Where on D Day? COMPLETED Thanks

[roopat]

My dad started a letter to my mum before he was sent to Normandy and continued it after D Day. He puts his "address" as
14650142 Sgm King J. V.  104 Sub Area (Beach) Sig Sect

I know he was in the Signals corps. Is there any way to find out from the reference exactly what his movements were around the period of D Day? I'm guessing he would have been attached to a regiment 
When I was growing up he sometimes mentioned the landing, being under attack on the beach and manning the radio for a 24 hour period. But never more than that.

Pat

[ceve5478]

Hi Pat,

I believe that 104 Sub Area was the code for Gold Beach, believe your Dad was attached to 50th (Nortumbrian) Division, who were the first to land on the beach.

Charlie

[sharki]

Pat,
104 Sub Area was allotted to 50th Northumbrian Division on Gold Beach on D-Day. Gold beach was the stretch of coast between Arromanches in the west and Coursuelles in the east and was the furthest west of the three British/Canadian landing areas.
Your Dad may well have been attached to one of the two infantry battalions who were asigned the task of protecting the landing area whilst the assault troops pushed inland. The two battalions in question here were, 2nd Hertfordshire and 6th Border. However, from the address you quote, it does seem likely that he was part of a signals unit responsible for maintaining communications between all the units using Gold beach.
Best Regards.

[roopat]

Thank you to Sharki and Charlie! I've been to Arromanches & seen some of the beaches, suddenly it all seems so much more real.

I had no idea he could have been in the first wave, or even involved right at the start of D Day, no wonder he didn't say much about it, except to make light of things. It must have been horrendous for all of them.

I'm really excited now! I feel encouraged to send off for his records as I'm next of kin.

Pat

[sharki]

Pat, There is quite a long delay in obtaining service records, but don't be put off by that. I'm sure your Dad's records will be well worth waiting for.

Sharki

[roopat]

Yes Sharki I'd gathered that from reading posts from other RChatters  but thank you for your encouragement, it's given me a bit of a kick start to get going again. Today I've spent some time in the local library on A***y just getting to know what resources they have.

I will send off for Dad's records, I know he moved on into Germany and Belgium as we have photos and he even made a record of himself saying a message & singing his special song to my Mum! We still have it & can play it on our old turntable stereo.

Many thanks for your replies

Pat

[paulcheall]

Pat I am sure you will find Wilf Shaw's memories as a signaller of interest.
Wilf Shaw, of Oldham, has been in touch with me and provided a bucketful of war photos and memories. He was at Dunkirk, Alamein, Tobruk, Wadi Akarit, Sicily, D-Day, Holland and more! He was wounded twice and still returned to battle. He is 92 years of age. You can read more about him here:
http://www.fightingthrough.co.uk/#/wilf-shaw/4555607634 and I am attaching a couple of his photos as a signalman. Enjoy!
Paul

[roopat]

Paul, that's fascinating. The beret brought back memories - when my brother was pre-school age he always insisted on wearing Dad's beret  , I believe he even wore it to bed at one point!

I will check out the link you gave me, how wonderful Wilf Shaw is still alive to tell us about it all!

Thank you

Pat

[paulcheall]

Hi Pat, you're welcome. Wilf has given me so much info and pics I can barely keep up with him but it will all be on my web site eventually. He is really compus mentis and does his own scanning etc - remarkable chap!
Oh my gosh I have just read all the other posts and see your Dad landed at Gold Beach! My Dad was on Gold beach with the first wave of troops with the Green Howards.
Click here and it will give you an extract of Dad's experience of D-Day and the lead up to it:
http://www.fightingthrough.co.uk/#/d-day-planning-1/4551405616

I hope you still have your Dad's beret! When I was a youngster I recall seeing Dad's bayonet that he brought back from Dunkirk and Dad later gave it to the Green Howard's museum. They thought they had lost it but when I turned up in Richmond to do a talk on Dad's memoirs earlier this year they produced it for me to see - I was nearly brought to tears!

Do get your Dad's records and when you know which unit he was in you can contact the national archives to get the war diaries of his unit etc. You'll have some fun with it all.

Let me know if I can help any more. There are loads of people on the site who can help too, I'm sure.
Paul

PS What was the name of the song he used to sing? Click on this link to hear some of Dad's: http://www.fightingthrough.co.uk/#/ww2-diary-songs/4541999787