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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: sarahLB on Sunday 10 January 10 18:16 GMT (UK)
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Hi, My ancestor was in the pioneer corp during world war two. He died on the 29th June 1944. I haven't got round to ordering his service records yet, does anyone know anything about the corp or what might have been happening on 29th June.
Any help would be appreciated.
sarah
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http://www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Pioneer_Corps
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The D day landings started 6th june,,??
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Book - "A War History of the Royal Pioneer Corps 1939-1945"
by Maj E H Rhodes Wood
This book, long out of print, is now available on CD Rom. It is an excellent rare book that the Association owns the copyright to and we are selling the electronic version of this book in our online shop. Every page and picture has been professionally scanned in and checked. I have seen this book fetch prices of over £100!
£11
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There are two members of the PC that died on the 29th - both in the UK. So doesn't seem to be directly due to action in Normandy (though they may have been injured in action earlier).
However, a number of V1 (ddodlebugs) did fall on this date, and many civilians were killed. So, depending upon where he was stationed he could have been caught up in one of these.
K
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hi - thanks for your help, I've checked the war graves commission again, sidney glandfield frost died on the 29th and he is remembered on the memorial at lambeth cemetery. It does appear he may have been one of the two that died here in the UK. I think I may have to order his service records to go any further.
Thanks again, Sarah
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He is reported as Died in The Times. That implies that he died of an illness or some other cause than in action or by other direct enemy cause.
K
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Hi
I think that your relative was 6144393, I have his date of birth recorded as 1 Dec 18 and know that he enlisted on 16 Oct 39 initially into the East Surrey Regt and then transferred to the Pioneer Corps he was killed in an Enemy Air Raid at Lambeth.
KILLED (enemy air raid in UK) 29 Jun 44, LAMBETH (TOOTING) CEMETERY, United Kingdom, Grave Ref. Sec. T.2. Screen Wall. Panel 6
Regards
Norman Brown
Controller RPC Association
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Thank you so much, this sheds light on the mystery. Do you know why he would have been transferred - would it have been due to injury perhaps.
We are going up to London in a few weeks to see the memorial so it is nice to know what happened to him, many thanks
sarah