Hi Guys, hope someone out there can help I'm trying to find out about my grandfather and all I have is pics I don't know his reg or coy or his service number, but all I have is pics, he passed away 16yrs before I ws born and I'll love to know as much about him as I can., I know he was involved in North Africa nad Italy and I beleive he drove or was part of the crew of a Diamond T transporter. My grandfather is the one on his own,I don't know if anyone can decipher his shoulder insignia this'll give me a clue to his reg, the pic of the diamond T is the one I beleive he was part of. On a seperate note can you apply for a service record if you didn't know his reg or service number???? Hope you guys Like the pics, can post somemore if you like, any help would be most greatfully received, thanks in advance.
Hi, Yes you can apply for service records without a service number but you will need a date of birth instead. Good luck.
It looks like the first photo has been cropped. The number on the bumper is critical as that will identify his unit - that's assuming that the master list is available. Is there more to the photo? The shoulder flash in the second and third photos is 8th Indian Division - they wouldn't normally have tank transporters, so that's one mystery to solve. I think he's also sporting a Royal Artillery badge in his Cap GS in the third photo, so that's another one! You can apply for his service record without the number, but provide as much detail as you can and don't hold your breath...
Hi welcome again, Information about service records here: Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel. What was your grandfather's name? The members here have access to a large amount of information and may at some stage have come across your grandfather's name. The more information you have and post here the more we can bring back to you. Mark
just in case other members (like me) havent seen your pics yet they are here. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/506497-post16.html
Worth a look for the odd frames on the front of the Churchills, they seem to be fixed to the turret! http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=85605&d=1339016528
Grifneck It should be recalled that after the Canadians left Italy in Jan/Feb '45 this left the 21st Armoured ( by then) brigade with nothing to do - so they were attached to 8th Indian but prior to that - the 25th Tank bde and the 21stTB were stripped with my regiment - 145th RAC being disbanded and replaced by Gerry's NIH - The Tank with the two fixed girders look like Churchill "Facine" carriers for the multitude of water filled "wadis" in that area of Northern Italy- So RASC company attached for transport to 21st Armoured Bde in 8th Indian Div- the number 871 RASC coy come to me as they were our transporters in lower Italy Cheers
Grifneck further from the 21st TB diary;page 63....21/25th April '45 8th Indian Div were meanwhile ordered to an advance up Route 16 and reach the PO to the NW of Ferrara and if possible to take the town itself . 19th Indian Bde and "B" squadron NORTH IRISH HORSE (gerry's mob ) moved North from San Nicola Ferrarese 1st A & SH with "A" squadron NIH passed through at 1600 hours .......-so many Divisions were involved - 6th AD - 46th -56th - 78th - 8th Indian - Kiwis in the last push to Venice and Austria..... Cheers
Cheers Guys for the update I'll take another look at pics for the front plate, there may even be a ident on the side door not sure, but my grandfathers name was Albert Edward Griffin, but probably known as Eddie.
It looks like the first photo has been cropped. The number on the bumper is critical as that will identify his unit - that's assuming that the master list is available. Is there more to the photo? The shoulder flash in the second and third photos is 8th Indian Division - they wouldn't normally have tank transporters, so that's one mystery to solve. I think he's also sporting a Royal Artillery badge in his Cap GS in the third photo, so that's another one! Is it possible that the badge on his GS cap is actually Corps of Engineers badge ( Grenade with nine flames )? This is very similar to the Artillery ( Genade with seven flames ). Grifneck It should be recalled that after the Canadians left Italy in Jan/Feb '45 this left the 21st Armoured ( by then) brigade with nothing to do - so they were attached to 8th Indian but prior to that - the 25th Tank bde and the 21stTB were stripped with my regiment - 145th RAC being disbanded and replaced by Gerry's NIH - The Tank with the two fixed girders look like Churchill "Facine" carriers for the multitude of water filled "wadis" in that area of Northern Italy- Cheers I have seen these Churchill Facines before where the facine was held in place by cables and supporting frame at the front that would drop forward once the cables were released. But in this example the gun is extremely limited in its use because of the facine frame. Were these actually used as gun tanks or stripped internally of their guns? Cheers Kevin
Is it possible that the badge on his GS cap is actually Corps of Engineers badge ( Grenade with nine flames )? This is very similar to the Artillery ( Genade with seven flames ). The thought crossed my mind, but I'm not sure the RE grenade was worn as a capbadge? Either way, it doesn't look like the RASC badge as we'd expect. I have seen these Churchill Facines before where the facine was held in place by cables and supporting frame at the front that would drop forward once the cables were released. But in this example the gun is extremely limited in its use because of the facine frame. Were these actually used as gun tanks or stripped internally of their guns? Again, fascines were my first thought (very appropriate for Italy), but it looks like the gun would foul the fascine.
To the best of my recollection when the 25thTB was reorganized in the december '44 - their 51st RTR was made into an Armoured/ Engineer battalion with many different Hobo's Funnies - they were NOT a fighting unit but were on call when some obstacle was to be overcome whether Fachines - Arks - Flamethowers - purely engineers stuff so this photo might depict any of the many ideas they had......and they had many In the 25th TB was the NIH - 51stRTR and 142 nd RAC which was disbanded - NIH replaced 145th in 21st TB - 51st RTR became joined at the hip with the Engineers and Fachine carriers became just one idea Cheers
Good afternoon All, I am trying to find out any information on the above unit - I have a what appears to be a unit produced book of cartoons by someone who was almost certainly a unit member - a Tom Bundell. It contains cartoons in respect of the unit in Egypt and Sicily - Egypt service dated 1941. Any assistance gratefully received Kincaid
Hi guys, Sorry been a while but I've just received my grandfathers service record and about to try and understand it, I only had to wait 5 mths, but it clears up alot of issues with the photos I posted, it looks at first glimpse that he joined the royal Artillery and after basic training in Norfolk looks like he embarked from Liverpool and was part of the PAI Force and entered Iraq, which I believe made then part of the indian division, then he later transferred to the RASC, so at the moment I think it clears up some questions raised but he seemed to have a lot of S.O.S and T.O.S.
