Decifer Attestation Papers

[alan o]

Looking at the records he enlisted in 1939 into the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and was in France in 1940.  If you look at the dates for his time in France he was at Dunkirk.  When he got back they later sent him to the 2nd Battalion who posted him to Bovington to be a driver at the RAC school for the duration of the war. 

[Andy J2022]

Thanks, namatse, I have managed to download that OK.

However I have to go out now for the rest of the day so I can't give you a detailed breakdown. Based on a quick read through it looks like he transferred to the RAC in November 1941 and didn't return to the Welsh Guards until after the end of the war, just to be discharged. It doesn't look as if he served in NW Europe after D Day.
Maybe someone else will fill in the gaps for you. I see alan o has already started. You are in safe hands.

[namatse]

Thank you for this information.  As I previously mentioned my father never spoke of his time in the army but maintained he drove tanks.  Is there anything in this paperwork that would suggest he a tank as this would then presumably place him at other battles throughout his period of service ?

[alan o]

Yes he was employed as driver at the Royal Armoured Corps training centre at Bovington after he came back from France.  As they trained in tanks he was presumably driving the trainne officers in teaching then to command a tank. 

He did not fight in any battles after Dunkirk but stayed in UK.  The 2nd Battalion did go to France in 1944-5 but your father did not join them.  If he had he would have qualified for another medal but as he was in UK he did not receive the France and German Star 1944-45.

[namatse]

Thank you all for filling in these gaps regarding my fathers time in the Welsh Guards.
Your collective expertise have enabled me to produce a far more detailed account that I can share with others in my family.

[alan o]

I don't know if you noted the dates but he landed in France on 22 May 1940 and was evacuated 2 days later on 24 May 1940.  Lord alone knows why they sent him there for short a short period of time but as a Dunkirk survivor he is someone to be proud of.

[namatse]

I am presently researching the Battle of Boulogne and it seems that a great number of personnel were taken captive by the Germans.  A very tragic event that he somehow managed to survive.

[Andy J2022]

I don't know if you noted the dates but he landed in France on 22 May 1940 and was evacuated 2 days later on 24 May 1940.  Lord alone knows why they sent him there for short a short period of time but as a Dunkirk survivor he is someone to be proud of.

Alan, the defence of Boulogne only lasted a few days. 20th Independent Infantry Brigade was sent over from Britain at short notice to secure the perimeter of Boulogne port so that the BEF could be evacuated through there in addition to Dunkirk. In the event the Germans captured the area between Dunkirk and Calais so preventing the retreating BEF from going further West towards Calais and Boulogne. 20th Bde were hastily withdrawn by the Royal Navy as they were in danger of being encircled. As it was they had over 300 men taken prisoner. 2nd Bn Welsh Guards had been on public duties in London the day before they were sent to France.

[alan o]

Indeed so he went on the 22 nd May but came off on the 24th so was lucky to get out of the town at all.