WWII Records

[derryphilip]

Not sure if i have posted this before if i have then please accept my apologises, I have been trying to find my husband's  grand fathers army number to look at his records but I have had no luck in applying for them via the gov site and the national archives so i was hoping if anyone could think of anything else i can do.

Arthur James Derry born 20th October 1913 in Louth Lincolnshire, we believe he was in the royal signals and was part of the White helmets display team ( top of the pyramid as he was the smallest and known as snowy so we have been told) we believe he served in Italy as a messenger and also did work as a barber on the side.

I have tried messaging the white helmets but have had no reply on more than one occasion, I have also looked on the 1939 register but can only find one Arthur Derry who I am not sure could be the right one as the person who he is shown as married to is different to what we know.

sorry for the long post but any help would be gratefully received

[Ashtone]

Related link: https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=830228.msg6944913#msg6944913

[Ashtone]

On FindMyPast (which has free access this weekend) there are two 1938 records for the name Arthur James Derry. No record images, though.

Service number - 1430083
Service number - 1515904
Royal Regiment Of Artillery

In case you haven't seen it yet, there's an AJD (born 1913) in the 1921 census.
Looks to be in a foster care situation.

[Andy J2022]

I suggest you contact the Royal Signals Museum at Blandford. They have records of the White Helmets. They also hold an archive of the Corps magazine The Wire.  Although there is no digital index,  you can view copies in pdf format, and you may very well find a reference to Arthur Derry, either in articles on the White Helmets, or possibly in the units he served in. However any such entry will not provide his Army number. The other place you could try is the Royal Signals Association, who should also have extensive records of past members of the Corps.

[derryphilip]

On FindMyPast (which has free access this weekend) there are two 1938 records for the name Arthur James Derry. No record images, though.

Service number - 1430083
Service number - 1515904
Royal Regiment Of Artillery

In case you haven't seen it yet, there's an AJD (born 1913) in the 1921 census.
Looks to be in a foster care situation.

Thank you, from what we have been told we believe he and his sister were sent to a scattered home  from the work house, I have not seen the 1921 census as I don't have full access to it at present, as far as we know he was a motorbike messenger with the royal signals during the war but like many of the veteran's he didn't talk about his time there. 

[Ashtone]

FindMyPast has free access this weekend, but not sure if the 1921 census included.
He is in a Scattered Home in Louth in 1921. "Both parents alive" according to the record.

[derryphilip]

FindMyPast has free access this weekend, but not sure if the 1921 census included.
He is in a Scattered Home in Louth in 1921. "Both parents alive" according to the record.

 Thank you for getting back to me, The 1921 isn't free unfortunately, We know he was born to a single mother at the time as she was in the work house and we cant find any record of a father for him, could you advise what record you looked at to find the service numbers so i can try and pin it down as i have had issues finding him on the 1939 register as well.

many thanks   

[Ashtone]

could you advise what record you looked at to find the service numbers so i can try and pin it down as i have had issues finding him on the 1939 register as well.

If he was already serving he won't appear in the 1939 Register, as military personnel were not recorded.

There's 4 records for an AJD on FindMyPast in the Military collections.

Two records in the World War 2 Allies Collection.

Two records in the Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942 collection. These have images. One of which mentions the Royal Signals.    Service number - 1430083

[Andy J2022]

Two records in the Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942 collection. These have images. One of which mentions the Royal Signals.    Service number - 1430083

It more than mentions, it actually says he transferred to Royal Signal under the authority of Para 204 of the TA Regulations. This means that he was originally in the Territorial Army with the Royal Artillery and following his mobilisation, on 11 July 1939 he was transferred to the Royal Corps of Signals, either at his own request or 'due to the exigencies of the service'. I think Ashtone has found your man