Which regiment was my grandad in

[Lupine]

My daughter is doing about ww2 at school & she decided to do her topic on my grandad. We know my grandad was in The Green Howard's we have his service number, we know he was in Germany & spent time in Holland. Think it will be a lovely thing for my daughter to do & then present it to my mum When she's finished it. Does help as my grandad was called John Smith.
If anyone can help & advise me how to find out his regiment, we'd appreciate that so much.

[Jebber]

Welcome to RootsChat.

You already know his Regiment the Green Howard's. His records will still be with the MOD.

To apply for the records, see:
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/overview


Jebber

[KGarrad]

The Green Howards were officially known (from 1902) as Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment).

[groom]

Welcome to Rootschat.

If your grandfather died less than 25 years ago, you may not be able to apply for his records without the consent of his next of kin which may be your mother. I believe that it can take several months to get the records.

[MaxD]

Lupine - while the sure way of finding out where and when he served is, as has been advised, to send for his service record, your daughter's school work may not be able to wait for that.  Here are some thoughts.

My sense is that you meant to ask which battalion of the Green Howards he served in, there were 12, each of which having it's own war experiences.  Not all of them served in North West Europe.  While the Green Howards museum http://greenhowards.org.uk/plan-a-visit/contact/ will not have individual service records, they may be able to help with finding out what battalion his service number was allocated to.  With that, they could direct you to sources that will at least give an outline of that battalion's history.  He may have changed battalions but for the purposes of work at school, may I suggest that making the assumption that he served only with x or y Battalion would be perfectly legitimate. 

If there is a number associated with your Grandad's family info ie 6th Battalion Green Howards or 5/GH or similar then post it here, we may be able to move on from there.  His age may assist also to give an idea as to when he was called up.

Hope there is something there that helps?

maxcD

[Lupine]

Can I just say a massive thank you for all your help, I Really appreciate it.
I think my daughter has to go in a different direction for her home work but it's made us all curious about my grandads time in the forces during the war. My grandad was born in 1913. I am going to ask my mum to request his service record as I think it would interesting to see for sure where he served & it's there then to be passed down throughout the years.

[MaxD]

Good luck with it Lupine - good move.  If it needs "translating" from army jargon when it comes, you know where to come!

maxD

[philipsearching]

I am going to ask my mum to request his service record as I think it would interesting to see for sure where he served & it's there then to be passed down throughout the years.

Well said!

You know what this means? - You are being bitten by the genealogy bug!  Suddenly you will find youself asking: "What did grandad's dad and uncles do in the Great War?".  Then, before you know it, you will be looking at ancestors who were farmworkers, weavers, merchants, landowners, miners or whatever.

However far you choose to take your interest, Rootschatters will be here to help.

Philip 

[Lupine]

Thank you again 😘
I Am sure I'll be intouch again one we have the info. Thanx guys X