Requesting information on Eric Gwyn Davies

[Erfyl]

I hope that someone is able to assist in helping me to gather more information about my father during WW2. His name was Eric Gwyn Davies d.o.b. 4/9/1915. Army no was 4195668, Sergeant with 1st Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers, possibly based in Wrexham Barracks initially but not certain. Saw active service in India and Burma.I recall his saying that he left for India on the Emperess of India ship, where two actors from Wales were on the same ship, Jack Hawkins and Hugh Griffiths. Any further information would be very welcome. Contact details are eldphotography@btconnect.com or 07831 100359. Thank you.

[Aled Roberts]

Your father looks to have been a Territorial. He was awarded the EM(T) and bar. He left the RWF in November 1946.

The Efficiency Medal looks like the one in the picture here. War service counted double towards the years needed for its award.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efficiency_Medal

[ap1]

A warm welcome Erfyl. Because you have your fathers service number and unit details, you can apply to the MOD for his service record. The cost is £30. You need to visit the following link, download the required documents, fill them in and send them to the address on the webpage, along with the cheque. Once you have the record, we can tell you a bit more about your fathers service and his movements. http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

I can tell you that he if sailed on the "Empress of Canada" and Jack Hawkins was a young officer with the battalion on that ship, then he was a member of the 1st Battalion. They set sail from Port Glasgow on the 15th April 1942, heading to India via South Africa.

If your father served with the 1st Bn he would have most likely fought in the Arakan Campaign, specifically at "Donbaik". He would have also fought at Kohima, which was an horrendous battle. If he was uninjured he would have also been involved in the crossing of the Irrawaddy River. Check out Wiki for details of those. Also use the search facility on the forum for previous comments about Kohima…..Its tough reading.

Do you know if your father took part in the Dunkirk Campaign of 1940?(the 1st Bn was decimated) I've found a picture of some of the Dunkirk participants, which includes a LCPL Davies and a Cpl Davies?

[Erfyl]

Thanks very much for the information and the potential leads. I have downloaded various documents. I attach one photos of my father, I note he has corporal stripes in one photo. Let me know if the pics you have match up ? many thanks Erfyl