Walter Herbert Hammond RWF - 1920/30's

[Sylfan]

Glyn


Thank you for your kind offer of a lone of your book it was much appreciated however my copy of the book arrived this morning.

AP1


You may be right about Skaife being still in the regular army. I am not sure, Who Was Who states " Comdr 158,Roy. Welch Inf. Bde. T.A. 1937-1939"

Before my mother passed on I took some notes about her life and looking back she seems to have implied Skaife had left the army. I have in my notes "Skaife was at this time retired but was asked to run the T.A's in the area, he held the rank of colonel.At the outbreak of the Second World War Walter and Skaife both joined the regular army. Skaife was given the task of setting up camp for new recruits." She then goes on to describe the car accident in which Skaife sustained a broken leg. She then describes being asked to cook for officers at Coed Helen and after and then moving after 3 months to Hoylake, Cheshire in a property called "Tors" in Meols Drive.

My father's Attestation form dated 1st September 1939 and shows posted 4th Battalion RWF, I believe this was a T.A. unit

[ap1]

Yes the 4th Bn were TA. I think your father joining them was purely an exercise in administration, i'm assuming as soon as he was attested he quickly joined up with Skaife at Brigade HQ. Its a fascinating link with the regiment. He was in a unique position. No doubt highly trusted by Skaife, he would have been privy to many of his private thoughts and would have been present in the car when Skaife was in conversation with other officers, including Stockwell.

[Sylfan]

AP1


I have ordered the book you mentioned about Gen.Stockwell through my local library.

I look forward to reading Skaifes papers when they are made available in due course at Wrexham Museum.

I have a copy of Skaifes Will and as you say he wished a fund to be set up and as Skaife states "as a token of my gratitude to the Regiment for the happy years I have spent with it during my life.

My mother and father stayed in Skaifes service until his death in 1956.

Can you help me ? How do I upload a photograph to a thread so that I can refer to it?

[ap1]

Click on the "Insert Image" which is on the top bar of the message box, when you post a message. Then select "Computor" and then add the image file…..Then click Upload.

[Sylfan]

Walter_Hammond_00061.jpg

This photograph shows my father Walter Hammond, back row, 2nd from left. He was in the 12th Batt. RWF but was transferred to the 116th LAA RA from the 1/01/1942.

He was a driver/mechanic. The men appear to me to be wearing different berret badges which if I am right means they are of different regiments.

Does anyone have any comments?

Written on the back of the photograph " soldier on left of Walter the father of Whippet Quick". Anyone know who was Whippet Quick, was he an actor who prformed on radio maybe?

[ap1]

Great picture Sylfan, is it named? So what happened to your Father after this picture was taken, did he stay with them and deploy into France?

The guy front right is wearing a Royal Artillery badge, not unusual as they would have need experienced gunners brought in quickly to assist in the conversion. Red Dragon notes "They continued to think of themselves as Royal Welchmen - The officers retained in service dress the Flash and Regimental badges, thought it not known on whose authority". This was retained until the end.

[ap1]

Your picture are in the gallery Sylfan, under "Regiment by Decades" 1920's

[Sylfan]

Walter_Hammond_0007.jpg


This photograph shows Walter Hammond on the left and I am sure it is the same male from my previous picture on his right who was titled "father of Whippet Quick" in that photograph.

They are standing next to a 40mm Bofors LAA gun and looking at the architecture behind it,s somewhere in Northern Europe.

My father's record shows him being transferred from the 12th Batt. RWF to the 116th LAA RA on the 1/01/1942.

His record only mentions him being posted to one Battery that of the 30/01/1942, Aberystwyth.

He embarked for Normandy 21/06/1944.

Transferred to 108th LAA RA 20/12/1944.

The towing tractor behind them has small letters "GT" and below number "3" . I believe the next towing tractor carries "GT" and number "4".

Could "GT" stand for "G" troop and the "3" for gun number? From the war diary of the 116th it states "G" troop as part of 382 Battery.

I have been told the emblem on the other side of the tractor - a shield with what appears possibly a white cross diagonally is that of The Lowland Division which the 108th were part of.

If that is so would they have kept their original troop markings form the 108th?

Where ever they are, they seem very relaxed which implies they were not expecting any trouble.

As far as the soldier I refer to as the father of Whippet Quick. I have found out there was a character in the Charlie Chester Stand Easy Show. Whippit Kwik was the phantom robber who would pass through the radio’s studio every once in awhile. He didn’t have anything to say, so there was no actual person. But in the staged show, there had to be live representation of this character, so that’s when they hired Sid (Slick) Snelling to play the part.

I am wondering if there was a Snelling who was in the 12th RWF who transferred to the 116th LAA?

My fathers army record from 1/1/1942-

1/1/1942, transferred to Royal Artillery, 116 Lt. A.A (Light Anti Aircraft Regiment).
Attached to 233 L.A.A Trg. Regt. R.A. for all purposes w.e.f. 1/01/1942, gunner, Scarborough.

30/01/1942, posted to 382 Battery , Aberystwyth

28/03/1942, posted to R.H.Q. w.e.f. 28/03/1942, gunner, Field.

28/04/1942, admitted to Knapp Hill Military Hospital 28/04/1942 (complaint not yet diagnosed), gunner, Field. NOTE- THE MAIN BLOCK OF BROOKWOOD HOSPITAL AN ASYLUM, KNAPHILL, SURREY BECAME THE CONNAUGHT MILITARY HOSPITAL.

18/05/1942, posted to “Y” list (R.A. Lt. A.A.) 18/05/1942, gunner, Field.

20/06/1942, posted to 116^th Lt. A.A. regiment R.A. gunner, UK.

11/08/1942, granted agricultural leave without pay from 11/08/1942 to 10/09/1942, gunner, Field, 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.

11/09/1942, granted extension of agricultural leave without pay from 11/09/1942 to 24/09/1942, gunner, Field. 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.


26/01/1944, passed Driver/Mechanic 11D test. Number 4 (Canterbury) Tech. Trg. Group, gunner. UK. 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.

29/04/1944, awarded 7 days C.B. by O.C. Battalion and forfeits 1 days pay by R.W. for WOAS (1) failing to comply with an order (2) AWOL from 2259hrs 24/04/1944 until 0630hrs 25/04/1944 (about 7 hours 31 mins)
Date of offence 24/04/1944
Date charged 29/04/1944
In open arrest awaiting disposal.
Gunner, UK. 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.

01/05/1944, mustered as Driver/ Mechanic Gp “D” ? 11, gunner, UK, 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.

21/06/1944, embarked UK.

20/12/1944, posted to “X” list 31 R.H.Q. 108 Lt. A.A. R.A. gunner, North West Europe.

21/09/1945, medical exam, medical category A1, North West Europe. Gunner, 108 Lt. A.A. R.A.

4/10/1945, posted to “X” a list for class A release. North West Europe. Gunner, 108 Lt. A.A. RA.

6/10/1945, embarked North West Europe for UK.

[ap1]

Another great picture. I would say that it was taken in Holland. You'll be aware they were involved in the liberation of s'Hertogenbosch. Indeed one officer was recommended for a VC! The unit was broken up in Dec 1944, as effectively the german airpower no longer posed a serious threat. Many of the guys(220) were sent to infantry units, however looking at your fathers record, he went to 108 LT AA.

I think you should get yourself a 2nd hand copy of "The Red Dragon" by Kemp & Graves. Its the account of the RWF in WW2, and a few pages are dedicated to your fathers unit, especially their war fighting. The book was published in 1960 and it's been out of print since. Its a worthy companion to all the detail you have about your father. You can pick up a decent copy from www.abebooks.com for about £20-30.

Best

[ap1]

Incidentally here is a link to one of our members webpage "Swiper" about the 53rd Welsh Division and in particular your fathers unit the 116th. A really good read.

http://jonathanhware.weebly.com/116-...-regiment.html