8th army,RASC,BNAF

[michelle]

could anyone help as to how i can find out infomation about my grandfather and people that might have known him. his name was arthur bicknell and i have a photo of him in the sargents mess RASC,BNAF and more photos of him in italy in 1945. what would his unit have done at that time.many thanks for anyones help

[Mike Holt]

Hello Michelle

Just discovered this site and I saw your question about your grandad and the RASC.

I'm no great expert, but my Dad was in the RASC in Italy in the second war so I can tell you what little l know (I'm still researching myself).

The RASC was transport and 'logistics' as it is now called, as you probably know - my dad was in Transport and was a motor mechanic working on keeping the trucks rolling.

I think the RASC went into Algeria in about 1942, probably from Liverpool by sea via a stop in Gibraltar. I know my dad was in Gibraltar for a few weeks, then in Algiers, and Tunis in north africa, close to El Alamein (he qualified for the El Alamein reunions they used to have - 'desert rats') and then the invasion of Italy was made across the Med from there I think (Brits + the Amercians together - any official history will describe that).

He was certainly then in Salerno in Italy, and on the isle of Capri, and then Naples for a at least year or more (probably in '45). He came home from war by rail in 1946, out of Italy up through France.

I imagine the RASC went lots of places (certainly Palestine and Singapore for example) but if your grandad was in Italy, I guess he went a similar route to my Dad.

By the way, I discovered by chance that Spike Milligan had travelled very similar country when he was in the artillery in those same years, and travelled through many cities my dad talked about. Milligan describes them in his memoirs "Where Have All the Bullets Gone?" and "Goodbye Soldier". Worth a look - took me quite by surprise when I read these after my dad had died, and it rang bells immediately with his stories.

Happy to swap any other information with you re RASC. Just by the way, if you have proud male family members who rmemeber your grandad, you can still buy the correct RASC regimental ties. Bought one for my brother the other year.

Contact me via [e-mail]

Good luck in your searches.

Mike Holt
London

[rosemarie kibble]

Just discovered these posts.My father was in the RASC Italy 334 company. They were awarded the Fifth Army Plaque and clasp for transporting a mule train. If anybody can help me find out more I would be most grateful. Dad is 87 now and not too well. If anybody rememberes him his name was Charlie Corden.
Thanks

[403520]

Michelle, and Mike Holt.
Your grandfather was a member of 8th Army which was fighting between Egypt and Tunisia (I suggest BNAF stands for British North African Forces - though I've never heard of that description before). The task you have is very far reaching. If your photographs show any vehicles it might be an easier way to start if the front or back of them is shown. Similarly your photographs in Italy might have a clue in them of some location. 8th Army was an enormous collection of units and men, so unless anyone recognizes the name it will be difficult. 1945 is right at the end of the war so censorship should not have been a problem. RASC units would have been in all stages of the North African campaigns - and before the war as garrison troops in Egypt.

[brigsy]

Have just found this thread.
My Dad was a bit of a hoarder and kept all of his old Army documents and photos etc and among his possession is a scrap of paper with 2 names on it, presumably colleagues with whom he intended to keep in touch with after the war. One of those names is an A. Bicknell, 104 Flower Road, Small Heath, Birmingham 10. and I was wondering if this could possibly be the same man?
If it is the same person then I have information on the units he served with, dates, places, activities etc plus some photos which I would be happy to share.