944
Headquarters
Captain
3 X Lieutenant
Company Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
transport serjeant
2 X motorcyclist
3 X driver IC
4 X batman driver
corporal clerk RASC
corporal vehicle mechanic REME
corporal cook ACC
2 X cook ACC

3 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
4 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt 4 X 2 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

6 X Section each
serjeant
corporal
2 X lance corporal
9 X private
driver mechanic
3 X driver

1 X motorcycle
2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt 4 X 2 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
2 X 10cwt trailer

I would suggest that the CQMS would have worked at Company HQ.

Nearly all MIDs were destroyed during the blitz allegedly so why exactly he got the MID is going to be challenging.

He does appear on RMP website

Soldier

They also have some war diaries digitalised, but unfortunately 77th isn't on the list.

World War II Diaries

Hope this helps

Gus

 

Sorry, but I've only just come across this post.

I've been doing similar research into a friend's father, who served with the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters in Norway in 1940. After being interned in Sweden, he returned to Britain and was also transferred to the 77th Coy CMP on 25 January 1941. As one of the other replies noted, there are documents in the National Archives relating to the 77th Coy's activities in Africa and Italy after that date - I have just returned from London, having done some research at the National Archives. The attached relates specifically to John Job, but I hope it may provide you with some information and I can only apologise if any errors have crept in.

As far as my research into John Job: I know he suffered an injury in Italy when his foot was run over! I haven't managed as yet to pin down when and where that happened, only the resulting transfer to the 'Y' list and a stay in hospital back in the UK.

 

Birddawg,

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