RWF - Downpatrick 1940's

[Rog Ball 01]

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[megeye]

Hi there,
Thank you for your welcome!
I am trying to research my family, and have only just found out that my biological grandfather served in downpatrick in late 1941 and was moved in early 1942 all i know is that his name was John, whom my father was named after, we think he may have been in the RWF can anyone tell me if indeed they were stationed in Downpatrick town at this time??
many thanks
shauna

[ap1]

Hi Shauna and welcome.

At the onset of WW2, 158 Brigade a TA formation and part of the 53rd Welsh Division, was mobilised and posted to Northern Ireland. This consisted of the 4th, 6th and 7th RWF Battalions. The brigade remained in Northern Ireland until Nov 1941. The 3 battalions were posted in separate locations. These included from April 1940 at Ballynahinch. Also Glen Barracks at Newtonards and the western shore of Strangford Lough. So as you can see they were fairly close to the Downpatrick area. During the spring of 1941 the brigade practised assault boat crossings at Downpatrick. In Nov 1941 the brigade was posted to the Litchfield area of Staffordshire. Do you have anymore detail? So we can at least narrow it down to a possible battalion.

[megeye]

Hi ap1,
Sadly my grandmother died 17yrs ago when we were completly unaware of whom my father's biological father was, we only started researching a week ago, and it came to light then, we have spoke to my gr8 aunt from america whom is 86 and remembers only that he was in downpatrick and named john, my father was born on the 9/7/42 and thats how we know it had to be no later than november '41 when the soldier was based there. I have searched and searched on the internet and the only reg i can come up with in downpatrick around that time are the RWF and something called the Movement Control Group that was formed in derby in early 1940 it had a group called 6 MC Group, which had an RTO detachment in downpatrick between 1940 and 1942 but i have absolutly no idea who this is, do any of you?
Im sori i dn't have anymore info and i know it's like looking for a needle in a haystack, but i think it's worth a try, i have contacted the Army personnal Centre but basically without his surname and dateof birth im snookered, any info would be very much appreciated.