Messages posted by: NIC

Hi,
Well Bob Bishop was very well known to us on this Website and was a regular contributor. He was instrumental in me starting my research and pointed me in the right directions and was generous with his advice and his first hand knowledge.
By great fortune, I got to meet Bob and had the honour and privilege of spending a very enjoyable evening with him and his wife, in Scotland, in November 2008. Tragically, Bob passed away on his way back home to Canada a couple of days later...

I have been in contact with his widow regarding your post and she has given me her blessing to make contact with you on her behalf.

Nick

Hi Panther,

You mention that he served in Iceland - this would indicate that he was probably a Royal Marine as it was RMs who carried out the invasion and occupation of Iceland (Operation Fork) in May 1940.

However the photo was taken after the summer of 1943 as they are wearing berets - which weren't issued until the summer of 1943. [RMs - July 1943, navy blue berets; RM Cdos - August 1943, green berets].
The shade of the berets in the photos tells me that these are not navy blue berets and quite likely to be green.
The blue berets worn by RMs were worn with a red tombstone shaped piece of cloth behind the cap badge - there is no indication of this on the photo so I would suggest probably RM Cdos.

Nick

Thank you, I will inform his family - if Toni hasn't already...

Nick

Hi conradnjb,

Even under normal circumstances the application can take a considerable time - up to ten months in some cases.
The Records Offices also deal with other matters including welfare cases which, I'm sure you understand, will take priority over your application.

During the pandemic, the respective Records Offices have reduced the number of working staff - which potentially has caused further delays.

As long as you provided: Full names, a Death Certificate, EITHER a Service Number OR a Date of Birth then they should find the record you're looking for...

Nick

I have received a photo of Cfn. William 'Bert' Meek from his nephew Matthew Beesley.

Nick

Hi Philip,

No.5 Commando and 40RM Cdo were both based on the Isle of Wight at differing times.
Both used the Upper Chine School, in Shanklin, as their HQ and were billeted al along the Island's south coast. There are plaques commemorating 40 RM Cdo on the gates of what used to be the School.
No.5 Cdo suffered a tragic accident during an exercise up on the Downs behind Ventnor when a grenade went off prematurely, mortally wounding Capt Peebles and James Parker and injuring a number of other commandos.

Nick

Hi Charlotte,

Stop paying subscriptions to commercial online genealogy sites such as Forces War Records etc!

They do not have your granddad's service records!
The only custodian for WWII service records - by Law - is the MoD.
The good news is that you can apply to the MoD for a scan of his original, handwritten record - and you do NOT need his service number to do this!

You will need:
1. EITHER his Service Number OR his Date of Birth
2. A Death Certificate (available from Gov.UK website if you don't have one).
3. A one off fee of £30. (However, if your grandmother is still with us and is able to sign a Next of Kin form the MoD will waive the fee.)
4. Two forms, completed as fully as possible. (links below)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/913064/NOK_request_service_details.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/869589/rnrm_application_part2_final.pdf

The commercial online genealogy sites lure you in with their dubious and misleading claims but the only information they have, is the information which you enter when you start to conduct a search on their website!
They will then feed you back the information you've given them to lure you in! You then subscribe and they'll tell you that they don't have any matches!

In the meantime, did your granddad have any other names? Initials will do!

Nick

Today we were asked to pass on the sad news that Vera Bartholemew, wife of the late Bob Bartholemew, No.5 Cdo, passed away, peacefully, yesterday, 3 Feb 21.
Vera & Bob's daughter told us that Vera, who celebrated her 94th birthday in November, had been in hospital for a couple of weeks, but her passing was not linked to COVID-19.

A good friend of The Commando Association, Vera always supported Bob at functions and events, and, for some time after his passing, made the huge effort to attend the annual Remembrance Service at Spean Bridge.

Rest in Peace Vera, united with Bob again, you will be sorely missed.

Nick Collins

Hi Paul,

I think it likely that Pete Rogers will ask you to resubmit your post and start your own thread - so that any answers relate to your grandfather rather than to Paul Wilkinson's grandfather (it can be very confusing especially with the similarity of names...

In the meantime, here is a link to the CWGC record of your grandfather - this does not show any secondary regiment as is usual - but not always the case - if the fallen was a commando.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2340355/WILLIAM%20WILLS/

Nic

Hi, did you want to email me a scan of the records and I can have a look on the off chance you've missed a clue?

Nick

Hi,

I've had a look for your grandfather Norman Read in the Commando Nominal Rolls and couldn't find him - but that does not mean that he wasn't in the Commandos.
The Commandos were a irregular formation and were made up of individual volunteers, on temporary loan, from all the regiments in the British Army...
As they were still on their parent regiment's payroll and nominal roll, there was no definitive nominal roll for The Commandos. Each Commando Unit had a list of personnel but no definitive records has been found.
The Nominal Rolls on this Website were recently compiled, in the main by me and Graham Cooper with a few names being sent in by other members...

You say you have your grandfather's Army Records? What form are these in? Are they loose handwritten foolscap sheets or typed A4 sheets or a small booklet?

Your photo does throw up a couple of questions - not least because he is wearing an open neck Battledress Blouse and shirt & tie.

Nick

Hi, I have replied to your email to me,

Nick

Hi, sorry I don't know your name, but I have cropped the photos to help identify your granddad as the group were obviously having a laugh and swapping hats.
Can you confirm that the cropped photos show your RM grandfather...

Nick

Pete wrote:2 of the photos now in the Gallery.

Thanks Pete,

Nick

Another view of Pte Robert Harper's headstone and the Cross of Sacrifice, Ranville War Cemetery...