Messages posted by: Dwest

Hi Pete, We have no idea but my Grandad was one of 10 brothers and 6 sisters, I'm trying to research into all there miltary history so thank you so much for getting that up amazing.

His death was 9th July 1999 in sydenham, Bromley.

Thanks Again, he never spoke about any off it.

So i have managed to I hope with some information track my Grandads journey in ww2 so he sign up as soon as he could to join the war effort at just 17 like many ( imagine the youth today doing that) so far I have tracked him to being on the hms Abercrombie for one month from the 14th July 1944 to the 24th August 1944.

I believe this was around the time after supporting the Allied landings near Salerno (Operation Avalanche) she was then taking to Taranto for repairs after hitting a mine around October i'm guessing 1943 once completed she arrived at Malta on 15 August 1944.So my grandad left Chatham 13th July 1944 then was on Abercrombie till it sailed back to Malta and arrived on the 15th August.

Then on excersise I presume was part of preparations for the planned Allied landings in the southern France campaign, known as Operation Dragoon, which had been launched earlier in August 1944 she was hit by a further two mines
my grandad was then in Malta for around a year from 25 aug till 22 july 1945.

there was lots of other stuff with the mention of hbl, hoc,bdo and something on the 6th sep 1946 saying on paneys before his return to Chatham then at chatham from 25th oct 1946 to 14th jan 1947.

Is there anyway to understand this writing so hard to read .

Pete wrote:Unlike today not all Royal Marines in WW2 were Commandos. However the photo of your grandfather shows he was a RM Commando but it does not tell us what unit he was in nor his theatre of operations, nor when he joined the Commandos. I note you say in your first post he was "potentially based at Chatham Barracks and maybe served in Italy." This means that you must apply for a copy of his service record if you want accuracy and see what is in there, otherwise 'assuming' can lead you completely down the wrong path of research. There are lengthy delays but the initial application is free so its worth doing but as Guy has mentioned definitely send in a copy of the death certificate with your application otherwise information can be redacted or completely withheld under their disclosure rules. Once you have applied I would recommend, if you have not already done so, contacting members of your extended family to see if anyone has any other photos, letters, documents, etc., that may have belonged to your grandfather that relate to his time in the Royal Marines. Sometimes these can have clues as to his unit and/or theatre of service. If you do apply get back in touch when you get the record and from the record I can then enter his details and photo into the appropriate sections of the Archive.

Pete

Ps What's your first name, make it more personal.

Hi guys got the records back today thanks so much for the advice. So he was a marine for 3 years 43 commando and 45 commando, chatham division, It is pretty hard to read the writting but i can make out a few bits and some names of ships etc.

So what do you need to add him to your archives please.

Hi Pete, Yes Sure lovely to meet you My name is Darren west. My grandad was one of 17 brothers and sisters ......I have started a family archives on both sides and so far I have track my mums side down to the parachute regiment and was one of the last 75 to get out of merville.

My grandad didn't relly talk to much about the war but i am currently trying source his death certificate to apply to the national archives, I'd be proud of whatever he done to be fair all his brothers signed up at 14 years old....One was caught by his dad who was also miltary and dismissed from the army...then rejoined when old enough.....
Brilliant i would like that very much , It's up to us to keep there legacy going....great work on here guys....

another pic

My grandad is back row third from the right

Yes, He was one of like 18 they were a rather large family....I'm trying to trace them as I want to do a service military tree to build a website for our family. Thanks so much

Hi Guy, Thanks for your response. Blimey that indeed sounds like my grandad.

Trying to get together a bit of history from my grandads service, I have been told he was potentially based at chatham Barracks and maybe served in italy.
His name is Edward West known to most as Teddy West from Croydon.

Unfortunatly we don't have any records or service number but I would love to find out about what he done in the marines. My other Grandad was in the paras in the battle of merville be fantastic to get a bit of history.....Can anyone point me in the right direction ? I have looked on the nationals achievesand will try and do a foi check.... What Marines unit run out of chat in ww2 ?

Any other places I should look his full name is Edward David West if by any chance anyone has seen or heard of him. Can't see if it's 100% the correct cap badge . Thanks in advance