Royal Artillery, Coastal Defence Regiment from 1940-1943

[arickett1943]

Dear Sir - I have my father's (John James Kavanagh) Soldier's Service and Pay book plus a reference letter from his last commanding officer Major D.P.Lloyd with the 77th Regiment dated 19 Jan. 1946.  When my father first enlisted in Aug. 1940 he was living in Birkenhead and then spent 3 years in a Coastal Defence Regiment in Devon.  He met my mother there in Shaldon, near Teignmouth, but I do not know where he was actually stationed at that time?  Can anyone help me with that?  I'm going to be visiting Shaldon in Sept.(from Canada) and would like to see if possible, where he was stationed.  He then went on to 63 Med. Regiment and shortly after DDay went to Northern Europe and towards the end of the war joined 77 (DLOY) Med. Rgmt.  Angela

[Drew5233]

Hi Angela

If you list the Coastal Defence unit he was with and the dates, the units war diary will give you locations.

Cheers
Andy

[arickett1943]

Hi Angela

If you list the Coastal Defence unit he was with and the dates, the units war diary will give you locations.

Cheers
Andy

Dear Andy - Thanks for your reply but unfortunately all I know is the units I mentioned and that is only from the reference letter written by Major J.D.Lloyd at the end of the war with 77 Med.Regiment.  He signed up August 1940 and after training (6 weeks??) he spent the next 3 years with  the Coastal Defence Regiment in Devon.  I'll keep on trying to find information.  Angela

[Drew5233]

Hi Angela

I can find the later units war diaries but you'd need to know the battery or regiment he was with when doing coastal defence. Have you considered applying for a copy of his service records? They will list all his units and when he was with them.

Regards
Andy

[arickett1943]

Hi Angela

I can find the later units war diaries but you'd need to know the battery or regiment he was with when doing coastal defence. Have you considered applying for a copy of his service records? They will list all his units and when he was with them.

Regards
Andy

Dear Andy - I have just written to the Royal Artillery Museum with my question and so will wait to see if they can find anything.  I gave them his number and rank, etc. so will see what they come up with.  Thanks - will let you know how I get on.  Angela

[Drew5233]

Hi Angela

The only place you find out units is from his service records which and held by the MoD in Glasgow for all WW2 soldiers except soldiers who served in the Guards, they are held at Wellington Barracks in London.

Cheers
Andy

[arickett1943]

Hi Angela

The only place you find out units is from his service records which and held by the MoD in Glasgow for all WW2 soldiers except soldiers who served in the Guards, they are held at Wellington Barracks in London.

Cheers
Andy

Dear Andy - thanks - I just went onto the website but see it costs 30 GBP to get a copy of his service record.  As I only need the one specific item and will wait to see if I get a response from my other email first.  Thanks again.  Angela