Messages posted by: Michael Condon

Hi Pete,

One further comment I missed in my last post. Jack's police station was in fact in central Birmingham at Steelhouse Lane Police Station.

Regards,

Michael.

Hi Pete,

Many thanks indeed for the very comprehensive explanation of Uncle Jack?s Service record. I really appreciate the time and effort you have spent on working that up for me. Below are Jack?s personal details you asked for plus a little extra info.

Jack Nicholas:

DOB 9 July 2015 at ?Richmond?, 25 High St., St Dogmaels, Cardigan, S. Wales

Following his discharge from the Forces he married my aunt and enrolled in a special ex-forces Teacher Training Programme in Birmingham and became a schoolteacher. They lived with my family for this period before moving into their own home when Jack qualified. Eventually they moved to Jack?s family home in St Dogmaels after his mother died in 1946.

Jack taught in Cilgerran Primary School, a village a few miles from St Dogmaels. He was, apparently, a very popular and respected teacher with the children. Strangely, he was the only teacher in the school, including the headmaster, who was addressed as ?Sir?. A fact I learned from one of his pupils involved in the school history project.

He died of a heart attack at the Cilgerran school in 1972, while carrying out a minor repair to his car during the lunch break.

I attach some photograph?s of Jack: in police uniform; in RMP uniform; RMPC class group and a newspaper clip of 3 Commando returning from the Dieppe raid. Jack is first left. The note is in his handwriting.

I had intended to send you, from general interest, info on his younger brother, George, who was in the Navy and died when his ship was sunk on Arctic convoy. His name is entered on the Navy memorial in Plymouth. I realised, however, that the entry was possibly relevant to Jack?s record. George died on 19 March 1942. On 11 April Jack was SOS. I understand that MOW, in concern for families and particularly mothers, would transfer servicemen who had brothers killed in battle from more dangerous duties in order that individual families would not bear undue proportion of loss. Might this be the reason for Jack?s SOS status?

All the best,

Michael.

PS. Just realised Jack's SOS was April 1943 not 42 so not relevant.

I am the oldest surviving relative of my favourite Uncle, Jack Nicholas. We have obtained his military records from MOD but are having difficulty in understanding his timeline in the military during WWII.

I had always understood that he lost his left leg at Salerno but subsequent info suggests that was not so.

I attach documents for which I would request help in understanding. File 001 is clear that he was a member of 3 Commando at some time or another.

File 002 shows that he was attested at Birmingham on 7/6/40 and appointed to the Corps of Military Police. On 13/7/40 he was appointed Unpaid Lance Corporal - Authority 2nd Depot... ?? On 6/4/41 he was transferred to Welch Regiment Authority Scottish Command... Entry on 30/6/41 I do not understand. Was this a transfer to 3 Commando ?

On 28/5/43 he was transferred to Royal Irish Fusilers, presumably from 3 Commando. Why might this be ?

From what I have been able to learn fron the various Histories and Archives on the date of his injury and loss of limb, 6 October 1943, both 3 Commando and RIF 1st Battalion were based in Termoli not Salerno, where heavy casualties were recorded on that day.

Information and dates on the final page of attachment 002 seem to be inconsistent and have additional info. What for example is SOS Draft on 11/4/43 ?

I should be most grateful to anyone who has the time to remedy my ignorance or point me to a solution.

Best wishes,

Dr Michael Condon, OBE.

PS. I am unable to attach PDF copies of the two documents quoted. How do I do this ?