Sgt 7248628 Alan S Harrison

Hello Gents,

I've just received the service record of the gentleman above and i have a few questions.

Did the BEF recieve any recognition (I.E) medal for their service in france pre dunkirk?

Does any one have any sources for 654 artisan works company , Royal engineers?

Under the heading 'Special instances of gallent conduct and mentions in dispatches he has two dates instances. 'PAL 15.1.42 - 30.6.42' and 'ITALY 9.10.43'. As he received no gallantry medal (no MM, GC etc) am i right in thinking that they are mention in dispatches? If so can a mention in dispatches cover 5 months on OPs? or does it mean multiple times during those two dates?

I'm sure more questions will arise as i go through the documents.

Thanks in advance.

Will

 

Hi,

He would be eligible for 1939/45 Star in respect of his service in BEF 1939/40.

Sorry can't assist re your other 2 queries.

Good Luck.

Steve Y

 

MID - Details https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentioned_in_dispatches#United_Kingdom_and_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations

TD

 

Thank you,i appreciate the help.

Is there a way to view the citation for a MID?

Will

 

MiD Citations in the main don't appear to me catalogued any where. They sometimes crop up in war diaries etc but it's quite rare.

Who did he serve with in France during 1940? It looks like 654 Company was formed after Dunkirk.

 

He served with 654 as he was promoted to war service cpl on 4/1/40 whilst with 654. He only changes unit once he is over 45 in 1944

 

Hi 281664

Was he born in 1899, in the Suffolk area ??

TD

 

Yes, to be exact 06/03/1899 just outside Ipswich.

 

I don't have 654 Company serving in France during 1939/40 unless they are listed under another name???

 

Hi drew,

Please see attached a picture of said man's service record at the point he joins the BEF on 5.1.40 with 654 coy and then returns 1.6.40 with the same unit.

Will

 

Also see attached a full list of dates and deployments with the 654

 

Also see attached a full list of dates and deployments with the 654

 

Can you post his service record - the document you have posted states he was in the BEF, but it does not say who with, his service record should show that. It is possible he was transferred or attached to another unit during that period.

TD

 

If you see above , there should be a picture there. I accidentally didn't attatch it with my reply. Apologies

 

Would you be able to post a picture of the MiD dates please? I have a feeling these are areas of service and NOT related to an MiD despite the heading


Kyle

 

Hi Kyle,

Picture as requested.

Will

 

Just to add Kyle, he is shown as leaving Italy on the 11/10/43. Not sure if that's of any significance.

 

Thanks for posting the photo ,now I have another query do you know where it reads Italy 1943 ? Do you know why it read Mid east 41-44 on the previous image? Wouldn't Italy be Mediterranean ?
I don't know if this is the same kind of thing but those headings in those boxes often mean an entry on a Regimental basis I cannot recall where they were entered but the instances I saw previously were classed as an entry on their Service Conduct Sheet? Perhaps this was termed as their a conduct sheet? It certainly appears to be an entry of some sorts and definitely NOT what I was initially thinking in regard to `just` service dates.

Kyle

 

I have his conduct sheet ,which he received separately when demobbed.

You may want to look at the following. It's a lot more detail.

Also regarding Italy. The date in the MID box is dated 'Italy 9.10.43' and on the previous page it says 'S.O.S to bnaf'. The confusing part is that he was still on ops until 17.3.44.

Will

 

Sorry 'SOS to bnaf 11.10.43'