I've been researching my great uncle's service in the RASC through WW2 (he was a Driver). I have managed to decipher the bulk of his service record through N. Africa and Italy by using various war diaries, but have now reached his return to the UK in July 1945 (Python). I would appreciate any help regarding his postings in the UK. After being SOS the Central Mediterranean Forces in July he was TOS "B" Company 1 Holding Battalion - anyone know where this was? In Sep he was transferred to 588 Coy RASC (CMF?) - any info on this company much appreciated. At the beginning of Nov he was transferred to No. 4 Depot Coy RASC Mobilisation Centre (Cardiff?) - next to this is this statement "Authority: Attestation, Hastings, DIF/8030 d/d 14 Nov 45" - interpretation?? Then on the 26th Nov transferred to No. 3 Holding Battalion - location?? In Jan 1946 he was then transferred to 230 Coy (Cmd Tpt), Guernsey - does Cmd mean Command? I've not come across such a company previously. Finally in May 46 he was posted to the Y list. I'm particularly interested in locations of various units, and what kind of work they were doing - especially in the Channel islands. I've attached the relevant page of his service record - any additional information welcome. Thanks, Paul.
My father also has the entry reading TOS 'B' Coy dated 7 12 45 after the entry stating his arrival at Newquay having been flown back from Italy in a Lancaster as part of Operation Dodge on the 5th November 45 and being granted 28 days leave. On that day planes were being diverted from Tibenham due to fog. There are entries in the AIR series for both RAF locations to support that. I have letters addressed to him in 'B' Company but struck through as he immediately went down with appendicitis and was hospitalised (over Christmas) in Chester. Assuming B Company hadn't moved, you could, perhaps assume he was therefore at Oulton Park near Tarporley in Cheshire
Thanks hutt, that would mean he was just about 40 miles from home (Oldham) when he first returned from Italy. Perhaps, he even managed to get leave to visit his family. Cheers.
Ironically it's not far from where I live too and even closer to where my wife comes from but in 1945, unfortunately a long way from west London for my Dad, especially to miss the opportunity of a first Christmas at home since 1941.
That's a pity. If you (or anyone else) is interested, I have the war diaries for the following RASC companies: 1 Petrol Depot: Jul-Aug 1941 286 GT Company: Jan-May 1942 127 GT Company: Jan-Dec 1942 61 Detail Issue Depot: Jan-Nov 1943 61 Detail Issue Depot: Jan-Sep 1944 350 GT Company:Jan-Dec 1944 350 GT Company: Jan-Jun 1945 Happy to provide if any are of use.
Hi Paul Do you happen to have anything on 17 Company D Platoon? My grandad was in this in Hamburg around 1947
Hi Shazbaz, I'm afraid not, I only have records for the units my great uncle served with. Looking at the records held by the National Archives, it seems that war diaries for 17 Company only extend until 1945. Indeed, I've found no war diaries for any of the Companies that I listed before for dates after 1945.
Hi Paul, Your research is very interesting! My Great-Grandfather Horace ‘Joe’ Jones was also a driver in the RASC and was stationed at Castle Cornet in Guernsey after the Occupation (I’m a Guernsey local, still living here) however I don’t know what company or anything of his service - he passed say before I was born and unfortunately all of his belongings thrown away. In our local Archives I found a newspaper clipping of a driver from the RASC 230 company drowning in St Peter Port Harbour. If you or anyone on this thread know anymore about the 230 Company or in general the RASC in Castle Cornet it would be highly appreciated! I’ve attached a photograph, Joe is the man on the right.
Oddly Google does not like searching for Castle Cornet items on this site, though there area few and none appear to refer to the British Liberation forces present. The liberation was Operation Nest Egg, a list of units appears to be available online, but the website www.codenames.info is currently not available. Have you seen the last post in 2024 on: Some info on these RASC titles please - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum ? Refers to 230 Company! The forces for the Channel Islands were known as Force 135, perhaps that can help searching?
Hi, yes I did see that actually! I think I’m clutching at straws really, as we don’t know Joe’s service number and there is a mix up with his date of birth (his daughter always said he lied about his age to join) I can’t find his service records how you normally would through MOD or TNA. I’ve been reading a book ‘Liberated by Force 135’ by Mark Lamerton which holds great information, but not so much on 230 Company. The reason I’m particularly interested in them is from the newspaper clipping I mentioned, Joe always spoke about a comrade drowning while he was on his way back to Castle Cornet on a night out at a dance. It makes me think Joe could have been in the 230 Co or one associated with it.
I actually watched a documentary a while ago on the army base in Guernsey, I vaguely remember it was an unsolved mystery documentary, it was about the drowning of a soldier who left a dance and they surmised that he had gone off the path in the dark and drowned but nobody would talk about it, there was tapes of his mother speaking to the people who were there at the time as she covertly recorded them in the hope of finding out what happened to her son. There was a strong feeling that the man was actually murdered. I'm not sure if this is the same story but I will take a look through my watched list and see if I can find it.
How interesting, this clipping was for a RASC Driver, Driver P.T Byrne, it seems he fell into the harbour, called for help but by the time they got back with a group of other RASC men from Castle Cornet he had drowned, the body was later recovered by a habour launch, the inquest came back as accidental drowning. I’ve attached the clipping incase it is of interest to someone or helps. It says he was in the 230 Coy.
Hi I found the documentary and unfortunately, it was about a young marine that they believed drowned in suspicious circumstances in the Falklands called Alan Addis so not the same place or man
