Frank Williams WW2 Wrexham TA, RWF mix of units, Killyleagh, Possible Commando time

[Anniek]

"out of curiosity has anyone come across cases of people being 'in hospital' or 'transferred' when they actually were off doing something else?"


Yes my father was oficialy in hospital etc when in actual fact he was making trips to occupied northern France (special ops was the official name)

thank you - that would make so much more sense than what his records are saying.

[ap1]

Hi Folks.
I am not sure about Frank being in the 8th,he was originally posted to the 4th, as that would bring into question his being in Norway as, according to the list i linked earlier,from the Commando Veterans Association. No 2 Ind Co, having been formed from the 53rd Welsh Divn,i do not think that the 8thbtn was part of the53rd, together with No's 1,3,4 and5 Co's formed 'Scissorforce' which Joined ''Op Avonmouth'' in Norway
But the Commando link also says that an 11th co was formed for one specific operation, could that have been ''Operation Collar''
ivor

I think Frank was 8th Bn originally = 8th Unit. The crucial bit is between Jan and May 1940.

screenshot183.jpg

[Anniek]

thank you everyone - some very interesting stuff there.

My mum says that he always claimed to have been one of the very first trained up (although obviously according to his records never even did basic training!) and the fact he says he did his training in Benbecula would back this up I think because from what I have read the earlier commando groups trained in much more random locations.

Mum commented yesterday just how many people he knew after the war and she said she was always amazed by this. An uneducated lad from North Wales suddenly ended up being invited to important events as a guest in London, mixing with a much wider range of people than he normally would have done, he said his war work had enabled him to get his jobs after the war and now it makes her wonder who he served with, he obviously met a lot of people.

Anyone know if there are any records from any battalions about boxing? He said he boxed for the army and he was asked to turn professional at the end of the war. He knew James Lowther, Earl of Lonsdale but we are not sure if he met him during the war somehow (possibly to do with boxing given the Lonsdale family history with boxing) or if it was just he happened to go and work for him after the war (which we believe he did as he had a Steel Erecting company in the North East and we know my Grandfather worked in that industry) but it is also possible it is a combination and that was why they moved to the North East and he got the job.

[Anniek]

I think Frank was 8th Bn originally = 8th Unit. The crucial bit is between Jan and May 1940.

screenshot183.jpg

I am glad you are managing to keep more track of this than I am - I have to keep rereading everything

[Anniek]

will check my notes but I am pretty certain Narvik was the only place name he ever mentioned. He had an in depth knowledge of very remote parts of Scotland and the islands which he couldn't have got any other way than training or being there for some reason in the war.

[Anniek]

out of curiosity on his service and casualty form in the miscellaneous entries (f) it says ASG 26. what does that mean? (it definitely looks like a G not a C) I can work out most of the other things
https://www.flickr.com/photos/einnaf/ the first photo.

It is very hard to read some bits sadly as they are incredibly pale.

So I have gone through the hospital dates (his records are all on the flickr link above except his driving records as they were completely logical and very simple to follow) and some other key bits of info.

6/6/39 4th btn RWF
2/9/39 8th btn
6/1/40 Lance Corporal
27/5/40 Acting Corporal
23/6/40 50th Holding Battalion
27/8/40 Corporal
21/9/40 4th RWF Down Patrick
24/5/41 reduced to ranks - reason being allowing his men to be improperly dressed,failing to post a sentry at the right time and failing to inspect arms of his guard before dismounting (although dismounting what we have no idea)
1-3/10//41 hospital - scabies
14/3/42 31st btn RWF Lichfield
20-22/4/42 hospital - Bangor
1/3/42 special payment
16-24/4/43 hospital - Abergele
3-12/5/43 hospital - Portmadoc
12-23/6/43 hospital - Portmadoc
17/12/43 - RASC

so if he did go to Norway it could have tied in with the May 1940 promotion to acting Corporal? hospital visits that are unaccounted for are summer 1942 and summer 1943.

[dcdl12976]

(although obviously according to his records never even did basic training!)

This doesn't surprise me at all my dad did parachute training at RAF Cardington from Balloons however his record does not show this and according to official records the only Para training was done at Ringway Manchester.

Cheers

Dave

[Anniek]

(although obviously according to his records never even did basic training!)

This doesn't surprise me at all my dad did parachute training at RAF Cardington from Balloons however his record does not show this and according to official records the only Para training was done at Ringway Manchester.

Cheers

Dave

oh thats good to know Dave. I feel much happier knowing that the fact his records are fairly lacking in some information doesn't necessarily mean anything.

[Anniek]

Does anyone know what Med Cat C2 and Med Cat C2 (HS) means?

[Baconwallah]

C2 men were only fit for Home Service.

John