Private John Notman 3189059

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 17/12/2013 00:29:23

John's middle name was Robertson. His brother William(dec) also had the middle name Robertson as does his brother Peter.

jacqueline

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 17/12/2013 00:30:14

I was wondering if anyone knows where I could get replicas of Uncle John's
Medals or his war records, for his family please?
Any information would be wonderful.
Thank you

Jacqueline

You have a lovely way with words Eileen. You last posting with photo and words is lovely.
............
In 2000 my mother Mary (John's sister) and I were invited to the French embassy here in
Canberra. Mum was presented with a Diploma to Monsieur John Notman from Republique
Francaise, Ministere de la Defense,Secretariat D'état a la Defense, Charge des Anciens
Combatants, Conseil Regional De Basse Normandie.

"de reconnaissance de la France enters les soldats des armed alliees, engages dan les
Combats du debarquement en Normandie et de la Liberation 1944-1945".

It was a very moving ceremony.

Jacqueline

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 20/11/2013 16:33:33

Hi Jacqueline,
MEDALS.
If a service person's medals were not claimed whilst they were alive, the medals can still be claimed now for service back to (and including) World War 2. However, the MoD require proof of kinship before the medals are issued. If you wish to apply, please complete the application form below and the Certificate of Kinship form, and send both forms to the address stated.

Certificate of Kinship (must be sent with the application if applying on behalf of a deceased veteran)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/16597/Certificate_Of_Kinship.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/16611/Medal_Application.pdf

SERVICE RECORDS.
For a fee of £30 you can also apply to the MoD for your uncle's Service Records - here you can apply as a 'General Enquirer' but it is always better if you can get the permission of the Next of Kin (all that is required is the signature on one of the forms).
Here are links to the necessary forms:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/142479/request_for_service_details_army_application_part2_1_.pdf

Then either this one:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210233/request_service_details_NOK_pt1_v6.pdf

or this one::
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210235/request_service_details_general_enquirers_pt1_v6.pdf

MoD will send you acknowledgement of receipt of your application and you will be told there is a considerable waiting time before you are likely to receive the records - please be patient it is worth it in the end...
The Records Office is extremely busy dealing with all sorts of requests and applications, not least, applications for welfare...

Should you need any assistance please do not hesitate to give me a shout...

Nick

Hi Nic,

Thank you so much for all the information. It is so good
of you to go to so much trouble.I am extremely grateful.

Kind regards
Jacqueline

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 17/01/2015 07:26:00

Hello,
I have read the war diaries for No4 Commando for 2 July 1944 and it says there were two casualties. In the book Swiftly they Struck by Murdoch McDougall he talks about John on D-Day on page 65 then briefly on page 126 and then on page 131 to the end of the chapter he talks about the young man who was injured and in detail about the one who died. Ho does not mention John by name but I am sure he is talking about John as this is the way I have been told he died. It talks about John around half an hour before his death and then when the mortar struck the side of the slit trench he was in. They got him out and he had been hit in the back and barely alive. He whispered his last words, which are written in the book and shortly afterwards John died.

I bought the book from Amazon.UK and am waiting on the delivery of James Dunning's book. The Fighting Fourth. No4 Commando 1940-1945.

It was very emotional reading the book.

Regards
Jacqueline

Jacqueline

I am working on the nominal roll for No 4. The only one recorded as KIA on 2 July was John Notman.

You will enjoy the fighting fourth.

Bill

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 17/01/2015 07:26:43

Hello Bill,

The war dairies said that there were two casualties on 2 July. So I am presuming the other casualty was the other commando who was injured on the day John died as depicted in Swiftly they Struck. As I said the way the book depicts the commando's death is the way I have been told John died.

Thank you for your work on the Nominal Roll Bill.

Jacqueline

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 15/01/2014 11:28:05

For x ref purposes the photo on the mountain at Braemar referred to earlier is here : No 4 Commandos at Braemar

From that photo I have placed a photo of John in our No 4 Cdo In Remembrance album here with links on his name and the cemetery:
Private John Notman

Pete, thank you very much for the lovely photo of John.

Jacqueline

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 08/01/2014 05:05:15

I said previously that I had read the war diaries of No4 Commando for 2 July 1944 about there being two casualties on that day.

What I actually read we're the National Archives catalogue no. WO 218/66 on the site No4 Commando The Pegasus Archive.

I thought the archives and diaries are one and the same. I'm not sure now.
I apologise if I have made a mistake.

Jacqueline

National Archives records with the code WO218 are War Office Special Services War Diaries from the Second World War.
WO218/66 are No4 Commando War Diaries [With maps and plans] covering January to May; August to December 1944.

Diaries for June and July 1944 are in DEFE 2/40.

The diaries you read are transcriptions from the War Diaries as held in the National Archives - so, yes, they are one and the same...

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 17/12/2013 00:32:39

Thank you for setting me straight Nick. I appreciate your quick response and knowledge.

Jacqueline

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 16/12/2013 07:09:44

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone

Jacqueline

This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 17/01/2015 07:27:55

I was told that John was born on 22 August 1921. I received his birth certificate today and it says that he was born on 22 September 1921.

He was 22 when he died on 2 July 1944 and would have been 23 in the September.

Jacqueline