Thanks again.
Dee, sadly the only thing that I have of my father’s army life is an Army Telegrams (on Rootschat, sorry don’t know how to link it to this page) he sent to his parents Christmas 1944. And my father told me he was in Italy, even getting engaged there, and was able to speak Italian years after the war. I also remember my grandmother showing me some family medals after he died in 1982 (my father died of cancer aged 63), she out lived her son. One of the x generals (so he said) in the nursing home said one of the medals was from Italy, one from Africa and there was a cap badge for the 8th Army for World War 1 (more my grandfathers).
Sadly when you are in your twenties you never ask the right questions, or collect the information. Now I am 61 myself, I am building up our family history for my sons and daughter. I have come down from Stoke-on-Trent, into South Wales this week to visit some of my cousins to exchange photos and stories (sadly I am the youngest), and they are on my mother’s side of the family. I have no one alive now on the Walters family to talk too.
I am over the moon that I found something about my father’s army life this Wednesday, even if it is only a few lines in an ledger dated 1940, that is the most I have found in five years wondering with whom did he service. Remember my father was a chef and not on the battle front with a gun. He did tell me that their bombed their field kitchen and was burnt by the hot oil which he called his “war wound,” I understand he did not fight in any great battle, but he feed the men that did fight with their lives. And many still faced death in the mess tent so they say.
He had just finished his chef training at the Angel Hotel, Cardiff (The Savoy of Wales) when he was called up, and was a chef all of his life until his death. I was also told elsewhere on Rootschat that in 1941 all chefs and cooks came under the Catering Corps, and no longer under the regiments where they joined up with. At the South Wales Borderers museum they said the SWB never served in Italy.
I wonder also from the ledger what “A Catering Corps 17” means. Or does it read “A catering Corps 17 4/42.” Sent on the 17/4/1942 to a catering corps. Maybe between Feb 1940 to April 1942 he served with the SWB’s then was transferred to the Catering Corps in April 1942 till his discharge after the war, there he may have served in a basic camp in Italy and elsewhere and feed any and all regiments stationed there.
When I return home I can photo copy the few lines from the ledger and up load it onto Roots if that will help. The museum could not help me anymore than they did. May I anyone wanting to see the history of the SWB, it is small but well packed with the history of the regiment. Plus they have a shop and it’s on line
http://www.rrw.org.uk/index.shtml I was able to buy myself a tie clip, and sell a few things which are most interesting.
Well thank you all again.
