Hi, My father served in this unit 1942-44, until he was transferred to 8RB. Could anyone inform me of where I could obtain the War Diaries of 8KRRC during this period?
War Diaries are held at TNA Kew. A few forum members travel there regularly to copy files - at reasonable fees - if you are unable to go yourself. References: INFANTRY: 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps. | The National Archives Reference: WO 166/4385 Description: INFANTRY: 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps. Date: 1941 Mar-Dec 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps | The National Archives Reference: WO 166/8760 Description: 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps Date: 1942 Jan-Dec 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps | The National Archives Reference: WO 166/12604 Description: 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps Date: 1943 Jan-Dec 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps | The National Archives Reference: WO 166/15110 Description: 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps Date: 1944 Jan-Dec 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps | The National Archives Reference: WO 166/17166 Description: 8 King's Royal Rifle Corps Date: 1945 Jan-Nov
Thanks for the info, I'll try to access National Records at Kew via the internet. As I live near Carlisle I may not go in person, so may make contact with members who go there regularly. Richard, my father was training with No.15 P.T.C., then moved into 1st Motor Bn. 8KRRC, both units were at Strensall near York after moving from Winchester. In Aug 1944, he was transferred to 8RB in North West Europe as a replacement for casuaties. He was assigned to 9 Plt. G Company 8RB. Regards Ray
Hello Ray 1st Motor Bn and 8th Bn KRRC were two separate battalions. 8 KRRC were never in Strensall or Winchester (See War Diaries 1941-45 link in post #4, no need to go to Kew). Richard
Hello Richard, My eyes must be failing me, I was looking at the wrong entry on my father's service record. No. 15 PTC and 1st Motor Battalion were at Strensall, 8KRRC were as you said, at Ampleforth. I don't suppose you know if any records were kept for the 1st Motor Battalion? I have a photo of the King inspecting the 8KRRC guard at Sandringham, if anyone is inerested. Thanks again for the War Diaries, much appreciated. Regards. Ray
Hello Ray, I’d be interested to see the pictures of the King at Sandringham. My father was in the battalion from 1939 to September 1942 so didn’t meet the King! I had at look on The National Archive’s site but couldn’t see any War Diaries for the 1st Motor Training Battalion KRRC. Richard
Hello Richard, Thanks for looking for Info on 1st Motor Training Bn. It would have been interesting to find out what vehicles besides the bren gun carriers that the troops were trained on. I always thought my father trained as a despatch rider with 8KRRC, but it was probably with 1st Motor Bn. I've attached the photo of the King inspecting 8KRRC guard. My father is in the front rank, 2 to the left of rear of the King. Ray
Ray - oddly I’ve just been helping a friend of mine look at records from her grandfather a Cpl Scobbie who was in 8th Bn and who went into 12 KRRC in 8th Armoured Brigade in August 44… and she has these photos also… the King is looking straight at her grandfather in this photo
Pete - Does your friend have any other photos of 8KRRC? The photo I posted was the only one I have of when he was in 8KRRC, apart from one when he and others of his detachment were at Pembroke Dock awaiting to join 8RB in August 1944, which was a part of 11th Armoured. August was when the 8th Bn. was disbanded.