Looking for details on Albert Edward Read - Royal Marine Signals 3rd Commando Brigade

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 15/08/2020 13:41:06

Hi Sam,

That's very interesting as from 4 Aug 45 to 25 Aug 45, his diary records almost the exact same detail as is recorded in a No.5 Commando 'diary', 'Bognor Regis to Hong Kong'.

Also, the 26 group, you mentioned, is the 'Age and Service Group 26' - a system by which the repatriation for demob was worked out.
[A & S groups 27 & 28 left for UK on 19 Oct, 29 - 31 left on 20th Nov...]

But these are all Army groups and I believed that the RMs had a different system...

I have a copy of a nominal roll for No.5 Cdo which certainly dates after 9 June 1945 - and quite probably after 26 July 1945 - but before 17 November 1945. There are a number of RMs spread around the various troops but there are at least 15 RMs in the HQ Troop...
I say at least 15, because part of the HQ Troop roll is missing.

It could be that your grandfather, Mne Albert Read served, as a signaller, in HQ Troop in No.5 Cdo - but he doesn't appear on my document as he was in A &S Group 26 which left on 25 Aug 45...

Just on the off chance, does he mention any of his friends names in the diary?

I also noticed that he came from Royston, Herts. Do you live there?

Nick

Thanks that?s really helpful.

I will need to check the diaries again for names.

Yes I live just outside Royston now

I've just retired after working for Johnson Matthey for almost 20 years!
Live up the A1198 at Godmanchester...

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 18/08/2020 09:04:36

Ive been going through his dairies from 1943.

It seems he was definitely training as a signalman. He has lots of entires of his friends being drafted into commando units etc.

There is an entry towards the end of the war where he says they met up with RM42 so I'm assuming he wasn't always assigned to them.

The front page of his diary does have the following:

A/CH/X101937 (possibly 837)
MNE A. E Read
R.M. Div. Sigs Home Forces

I'm assuming that is his service number? Am I right I saying that CH is a historical royal marine abbreviation and the X means he was conscripted?

CH prefix indicates Chatham Division..

A lot of detail included in the following document.

https://rmhistorical.com/images/RM%20Register%20Numbers.pdf

Cheers