Hi all,
I am looking to into my grandads ww2 service with the RWF although he is still alive he dosent open up much about his time in the war but after a few months of questioning he has started to open up a little so i have tried to make quick notes and piece things together just need a bit of help making sense of things.He says he served with 2 different regiments during 1942-1944 his parent regiment being the 6th RWF (possibly 'E' company a specialist company ?).Also with an SAS regiment which he says left normandie 3 days after D Day,after this he rejoined with the 6th RWF and arrived back in normandie in a barge?.He mentioned driving an universal carrier in Bocage country,looking over Carpiuet Areodrome watching planes drop Silver foil to jam radar? hill 112,Villiers Bocage,.He was wounded in late july 1944 after which he was taken to 32nd british hospital Bayuex till august after which he was ( B1 unfit?) and so was sent to Paris for the liberation.
Here are some rough notes i jotted down sorry about spelling.
Many thanks.
Richard William Barker
14422179
bocage,driving in ditches in carrier
Breacon
trained at eastbourne firing into sea
14 days on hill 112
cariquiet areodrome watching bominers drop silver foiler and bombing
b1 unfit to fight always go back to a different front
e speciliest company, helped out if infatry had no one to do spelicist task firing 6 pounders.
2nd time bardge port en bessin, arromaches,thury harcourt injured,falaise compound 9 days,bayuex hospital ,paris
hill 112,looking down on carpiquet bombers,chaff germans going and returning. after bombing
falaise compound 9 days
injurged thurry harcourt
saint aubin dave mate came in
LOB
gereral service cap badge to hide hide sas training ...
orchard in falasise where compound or injures accured on apex of road now flats
villers bocage road encounter germans
universal carrier
6 weeks
hospital
billy morton or horton
ronnie
stan neadham wounded ?
micky smith 7th battalion
(bob jenkins
henry ratchford or latchford)
corpral cunningham
scottish brother boxers
brigader george bacman???????????????? eric blackmore?
rsm 1942??????????????/
falaise gap 2 rivers
unit
manchester unit 1 para shcool
bretville
e company special training
luentantt edwards pusher
Re: Help Researching Grandad, Richard William Barker
Dear Leigh,
As your Granddad is still alive and to help with this research, I respectfully suggest that you request your Granddad “Service Records” All service papers for soldiers who served after 1920 are held at the Army Personnel Centre, Historic Disclosures, Mailpoint 400, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow G2 8EX. A fee is charged (about £30) for each search, even if no material is discovered. A special form has to be completed prior to the search. It is essential that you quote the Regiment and personal number of the soldier concerned. There is a long backlog of enquiries at present so it may take some weeks to receive a reply. To download an application (SAR) form - visit www.veterans-uk.info click on 'service Records'. For the actual application you need your Granddad authority, or a signature of a close family member.
Regards Glyn
Re: Help Researching Grandad, Richard William Barker
Sorry for taking a while on this, I'm currently beavering away on some post-grad work for later this week.
I am aware of another 6 RWF vet, perhaps he may opening up speaking to another veteran?
However... some thoughts.
1. Possible SAS attachment? Not wildly unknown, also most NCO's did training with the Commandos up in Scotland anyway.
2. 'E' Company is the Support Company, very curious if it was referred in 6 RWF as 'E Company' over the 'Support Company' they had 3" Mortars, 6 Pounder anti-tank guns and a Carrier platoon to deter German forces and offer the infantry good localised fire support.
4. I know an Eric Blackmore (certainly not a Brigadier!) who served in 7 RWF, possibly the same man?
Thus far, very interesting. I have a copy of the (to say the least) illusive 6 RWF history which I'll dig through later for you.
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