Tracing Grandfathers War Record

[William Bickerton-Hudson]

Hi,

  My Mother and I are trying to trace some details of my Mother's Father; Robert William Edmonds (my Grandfather)'s War Record. We have little word of mouth details to work with, but we are determined to find out more!
He served with the Royal Army Service Corps between the outbreak of war; survived, and saw active service in North Africa, particularly the Battle(s?) in and around Tobruk.

Reading through, there is an R.W. Edmonds - RASC listed at 'Forces War Records' (online military ancestry source), which places him at the rank of Lieutenant; and we are fairly confident (given the date of enlistment), that this denotes the details of our relation.

Unfortunately the resource cannot provide any accurate source for the listing, or this persons service number, so we are still unclear as to how further the research.

I have read that 61 Coy, and 231 Coy RASC were active in North Africa during the WWII Western Desert campaign period, so I have begun to focus my research on these Company's.

If anybody could help out with extending this list of potential units, or have any other relevant information that might help with the research, we'd be most appreciated!

 Yours Sincerely,

    William

[Dave Ross]

You can retrieve service records from an address in scotland. Unsure if you need his service number or just
his name and DOB.
Good luck.
Dave Ross

[William]

Hi Dave ~ Thanks for the response. We could provide his date of birth and various other personal details, but unfortunately his service number eludes us at present. Could you be specific as to the address in Scotland we should get in touch with?

[Dave Ross]

Sorry William - I am sure if you search for Military records it will come up. With the info you already have that may well be all they need.
I seem to recall it was Glasgow.

Good Luck

Dave

[William]

OkeyDoke Dave, Thanks. If I do come up with some more details, I'll be sure to drop by with a link, or some info.
I am putting a page together for him on a Family-Tree type website.

Thanks again!

William

[iwanthomas]

Try: Historical Disclosures, Mail Point 555, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, GLASGOW, G2 8EX.

[Stephanie]

Hi
Have you had any luck with finding out? I am trying to find out my grandfather's war information for my father. His name was Frederick Aubrey Alec Jones, known as Frank (believed to be). He was in the TA at the outbreak of the war and was in the RASC, apart from knowing he went through Africa and Italy we know nothing else. Could anyone help us. The online websites have given us nothing.

Thanks

[William]

Hi Stephanie ~ Just returned to check the posts on this as there was a slight delay in the correct remit of the application for Information from the address that iwanthomas has placed. That is the address you will need to use to retrieve records, and it is the address I have sent an application. They have an excellent manner, and are really helpful. There is a £30.00 cover fee for searching for a particular record (which is waived if the record is that of a spouse), but this is returnable if no records can be found or are held. I am hoping to receive the details of our application in the post soon.
Check this link:

www.army.mod.uk/welfare-support/23212.aspx

There is a telephone number for query details and the page contains a link for a downloadable .pdf for the application form you will need to submit.
I will be sure to post back with the details as soon as they arrive.

[William]

We have heard back from the address in Glasgow posted earlier, and they have provided us with a wealth of detail on my late Grandfather's service. Very importantly; we can now refer to his Service Number: Robert William Edmonds T/108161. He enlisted with the Royal Army Service Corps on 2nd October 1939 and was listed asan HGV / PSV Driver serving with 608 Coy C.M.T.
Eventually made a Corporal (and as far as I can work out an Actig Sergeant, and possibly more at different times), he was awarded the Africa Star. The Medal award papers state that he was awarded for service between Oct. '39 and July '42 in Egypt/Libya. His 'Service and Casualty Form state both 14 Coy and 608 Coy. There may be other service medals awarded, but we do not have records of these in the documents sent. His release papers are dated 16th August 1945. There are a lot of hand-written notes about his movements and postings between 1939 and 1943/44, when he was sent back to the UK following a serious injury (it was around then he was awarded the Africa Star), but they will need deciphering. When I have scanned the documents, and can read some of the smaller print and managed to put together a complete time-line I will post some more details.
Many thanks for your help, and I hope it helps with other peoples research!

[gaffa]

Dave I read your reply above and I am interested in finding out about my grand father. Edwin Evan Williams in the ASC/RASC T4/ XXXXX in the Dardenells and Eygpt on his MIC, but nothing more can you be of help. Thanks

[William]

Hi again!
I have been reading through some books on experiences of the RASC from 1939 - 1940 and onwards, particularly in the North African Theatre. But to date I haven't come across any mention of 608 Coy specifically. Google has proven completely fruitless, so I am changing my tack on the research. I think it would be wiser and faster to try and track down 608 Coy's history, rather than try to dig up details on my Grandfather's personal history, maybe the first will lead to the latter!
Can anybody suggest some good reads that will detail the unit breakdown of the RASC given these parameters (wider if necessary).

[bruneval]

Jul 2, 2015 13:58:10 GMT -5 William said:

Hi again!
I have been reading through some books on experiences of the RASC from 1939 - 1940 and onwards, particularly in the North African Theatre. But to date I haven't come across any mention of 608 Coy specifically. Google has proven completely fruitless, so I am changing my tack on the research. I think it would be wiser and faster to try and track down 608 Coy's history, rather than try to dig up details on my Grandfather's personal history, maybe the first will lead to the latter!
Can anybody suggest some good reads that will detail the unit breakdown of the RASC given these parameters (wider if necessary).

Afternoon William,

Just stumbled on this post. My interest is in 14 Company and those who served within it. I have the Company's War Diary, so can provide with more insight into the activities of your relative. You can email me at : [e-mail]

Regards

James

[bruneval]

William said:Hi again!
I have been reading through some books on experiences of the RASC from 1939 - 1940 and onwards, particularly in the North African Theatre. But to date I haven't come across any mention of 608 Coy specifically. Google has proven completely fruitless, so I am changing my tack on the research. I think it would be wiser and faster to try and track down 608 Coy's history, rather than try to dig up details on my Grandfather's personal history, maybe the first will lead to the latter!
Can anybody suggest some good reads that will detail the unit breakdown of the RASC given these parameters (wider if necessary).



Afternoon William,

Just stumbled on this post. My interest is in 14 Company and those who served within it. I have the Company's War Diary, so can provide with more insight into the activities of your relative. You can email me at : [e-mail]