Ideas Please

[coppernob]

My father in law John Statham b 1907 London, where do I start to find out what he did during ww2. All I know is he was a dispatch rider & spent some time in Africa. Having just received my own fathers Army records would love to know more about John Statham, would he have belonged to the army to be a dispatch rider or another organisation. This is a big ask I know but, you rootschatters have not let me down so far.

Coppernob

[mmm45]

Coppernob
Why dont yo apply for his record? If he has passed away you will have to supply a copy of Death cert and explain that its family history research

The forms can be found on the Veterans Agency website.
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

Ady

[Tim W]

Hi Coppernob,
DR would imply army connections - does he or any of his family have his commission medals? - if so his service number should be on them - then all you need is for him or surviving family (ww2 records are not yet in public domain and are only released to personel or direct descendants) to request his record.
Unfortunately I'm betting it won't be as simple as this...
tim w

[coppernob]

Thank you both for your help. Army was the way we were thinking, just not sure. Unfortunately none of the family seem to know anything about Medals etc. The man just did not talk of the war. He died in 1967 & his children know nothing.

I could send for his  records assuming he was in the Army & wait another year for the results as I did for my own fathers. Thanks again for your help & will consider the options.

[Tim W]

If it was army (the RAF and Navy had their own DR's) then he would have been with the Royal Corps of Signals, or "Royal Signals"
 they have a museum with a good archive and reserch section, mught be worth contacting them -

http://www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/WebSite/index.php/archives

" They initially enlisted for eight years with the colours and a further four years with the reserve. They trained at the Signal Training Centre at Catterick Camp. All personnel were taught to ride.
Throughout World War II, members of the Corps served in every theatre of war. By the end of the war the strength of the Corps was 8,518 officers and 142,472 men."

Good luck!

Tim

[coppernob]

Thanks Tim,
 I have a 'gut' feeling it would be the army tho' I don't know why. I am sure you know what I mean. I shall give the web site a look & see what I can find out.

Thanks from Coppernob (the researcher) & my other half-- John's son.