RootsChat.Com

General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: BumbleB on Saturday 27 February 16 12:58 GMT (UK)

Title: South Africans in WW2
Post by: BumbleB on Saturday 27 February 16 12:58 GMT (UK)
I'm currently staying in South Africa with friends, and we have come across war medals for 1226 VO Kirk and 211363 J Goncalves.  Any ideas as to where we can find additional information on these two gentlemen? 

Many thanks.

Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: Maggsie on Saturday 27 February 16 14:00 GMT (UK)
I searched and these are the results.
There is another ..... Armindo J Goncalves, not yours I don't think.
Maggsie

J . Goncalves
 in the South Africa, Military Index, 1853 - 2004
Name:   J . Goncalves
Military Date:   1987
Rank or Designation:   Rifleman
Corps:   ARMY
War:   SWA Border War
Collection:   World (Global) War Honour Records, 1879 - 2004

J Goncalves
 in the UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960
 View

Name:   J Goncalves
Gender:   Male
Age:   36
Birth Date:   abt 1863
Departure Date:   3 Aug 1899
Port of Departure:   Southampton, England
Destination Port:   Madeira, Portugal
Ship Name:   Dunolly Castle
Search Ship Database:   Search for the Dunolly Castle in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database

Shipping line:   Castle Line
Official Number:   108163
Master:   D Wallace
Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: BumbleB on Saturday 27 February 16 14:13 GMT (UK)
Many thanks Maggsie - however I think that the first one is too late, and the second too early  :'(  The medal is for WW 2 and so 1939-1945.

Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: Maggsie on Saturday 27 February 16 14:51 GMT (UK)
Try the nationalarchives.gov.uk
This is Kew.
You can search by service number.
Maggsie
Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: Drew5233 on Saturday 27 February 16 15:28 GMT (UK)
Try the nationalarchives.gov.uk
This is Kew.
You can search by service number.
Maggsie

The only information the National Archives hold on individual soldiers from WW2 is the citations for gallantry awards. Service Records are still with the Ministry of Defence. I suspect the same would apply in South Africa for South African soldiers.
Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: Drew5233 on Saturday 27 February 16 15:29 GMT (UK)
A quick google search later:

Any request for information on South African Military Personnel from 1910 up to the present day should be addressed to:

 Department of Defence Command & Management
 Information Systems Division
 Documentation Centre
 Private Bag X289
 PRETORIA 0001
 SOUTH AFRICA

 Tel:  (27) 12 339 4611 Fax:  (27) 12 339 4631
 E-mail:  sandfdoc@mweb.co.za
Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: BumbleB on Saturday 27 February 16 16:01 GMT (UK)
Many thanks.  Now my friend has somewhere in South Africa to contact.

Greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: ScouseBoy on Saturday 27 February 16 20:41 GMT (UK)
Has somebody still got their medals?  If so can you describe the ribbons please?

South Africa provided troops for the North Africa campaigns during WW2
Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: alanmack on Saturday 27 February 16 20:46 GMT (UK)
And Italy after that.
Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: ScouseBoy on Saturday 27 February 16 21:12 GMT (UK)
One alternative may be that one or the other of them may have served the war effort within South Africa.  for example on the docks or in a dockyard.  A lot of merchant ships as well as War ships would have stopped at SA ports for replenishment of fuel, water and fresh supplies, as well as repairs.
Title: Re: South Africans in WW2
Post by: BumbleB on Sunday 28 February 16 06:55 GMT (UK)
We only have one medal ribbon, and as far as I can make out from medal websites, it is the standard - red outer stripes, then blue and a central section of white, red, white.

No Regiment etc for either, just their numbers.