North Africa (Desert Rats) - Arthur J Reed

[Glynazard]

Hi all!

I'm looking for a bit of information about my Grandfather's service during WW2.

I only have tiny bits of information but we know he had time in Egypt and North Africa and had a Desert Rats tattoo, so assume that he was part of that Division.

His name was Joseph Arthur Reed, but he went by Arthur. Born in Liskeard, Cornwall but lived in Cardiff following the war.

Thanks in advance!

[CaroleW]

WW2 Service records are still with the MoD.  See this thread

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=651361.0

However - he was only born March qtr 1928 so was too young to have served in WW2 as you had to be 18yrs - unless he lied about his age??

Died 2001 Glamorgan - born 3.3.1928  - death reg shown twice - Joseph Arthur & Arthur Joseph

[ColC]

He might have been in Egypt for his National Service.

Between 1945 and 1956, British soldiers garrisoned bases on the Suez Canal in Egypt. As well as being subjected to regular attacks by local nationalists, they endured disease and a harsh climate. All of this made Suez one of the most unpopular Army postings.

Colin

[Glynazard]

Thanks, all. I have a feeling he might have lied about his age.

Hopefully be able to find a bit more out once records are made public.

[ColC]

The North African Campaign of the Second World War started June 10th, 1940, when Fascist Italy declared war on Britain and France. It lasted until May 13th, 1943, when the last Axis troops in Africa surrendered in Tunisia, including the defeated Afrika Korps sent by Hitler to prop up his faltering Italian ally.

Arthur would be just 15 in 1943?

Colin

[Andy J2022]

Thanks, all. I have a feeling he might have lied about his age.

Hopefully be able to find a bit more out once records are made public.

Given that he was 11 when the war started and only just 15 when the North African campaign ended in May 1943, he must have been a very convincing liar.
He may well have served in Palestine in the period immediately after WW2 had ended, or as has been said, he could have done his National Service in the Middle East. If he became a regular soldier, it is quite possible he was there during the Suez Crisis in 1956 when he would have been in his late twenties. The desert rat tattoo may well have been a homage to the 7th Armoured Division, which in the post war period was only stationed in Germany, before being downgraded to a Brigade.

(my posting overlapped with ColC's)

[Glynazard]

Ok - thanks, all.

It's definitely more insight than I had before!

[AlanBoyd]

If we assume that he entered National Service when he was 18, then we are looking at ~1946. As explained by Andy J2022 the 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats) was part of BAOR after the war. Since the 7th Armoured Brigade adopted the use of 'Desert Rats' in 1958 it is safe to conclude that the name was used continuously after the war, so in order for someone to have been a Desert Rat there is no need to have served in North Africa.

[alan o]

I would agree he was likely to be a Desert rat but post war not in WW2.