Searching for John Walter CHILDS, Parachute Regiment, 6th Airborne Division

I wonder if anyone can help me. I am searching for my Father, John Walter Childs, Military Records. He was in the RAOC for two years until 1943 then he joined the parachute regiment, 6th Airborne Division in May 1943. He was at the Pegasus Bridge in June 1944 but no record of his name can be found. He was then sent to the Ardennes with the 6th Airborne Division and then after the war he was sent to Palestine. I would be grateful for any help that anyone can give me.

 

We always recommend applying for the Service Record. It is the definitive account of his service. Yes, it can take time and regularly has good and disappointing responses. A very short note (copied from Clive): you will need his date of birth and death cert available here for £7 https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ Link for service records
Select the service - Apply for a deceased person's military record - GOV.UK

Some research tips, now a four pg. PDF available on: WW2 Soldier Research - Tips and Links for New Researchers (update) Plus: How to Start a new Thread / Edit Post / Upload Image

Nothing readily found online, including the useful: A living history of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces | ParaData Nor on this website.

 

Thank you Davidbfpo for your response. I will try what you have suggested.

 

This does not replace in any way the excellent advice to apply for his records, but the campaign medal rolls for Palestine 1945-1948 are online & show these soldiers called J or JW CHILD/CHILDS

19131328 L/Cpl CHILD, J. RAOC This number was issued after June 1944.
7023258 Boy CHILDS J. Served in the band of 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles in Palestine 26.10.1946 - 2.4.1947. Received the medal in 1958.

If you have your fathers general Service medal for Palestine it will I think have his service number engraved on it.

What you say about his service fits with this history of 6th Airborne Division.
6th Airborne Division | ParaData

Travers

 

Thank you Travers for your reply and very helpful information. Unfortunately neither of the above are my Father. I have searched endlessly through my Mother's things and cannot find the Palestine medal or anything relating to his Military Service Number. His other 3 medals do not have his number on them. When starting the thread I should have included his date of birth which was 14.07.1921 Thank you again for your help

 

I’d expect to see the 39-45 star with those medals.
Do you have any pictures of him in uniform at all?
I’ve checked on my 7th Para Battalion list, I have an R A Childs but that’s it.

 

Thank you Alex, this is a photo of my Father in the 6th Airborne Division in Germany in 1945. He is in the far left hand corner with a X on his chest

 

And this is a photo of him in Palestine

 

Perhaps he didn’t accumulate the required 180 days service in a theatre of war for 39/45 Star?

Steve

 

Any writing at all on the back of any of the photos? Hard to see exactly but cap badge looks like RASC?

 

There’s a thread mentioning this man I’ve just seen, was commented on today.

 

Hello Anne,
I have been communicating with a friend of yours called Spitfireian.
My father appears on the photo taken in Germany (probably at Wismar) by Major Taylor. He is further down the line at the front. He was a Corporal with the 6th Airborne Division Ordnance Field Park. He also served in Normandy, Ardenne and Germany. After the war he was sent to Palestine where he served until the end of 1947.
Interestingly the dog in your father's lap seems to be the same one that appears in photographs of my father taken in Palestine. It was a sort of Jack Russell which was named Jack.
I assume your father trained as a paratrooper like my father. There was extra pay for doing that. My father never left the RAOC and stopped parachuting once the 6th Airborne was disbanded in 1948.

 

Hello Anne,
I have seen your picture of your father's medals and see he has the France and Germany Star plus the Defence and Victory Medals. My father has the same but he also has a General Service Medal with a Palestine 1945-48 clasp. The ribbon is dark blue and green. You may be able to apply for this medal if your father served during this period.

 

Hello Anne,
The photograph I have added shows my father in the BOWO Jeep (BOWO stands for Brigade Ordnance Warrant Officer). Behind him is the dog that looks like the one in your father's photograph although maybe a few months older. The soldier sat with the dog has the Parachute Regiment badge in his beret. My father's badge is the RAOC one. This was taken in Palestine but I am not sure of the exact date.

 

Hello Anne,
Do you know if your father stayed with the 6th Airborne Division Ordnance Field Park after the Ardennes. Did he ever mention being allow to go to Paris on 48 hours leave in March 1945?

 

Hello Alex, thank you

 

Thank you Alex, I have only just received your reply. Unfortunately none of the photos have writing on the back. The reply from JohnP49 is very interesting.