WWII RWF Veteran - Edward Parr

[r parr]

I'm new to this site and have read it pages with interest. I wondered if anyone could please help me in a bit of familiy history research?

I am trying to find out some more information about my grandfather, Edward Parr, who served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Northern France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in 1944-45. He was born in 1916 in Liverpool and sadly died 4 years ago but I remember him telling me a number of things when I was younger:
1) that during his time abroad in 1944-5 he was the driver for a senior officer. I'd be interested to find out who this may have been and where it took him/what action he was involved in.
2) he arrived in France a few days after D-Day (D-Day+6 I think it may have been).
3) he was based in Whitby during his training (1942-3?).

I know it may sound like I know a fair bit already but I'm curious to know as much about his experience in the RWF as possible. Any help gratefully received!

[ap1]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Looking through the information you provided, Whitby possibly holds the clue. He could have initially been a member of the 12th(Home Defence) Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers. Formed at Pensarn on the 4th July 1940 it was part of 215 Inf Bde. It then spent a short period at Hoylake.

Sometime shortly after Dec 1940, the battalion moved to Whitby, and continued training

From 1st January 1942 the battalion was converted to a Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillary. This was obviously a painful period for the unit, as Fusiliers became Gunners, although the ethos of the regiment remained, Officers retained The Flash and regimental badges on Service Dress. Royal Welch was included in the full title of the unit which was:


116th(R.W.) Light A.A. Regiment R.A.

On the 23rd June 1944, and now a part of 53rd Welsh Division, the regiment's advance parties landed at Normandy, and so began the fight across France Holland and Germany.

You may the link below of interest. It shows the 116th within the 53rd Divisional Orbat. It also lists the actions they took part in.

http://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/53rd_division.htm

Then have a read of the info on the following link, which gives an overview of the divisions advance from Normandy

http://montormel.evl.pl/?id=98

[r parr]

That's great. Thanks for your help.