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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: uk2003 on Thursday 01 January 09 20:37 GMT (UK)
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Hi
I have started my late uncles family tree, and have been informed he was in the Irish Guards during WW2. Now I want to get hold of his service records.
Now the problem is I have no idea when he went in and came out of the army or even his service number.
Just to add to the problem he died in 1985 in Zimbabwe and his wife a few years later, and I have no chance of getting a copy of his death certificate as proof of death.
Any ideas on this little problem
Regards
Ken
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Ken
Have you tried posting a request on the WW2 talk forum?
There is a lady on it who is doing a lot of research into Irish Guards during that war and she may be able to point you in the right direction
Regards
Andy
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You should also contact the Guards Museum as they have extensive service records. They can be contacted at:
The Guards Museum
Wellington Barracks
Birdcage Walk
London
SW1E 6HQ
http://www.theguardsmuseum.com/index.htm
Regards
P
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Hi Ken !
I wonder if you maybe able to get some hints from this site .... !!
http://www.irishguards.org.uk/pages/history/ww2.html
Annie :)
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Hi Andy,P and Annie
Thanks for your replys
I did join http://www.ww2talk.com and have posted the same question on it, and have had a reply from forum member dbf (Diane) and has given me the same Barrack information. So will write to them with what I have and see if they can help.
Does the uniform tell me anything else about him? I have no idea
Regards
Ken
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Hi Ken !
Thought this maybe of interest !!
History of the Irish Guards in World War Two
1st Battalion Irish Guards in Norway
At the outbreak of World War II, the 1st Bn. Irish Guards were stationed at Wellington Barracks in London under the command of Lieut.-Colonel W. D. Faulkner, M.C. Once the Nazi invasion of Norway was underway, the 1st Battalion Irish Guards were made part of the 24th Guards Brigade with 1st Bn. Scots Guards and 2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers just returned from a long tour in India. On 4 April the King visited the battalion during training exercises. A visit from the King was a sure sign the battalion was to be sent overseas soon as he always visited units about to embark. The next day, leave was stopped and packing began in earnest. Most men believed that France was their destination. On 10 April 1940, the battalion was given its marching orders. The 1st Bn. was to leave London through Euston station at 8pm that night. The destination was Norway. Full "Christmas Tree Order" - "Change of Quarters" with additions was to be worn with British Warms and a haversack slung on either side and the respirator at the alert. A full kit inspection was held in the square before enbussing. Some of the kit issued was as follows: one mess tin, ground sheet, two pair socks, one cap comforter, holdall complete, two towels, soap, two pair laces, housewife, canvas jacket and trousers, one pair canvas shoes, one shirt, one vest, small kit, clasp knife and lanyard, A.B. 64 and identity discs, field dressing, gas cape, gloves, wallet, anti-gas eyeshields and ointment, and ration bag. This was also the first time the battalion as a whole wore the new battledress.
http://home.att.net/~mick3ig/history.htm
Annie :)
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Ken - when you find what he did in the war get in touch as my dad (in his memoirs) mentioned fighting alongside the Irish guards at one point during the war. I will dig out some more information for you, though essentially dad fought at Dunkirk, Africa, Sicily and Normandy.
Paul
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Extract from dad's war diary re Dunkirk:
Our position, because of our dwindling strength and lack of support was in some peril and we were in grave danger of being cut off from other British forces, when orders came through for us to abandon our positions and march to Bergues, to join in the defence of the perimeter of Dunkirk, alongside more experienced soldiers, namely the Welsh Guards and Irish Guards. The enemy artillery and mortars paid us plenty of attention and, again, we lost some good lads.
Paul
If you want to learn more about Dad’s memoir, go to
www.grimdetermination.co.uk/#/the-book/4535338132
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1st Battalion Irish Guards in Norway...
Some 15 casualities from 1st Bn. Irish Guards on my list of British War Graves, proving their hard times in Norway 1940...
J
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Ken........... just to add some confusion the two chevrons on his arm make his rank L/Cpl not corporal as may be suggested by the pic.
This is another of the idiosyncrasies of the foot guards,
James
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He has the Guards Armoured Division "ever open eye" shoulder patch. Divisional HQ was formed 17.6.1941 and they retained the ww1 sholder patch.
James
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Many thanks for everyone's input, it all helps in the end
This has been one of them brick wall problems that keeps being put back to the bottom of the pile :(
What I have tried doing was finding his three children "well they will be in their 40/50's now" LoL
Two seem to vanished, maybe still in Zimbabwe the other I believe is in New Zealand, so still on the hunt.
Ken