My late Dad, James Leslie (Les) Wilkins served as a driver with 42nd Royal Tank Regiment. He was captured on 1st June 1942 during the fighting at Gazala. Dad passed away in 1985 and his pay book and a calendar/memo book supplied to POW’s in Italy at Christmas 1942, came into my possession. In the latter he had made brief notes of places, dates, events and also a list of his mates.
I started researching his service, with varying degrees of success back in the eighties. The Tank Museum were able to supply a copy of the 42nd RTR history and incomplete war diary entries for 1st May 1942 - 13 June 1942. The Museum also supplied a small number of accounts from participants, these cover the events between 27th May 1942 - 1st June 1942. Two of these appear to have been obtained for the compilation of the history. From the available information obtained I was able to establish that Dad must have been (when captured) within ‘B’ Squadron. This Squadron had come under command of 1st Army Tank Brigade and was supporting 44th RTR during the Gazala action.
I only have a few photographs of Dad in uniform, but none with other members of the regiment. He did mention other photographs being taken, including some at the Sphinx and Pyramids. But he did not know what had happened to these particular pictures.
I also have a complete roll of honour for those of 42nd RTR who were killed in action. This was supplied to me by the the Regimental Association, still operating from Clapham Junction in 1997.
