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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: gortonboy on Tuesday 10 March 09 03:55 GMT (UK)
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hi..my grandfather served in ww2 in the 110th army troop,Royal Engineers.East Lancashire.From what i know already,,the troop were part of the B.E.F and were evacuated from Dunkirk. He later went to Tunisia,Algeria and Italy.Ihave his old re-union list with many names on it,and would be interested to hear from any rootschatters whos father,grandfather also served in this troop.A long shot i know,but you never know. looking at the list it seems most of the troop came from manchester and surrounding areas. Ihave some old photos and someone may be interested to see them. Heres hoping !!!!
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take a look at the post on 25th feb by TerryA.
His dad was from Miles Platting, and was BEF but captured. No troop details but its the right area for you.
The post is locked but you could pm him.
Good luck.
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My dad served with the 110th Army Troop Company, Royal Engineers in all the places you list - also in Sicily, Greece and Austria. He was part of the BEF, but was evacuated from St. Nazaire ten days after the Dunkirk evacuations.
His name is William (Bill) Lamb and he was born and bred in Ardwick, Manchester. He enlisted at Ardwick Green in 1939 and was 'batman' to Lieutenant John Percy Walton M.M. prior to him (Walton)joining Bomb Disposal and being killed by the bomb he was trying to difuse. A close friend of my dad's was Gil Almond, who lived in Beswick.
I would love to share photos, as I have many, including some of the Unit Band and the ceremony at Lancashire Quay in Salonika - the 110th rebuilt the Quay after it was bombed.
I would also like to hear from anyone who has information about Percy John Walton.
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hi,,would love to exchange any info,,,,,it would be wierd if this was one of the photos of the band that you had. I now think my grandad was evacuated from one of the other ports such as Le Havre or St Nazaire.As the only reference to the 110th army troop i can find online,,refers to the building of a hospital in Le Havre. Ihave my grandads army service papers,,they gave me a rough idea of when and where he served,,It would be great if you dad was in the 110th also,,and we could compare times and dates and places. Regards,,Mike.
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Hi Mike
What a brilliant photo!!! Do you know where the photo was taken? My guess would be somewhere in Ardwick.
No, my photos are very different and show the band in action (playing) in Salonika when Lancashire Quay was dedicated. I also have some close ups of band members, possibly taken whilst waiting for the Regent to arrive. I will dig the photos out, scan them and put them on here for you and anyone else who has connections with the 110th.
Like you, I have found very little about the 110th apart from the reference to the hospital at Le Havre and to Lieutenant Walton on 'Manchester's Heros'. I did find a more recent photo of the foundation stone at Lancashire Quay, which was possibly taken by a tourist and posted to the Internet, but the site disappeared. The stone makes reference to the 110th.
I think it is highly likely your granddad was evacuated from St. Nazaire, as my dad gave me the impression he left France with the entire company. He was certainly with his mate Gil Almond, because I have the telegram he sent my mam when he arrived back in England, asking her to let Gil's wife know he was safe.
Do you know when your granddad enlisted? My dad's Attestation papers state 11th May 1939. This is my dad's timeline and may be your granddad's too: Oct 1939 to June 1940 France (42nd Division and 46th Division); 1940 to 1942 in Scotland - training; 1942 to 1943 (1st Army) in North Africa; 1943 to 1943 - Invasion of Sicily (8th Army); 1943 to 1944 - Invasion of Italy (8th Army and the 5th Army); 1944 to 1945 - Liberation of Greece and Salonika - 4th Indian Dvision; 1945 - Occupation of Austria. These are the ships my dad travelled on: - France - Viking, Tynwald, Mona Queen, Bruges, SS Fabia. Africa - SS Norelge. Sicily - Stephen C. Foster. Italy - Forth Bank. Greece - Ben Mchree. Salonika - Cruiser Ajaz or Agax, Italy - landing craft Samas. To England - Hitler's Yacht!!!
Best wishes
Elaine
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Hi Elaine..i have sent you a pm,,,,,i have no idea where the photo was taken..regards..Mike.
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Hi Everyone,
Really happy to have found this site, my dad didn't talk about his time in the army much but I did know where he,d served. This site has confirmed all that i knew. His name was George Forward and his mates were Harold Johnson, Cyril Potter and Norman Blampey - anyone who may have photos of the troop from that time, i would really appreciate copies if possible.
Many Thanks
Trevor
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Hi..I will dig out the few that I have of the 110th. I work nights...so might be a couple days before I get chance to have a look.
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Hi Gortonboy,
Many thanks for the quick response but no rush i know what its like to work nights >:(
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this was taken in Nantes in 1939
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Falkland,Dundee 1941
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Falkland,Dundee 1941
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Dundee
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Hi Martin,
Thanks for posting the photos. I'm pretty sure one shows my uncle and one possibly shows my dad - have to go through my own old photos(i'll post them here when i digitise them.
Many thanks
Trevor
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Hi
Just come across this message board. My Dad - Albert Ernest SNELSON - was also a member of the 110Th Army Troop coy RE East Lancashire. He told me he served in France - St. Nazier, Greece - Salerno, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and then de-mobbed in Austria.
I also have several photos of a quay side where some sort of ceremony is being held (soldiers dressed in short so possibly Lancashire Quay? I need to dig them out)
Don't know where the attached photo was taken.
Albert Ernest SNELSON is third row up, fourth from the left
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Hi Carol...would love to see your other photos..i cant see my grandfather on your group shot,,,but he was injured,,and didn't make it to Greece...so maybe this is a later photo? :)
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Hi
I have found a group of Dad's (Albert Ernest SNELSON) army photos and have selected a few from the dedication ceremony. A plaque laid in Salonika Greece 'Lancashire Quay reconstructed by 110th East Lancs Army Troops Coy Royal Engineers 1945'. My dad can be seen on a couple
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Here's the unit's diary pages for the period covering the units withdrawal from France in June 1940
https://imageshack.com/i/eyJ4KbAWj
https://imageshack.com/i/hjQxmCDWj
https://imageshack.com/i/f0z9splBj
https://imageshack.com/i/hjQxmCDWj
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Send me a private message if you want any of the following unit war diaries copied
WO 166/3609 ROYAL ENGINEERS: COMPANIES: 110 Army Troops Company 1940 July - 1941 Dec.
WO 166/8072 110 Company 1942 Jan-Oct
WO 167/934 110 Army Troops Company Royal Engineers 1939 Sep-1940 Mar, May, June
WO 169/10602 110 Army Troops Company 1943 July-Dec
WO 170/1627 Companies: 110 Company 1944 Jan-May
WO 170/1628 Companies: 110 Company 1944 June -Dec
WO 170/5169 Companies: 110 Company 1945 Jan-Jun
WO 170/5170 Companies: 110 Company 1945 July-Dec
WO 175/627 110 Company 1942 Nov-1943 June
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Thanks for posting the photos Carol...great to see the photo of the dedication stone,,,even though my Grandad never made it to Greece ;)
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Hi Drew,,,It was fantastic to see those war diaries !!! I had sent you a pm before I saw your latest post. I will check my Grandads service records and see what date he was serving up to...I know he made it to Italy,,but not to Greece. I would love copies of the relevant war diaries. Thank you very much for posting. :D
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Hi
This is just getting better and better, can't believe all the information that is coming through
Carol
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fascinating to read the first war diary...really brings my Grandads war service record to life. Thanks Andy. ;D
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Hi to everyone who has been posting information about the 110th.
I haven't been on this site for ages and I didn't get any notification that there were further posts. I'm gobsmacked - I have many photos of Lancashire Quay and a number of them are exact copies of those that have been posted on here. I'm also thrilled to see my dad in one of the large group photos. If my memory serves me well, one of the officers in the photo is Neil Westbrook. I've got quite a few photos of men who served with my dad, so I will scan them and post them on here - perhaps someone will recognise them.
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look forward to seeing them. ;)
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Hi
it would be great if you could download some more photos of Lancashire Quay. You mentioned a hospital in Le Harve, do you have any information about this please
Carol
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Hi Gortonboy
I've had trouble uploading the photos as most of the files are too big - need to work on reducing the sizes. It looks like I'll have to post the photos I have over a number of days. Hopefully, these smaller ones have your granddad in.
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The photos with the Unit band relaxing don't have anything written on them, so I have no idea of the date or place.
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The photos of the band playing in what looks like a small dance hall, don't have anything written on them, so again, I've no idea of the place or time.
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another photo - more to come.
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I'm getting to the end of the photos that are small enough to upload. I'll have to work on reducing the others. Also, I keep getting kicked out of this thread. Very frustrating!
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Sorry, I've tried to upload a photo five times now and it keeps timing out. Will try again on Monday and I'll shrink the others to below 500kb in the meantime.
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Great to see these. Although I did post one photo of the band, my grandad was never actually in it. But I'm still loving seeing these. Thank you for posting. Looking forward to seeing more. ;)
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Sorry, I must have got the wrong end of the stick. I have other photos., some with small groups of men. I can't currently see all the posts on this thread, is your grandad in any of the photos that are posted on here? If so, can you identify him and I'll see if he is in any of these others.
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on page 2 of this thread,,,hes in the first photo...hes arrowed. Doesnt matter if grandad is not in your photos,,,i would still like to see any more you have of the 110th. ;D
My Grandads on the back row right of this one. :)
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I'm staggered .. spent years trying to trace my father's army unit and found it today .. here !!
He was John Alfred Wood, known as Johnnie / Woody, and was a driver ... went with BEF to France, was at St Nazaire / Nantes and said he was evacuated from Dunkirk ... closed trains to Leeds .. then to Dundee and Dunoon ... posted in 1943/4 (?) to N. Africa ( Sousse ), then Italy .. photos in Salonika and assisting with Vesuvius eruption. Dad died here in 1989 at the age of 81. I often attended his re-union at the Belle Vue Hotel in Manchester in the late 80's and met his Captain, Gerrard, of the well known Swinton building company, Fram Gerrard, along with many others
Gorton Boy ... dad is 2 down from top, 2 from Left on your Nantes picture and 2nd from Left & second row up on your Dundee picture .... his mate, Alex Milne from Aberdeen, is 3rd from R & 2nd row up, in Nantes.
Have many, many pictures of that era of the 110th and will post a few... if anyone wants more info, please contact me via Board or Direct.
This picture shows Dad driving in Nantes 1939 ... judging by uniforms they must be just arriving in France
Best wishes ...Topper
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This picture has no information ... guessing by the buildings it's in UK prior to overseas posting .. my father, Johnnie Wood is 4th from Left, front row, lying down.... hope it posts !
Topper
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No idea where this was, but fairly certain it was in Greece ... my father J. Wood arrowed.
Topper
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Same place, possibly Greece again, but with other comrades in arms ... all looking fairly cheerful but battle / work hardened.....referred to / described in our album as "The Quarry Gang "
Topper
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Again no information other than its title in the album " Scotland 1942" ... my father Johnnie Wood is Front Row - 1st on Left
Topper
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Sorry, no more information than " Torre Again " .. looks like N. Africa which ties up .. but the only Torre appears to be Morocco ... which doesn't tie up !
Johnnie Wood is on Left.
Topper
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No more information in the album than " The M T Boys " ... Johnnie Wood is Back Row 2nd from Right.
Topper
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Safecontractor. "Torre" will probably be Torre Anunziata. The 110th were there, as my dad spoke of it several times. It's in Italy.
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Sorry, spelling is incorrect. It's Torre Annunziata and it's near Pompei. My dad talked about visiting Pompei.
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I think their uniforms don't match with Italy ...!!! ... there is a Torre Anyera at the Northern tip of North Africa which is more likely, perhaps .... but can't find out more ! Have other photo showing Dad with another R E friend, but no indication of who. Dad on right.
Regards Topper
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Still more from Album !!
Only designation is " Nobby and Bill " ... guess Nobby must be Clarke ???
Topper
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.... and more !!
Only indication is Salonika 1944.
Topper
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...and yet more !!!
Last for today ... still have 20 or so. This one designated " Band touring round Salonika "
Best wishes ... Topper
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Hi Topper....Well..its a small world indeed !!! Really great you found us..and so pleased to see all your photos,,please post the rest :) pity my grandad isnt on any of them .I do have the 110th war diary for 1939 if you are interested :). I wondered where the reunions took place,,,my grandad had a list of names,,i will dig it out and see if your dad is on there. Looking forward to seeing more,,,,cheers GB :D
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There was a 'Nobby Clarke' in the 110th, as my dad spoke of him. The photos of the Unit Band in Salonika were taken when the Regent of Greece visited. The visit could have been for the dedication of Lancashire Quay and/or another occasion. I've got many photos of the band and the Regent. I've also got photos of a burial - coffin cover by the Union Jack, but haven't been able to determine whose funeral - looks like Salonika. I struggle to upload, as I live in the bush in Australia and our Internet is really poor.
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Here are some more... although I still have others ... these are a bit more particular to people...
First is " Ted" and there is some writing on the rear.... particularly " Kendall"
Good Luck .. Topper
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Hi Topper
Regarding the photo of the large group, with your dad lying down. I have the same photo and my dad has written the following on it "1939 Southampton Leaving for France". My dad is stood immediately behind your dad, between him and the bloke sitting on his right.
Regarding the photo of 'Torre' and my suggestion that it could be Torre Annunziata in Italy. I have a photo taken of my dad in Bizerta, North Africa in 1943 and a photo taken in Italy in 1944, just after he came out of hospital (Sandfly Fever). The uniform he is wearing in Italy is the one he is wearing in North Africa - and is the same as the uniform worn by the 'Torre' blokes in your photo, so I don't think the uniform confirms the location one way or another. You think it might be Torre Anyera - it could be, as Bizerte (Bizerta) is in the same area of Tunisia. Probably a more reliable indicator, is the dates; my dad has "North Africa 1st Army 1942 to 1943"; "Invasion of Sicily 8th Army 1943 to 1943" and "Invasion of Italy 8th Army 5th Army 1943 to 1944". The 110th were with the 4th Indian Division in Salonika in 1944 to 1945.
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.... this one is " Les " ... no more info ..
Topper
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Sorry .... gremlins in computer .. "Les" attached.
Topper
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... next "Frank".............
Topper
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........ the 110th Mascot ..."Paddy" ..... apparently with them for a while and highly thought of...
Topper
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Paddy apparently changed his allegiance and took up with another Unit!
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.........this one is "Bill"...
Topper
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LamBowes.....
Thanks for all your info and I'm pleased to post the Gill & Bill picture ( looks like a different "Bill" to above.....
....my Dad did mention Bizerta to me a couple of times but it meant nothing ... perhaps that's it ??
...Salonika .. many pictures in the album showing the harbour with sunken ships.. along with The Regents visit ... plus Independence Day march....
... Thanks for identifying the picture in Southampton.
Regards ... Topper
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Thank you so much John. I have this exact photo, BUT all my dad has written on it is "Greece" - I now know what Gil Almond looks like!
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GortonBoy ... pleased to see your reply ... some more info :
Reunions ... I think the first I went to was in the Rising Sun pub on Queen Street / Brasenose Street, near Albert Square in the early '80's in Manchester, and then the location was moved to the Midland Hotel at Belle Vue on Hyde Road ..
........see group photo, we think it was 1988, as my dad died in 1989 .. my Dad Top Row 2nd from right ... on front row 1st Left is their old Captain ... Mr Gerrard, an extremely nice and pleasant man ... don't know the ladies !!!!!.... I have about 6 other photo's I took at this particular reunion.
War Diaries .. please.. would love to see them if you can get them to me via the Board or P.M.
Regards ... Topper
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More ....... no idea who the gents are .. identify by Rank ?? .. but the photo is designated " The Wringer " ... whether it's one of them or the truck, I don't know.
Topper
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............... this one looks like an important visit ... headed " General Scobie again " ... the big noise in North Africa then.
Topper
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.............. Many years ago when I took my family on holiday to a place not far from Sousse, my Dad said ....".. don't know what the b****y h**l you want to go there for, it's the worst place we went to in the War " ....!!!! ... the photo's headed Sousse 1943..... he's back row 1st Left.
Topper
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John
'The Wringer' - second from the left is my dad. I don't have the photo, so no idea pf when or where.
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... This is my favourite ... they look smart and ready for anything !!! .. Dad on the left ... Headed " Dunoon Scotland 1943 - Nobby & Johnnie.
Topper
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Nice to see that 110th made good use of the weather ... no idea where this is but most likely Greece.. Johnnie Wood is middle of centre row........hope you spot someone..
Topper
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Looks like the 110th pulled rank, or begged, borrowed ( possibly stole ??? !!!) a nice boat for the afternoon ... or were they really well connected ????? .... nice to see this 'though, don't you think ??
Johnnie Wood is R H side of middle row..............
Topper
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Really great to see all these. My grandad never made it to Greece. He used to drink in the Midland, as he lived not too far from there. I will forward you the 1939 war diary....When I find it !! I can't seem to remember which memory stick I have it on. I think my grandad had stopped going to the reunions by 1988. Thanks for posting all the photos. Brilliant !!!! 😉
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I have just looked at my copy of the 110th mailing list as of August 1989 and the name at the bottom is J Wood with an address in Knutsford. R C Gerrard is also on the list.
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GB :
That's the one... my father lived at Longridge, Knutsford ... R C Gerrard would be Captain Gerrard as was.... look forward to seeing diary, thanks.
Topper
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Still trying to get this one through " France 1940 " ... my father, Johnnie Wood is 2nd left 2nd Row..
.....yep, it worked.
Topper
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I've got a similar 'swimming' photograph of my dad, in a smaller group (5) and it was taken in Greece.
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My Grandad is in your France 1940 photo....the man furthest right in the photo :)
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My Dad's pal 'Reg'.
Reg has what looks like a 'fusilier's' badge about his stripes, so may not belong on here.
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My Dad's pal 'Bill'.
I think his name might be Bill Hutton.
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My dad on the right with 'unknown'
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Group photo taken in Greece.
Topper - is it your dad and Nobby on the 3rd row, right hand side, second and third along?
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Group photo taken in Greece (without hats)
Topper - on the end of the row, next to your dad and Nobby, is it the 'Bill' you posted yesterday?
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Swimming - suspect it is Greece. Bill Lamb on left, standing.
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Special Order of the Day
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The 'flyer' says it all!
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Salonika.
Group in the second row on the far right is Johnnie Wood (far right); probably Nobby Clarke (middle) and Bill Lamb (not looking at the camera).
Topper has this photo labelled as 'Hut 10' in his dad's album.
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Lt. Constable.
Other Officers I can recall my dad talking about were:
Major Everson;
Lt. John Percy Walton (my dad was his batman, before he transferred to Bomb Disposal and was killed by the bomb he was diffusing);
? Neil Westbrook (later Councillor Westbrook - he appears on the large group photo posted earlier in the thread.
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Bill Lamb on the left with 'unknown'.
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Italy 1944.
George Lamb on the right (Royal Engineer, but not 110th).
Bill Lamb in the middle (just released from hospital having had Sand Fly Fever).
Unknown on left.
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'Greetings Cards'
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Christmas Card
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a page from Bill Lamb's Soldiers Release Book
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Here are a series of photos from Greece, probably when the 110th were stationed in Salonika, as the photos look like the ones taken in Salonika.
I haven't found any burials relating to the 110th, so the soldier must be from another company and I would think he was a significant person, given the ceremony afforded him.
There are two Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries in the Salonika region, they are the Paramythia Civil Cemetery and the Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery.
Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery has 15 burials from WWII, but the dates of death are recorded as 1946 and 1947 (could these soldiers have been reburied after WII?) and any photos wouldn't have been in my dad's collection.
Paramythia Civil Cemetery contains one military burial, which is Major David John Wallace, son of Capt. the Rt Hon Euan (David) M.C,P.C and Lady Idina Wallace. Major Wallace was from the Kings Royal Rife Corps and lost his life while attached as an observer to the 10th Greek Division, the strongest national resistance force fighting against the Germans. It is marked by a memorial raised by the 10th Division and the inscription is in Greek. The translation reads: "Here rests amongst his guerilla comrades an Englishman, Major David Wallace, killed on 17th August, 1944, in the battle of Meninas. The soil of Greece is honoured to give shelter to this hero."
My bet is that these photos are of Major Wallace's funeral.
Could it be the 110th leading the procession and their vehicles carrying the coffin?
I can't see any other reason for my dad having these photos.
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Burial
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Burial
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Burial
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Burial
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The odd thing about these burial photos is that there appears to be TWO coffins. There looks to be two on the 'gun carriage' and two being carried on the last photo!
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Wow !!! I could never have imagined when I started this thread that I would get to see so many photos. I didn't think I would get one reply. Thank you so much for posting them. Absolutely Blown away. ;D
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Sorry for the delay Gortonboy - it's been a beggar resizing the photos and getting them to upload on my pathetic Internet connection.
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The odd thing about these burial photos is that there appears to be TWO coffins. There looks to be two on the 'gun carriage' and two being carried on the last photo!
. Presumably two deaths in one incident.
Any idea of the date of those photos?
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No Scouseboy. Major Wallace was killed by 'friendly fire'. He apparently came out of a building, was challenged and when no response was heard, he was shot. He's the only CWG burial in the cemetery. I'm wondering if the coffins in the photos were loaded onto a train; railway sidings could be just out of shot on the last photo. Can't see such 'ceremony' for ordinary ranks, so is it two officers who were killed in the same incident.
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No dates on the photos. I assumed Salonika, as the photos are the same size, quality, colour, shape etc. as the ones taken at Lancashire Quay.
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LamBowes :
Thanks again ... photos of group have my Dad 3rd from right, 3rd Row ... never seen these before !
You've raised a query in my mind about the funeral pictures .. Dad was a driver and perhaps he was driving the second truck in cortege.. . if it was the 110th ( and it probably was ).. it shows the same type of truck .. see picture below of Dad ........we'll never know ! ... or the way these pictures are going ....???
Topper
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Sorry everyone :
No info on this at all .. looks like an American truck.. notice that lights are shrouded and it has been towed.... background looks European ... possibly UK / France ?
Topper
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GortonBoy (Mike?) ....
..........just had a review of the photos on here as well as comparing to ours ... your first query regarding location of Band ? .... I have the same photo and its designated " Newtyle, Scotland 1942 " ....... Hope that helps and I know LamBowes ( Elaine ) was querying the same.........
Best Wishes Topper
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LamBowe ..........
........looks like you're right about Torre ... just found photo below and it's designated ......
" Vesuvius ..Taken in Torre Annunzioto, Italy. 1944. "
Regards ........ Topper
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That photo of a truck just further up this page looks like an Austin to me.
Can you see the "A" at the middle of the bonnet?
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It's a Canadian-built Dodge model TL-110 I think.
And the one above that looks like a Badford MW 15cwt from the cab.
alanmack
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in the photo entitled "Frank" of the Manchester lad truck,,,you can see the 3rd Corps HQ formation sign on the truck.
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3rd Corps - photo of 'Frank' would either have been taken in France before Dunkirk (St. Nazaire in respect of the 110th) or Greece in 1944.
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Sorry all ....
....after a review of pictures ... the one designated "Hut 10" should read "Room 10 "..... obviously it was a smaller hotel !
... also referred to a couple of times previously ... The Regents visit to Salonika ( where 110th were ) .... what a big bloke !!!! .... some troops at attention ... anyone recognised ?
Regards ...Topper
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110th ... Stand by your beds !!!!!!!!!!!! ... General Scobie on the loose.
Regards ... Topper
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I've got all of these photos and more Topper, but haven't recognised anybody.
My dad has just noted the 'Regent of Greece' on our copies.
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LamBowes:
I also have a number of photo's, really of general interest, I suppose, showing Salonika Harbour with sunken ships / Independence Day March in Salonika and "Football at Salonika" - with large crowds of troops as spectators .. could they be inter unit matches ??? ... as the teams look British. One individual player's photo says "Bryn Jones " ....?? Worth posting ?
This appears to be last photo I have of ( 110th ?) personnel and it is headed only " The Bar " ... looks like Europe as distinct to N Africa.
Best Wishes ...........Topper
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Please post the rest. 😀
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GortonBoy ;
OK .. see what you make of these.. both designated " Salonika Harbour Blocks 12.11.44."
Regards ... Topper
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............. designated " Independence Day in Salonika "
Regards .. Topper
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.... and these are " Football at Salonika" ... single player is "Bryn Thomas"
Regards ... Topper
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........ Just found this photo ... no info at all but I do know that the person on the right is Alex Milne from Aberdeen.
Regards .. Topper
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Thanks for posting ;D
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Hi All
Just seen a photo of someone with Alex Milne, I have a similar photo taken with my dad (Albert Ernest SNELSON) on the left and Alex MILNE. I think this was taken in Greece 1944
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carol.leigh ... thanks for that ... more info for you about Alex Milne .. he was, and remained for many years, a great friend of my fathers and with my Dad, I visited him and his family ( a son my age and a younger daughter) in Cults, Near Aberdeen, many times in the early and mid sixties. His family visited us in Manchester also.
Alex was a really nice, friendly, soft spoken man and returned from WW2 to his trade as a Stonemason in Aberdeen ( the Granite City ! ). Like lots of people, we all lost touch but we have many photos of both families.
Like my father, he is no longer with us but at Dad's reunions in Manchester, he was fondly remembered by, and was popular with, all his 110th comrades.
Topper
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No more information in the album than " The M T Boys " ... Johnnie Wood is Back Row 2nd from Right.
Topper
Hi
My dad Albert Ernest SNELSON is in this picture back row 4th form the right
Carol leigh
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Hello everyone,
I have been trying to find out a little more about what my grandfather got up to during the war. We have a small amount of information and are actually applying for his full service record but until that arrives (and possibly even when it does) we have a little bit of a mystery surrounding one specific period during the end of 1942 when he appears to be at sea about "the Saturnia". The reason I am joining in here is that his discharge papers state he was in 110 Royal Engineers when he de-mobbed. I've had a quick look through all the wonderful photographs you have posted but cannot see him on any of them. I know he didn't play any instruments so I'm not expecting to see him in the band photos but am surprised I cannot pick him out of any of the others. I was therefore wondering if anyone has any information or recalls the name Alexander Angus. He was also known as Sandy. I really hope someone can help out and many many thanks in advance.
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That name doesn't ring a bell with me, but there are probably only three or four names that my dad mentioned consistently. There are many photos on here that my dad isn't featured in, though some of the people he talked about clearly are. You may be unlucky and the photos your dad was in, are still in someone's album, waiting to be discovered. My dad never went to any of the Reunions, because we had moved out of Manchester by 1968; perhaps your dad attended a Reunion and can be found on the lists Topper and Gorton Boy have.
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Thanks for the reply. I knew it was a bit of a long shot but sometimes they have to be taken don't they :). My grandad was actually from Edinburgh, although he relocated to Leeds in the 1960s but I know he definitely didn't go to any of the reunions either. I am hoping there is someone on here that does remember a Scottish gentleman being mentioned as I'm sure there weren't too many of them in 110. I'll keep my fingers crossed and if I find out anything interesting once we get his service record I'll let you know. Thanks again x
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You've put his name on here, so that's a start. I was surprised when Topper made reference to his dad's friend, Alex Milne from Aberdeen; I had assumed that everyone in the 110th was local. Good Luck!
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Aw thank you so much x
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Since my posts last year in August 2015, I have visited Western France again and been to a number of places around, but as yet not actually to, St Nazaire. As I'm going again this year, I do intend to visit St Nazaire and wondered if anyone has any detailed information, pictures, locations, addresses etc., about the time spent there by the 110th prior to their evacuation in 1940.
You all probably know that the RMS Lancastria was sunk on 17th June, 1940, off St Nazaire, with the greatest loss of life ever, in British naval history ( estimated between 6000 and 9000 souls) and this was, apparently, as best I can establish, only some 7-8 hours before the 110th were evacuated from the same port... it must have been chaos and terrifying in those hours.
There are memorials to this sinking in Pornic ( where we stay ) and also in St Nazaire itself, which I will visit this year, and any details / snippets will be greatly appreciated. Any info / photos I glean whilst there I'll be pleased to post on here.
Regards .... Topper
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Get a copy of The Sinking of the Lancastria by J Fenby. It's only a few quid on Ebay.
The number killed will never be know but I'd reckon 6 to 9 thousand is probably quite exaggerated. There was around 2,500 survivors and around 2,000 know to have died, I'd expect another 2 to 3,000 to have perished below deck.
St Nazaire has a great museum inside the former U-Boat pens.
You might want to visit Kew and get a copy of the Company war diary. It contains nearly 160 various pages covering Sept 1939 to June 1940, June is quite detailed and lists locations and the dates elements of the company left France along with the names of the ships they left on. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to post any of the pages from it on here.
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There is also a "Lancastria" web site.
Also a book called "The forgotten tragedy story of the Lancastria" which I think is a better book than the other one suggested above.
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Thanks again for the prompt replies and info ....... We're pretty much up to speed on the Lancastria following our visit to France last year ( actually have pics of the cemetery in Pornic)... but what I was really hoping for was more personal stuff ... such as where the 110th might have been "billeted" during their St Nazaire exploits, perhaps addresses and locations I might visit this time.
Drew ... great info and would love to take advantage.... but unfortunately Kew is some 200 miles from here so chances are pretty slim .. so sorry you can't relay the info from the files you obtained.
Regards .... Topper
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Several years ago I was talking to a gentleman who had been in RASC at St Nazaire in the final days. He remembers smashing new motorbikes with a sledgehammer to disable them when the Germans arrived.
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HI I believe that my uncle, James Bernard Johnson served in this corps in WW2 and was demobbed in 1946. He may have served in France building camps. Would be great to find out more info about his service.
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Philippines Agricultural college, Algeria. States billet on the back. Now I have another small piece of info as to where the 110th were.
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Part of grandads service cards.
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Xmas greetings from the front
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Grandads reunion card.
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Inside of reunion card
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Philippines Agricultural college, Algeria. States billet on the back. Now I have another small piece of info as to where the 110th were.
Should have said Phillipeville.
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War diaries you could order
WO 166/3609 ROYAL ENGINEERS: COMPANIES: 110 Army Troops Company 1940 July - 1941 Dec.
WO 166/8072 110 Company 1942 Jan-Oct
WO 167/934 110 Army Troops Company Royal Engineers 1939 Sep-1940 Mar, May, June
WO 169/10602 110 Army Troops Company 1943 July-Dec
WO 170/1627 Companies: 110 Company 1944 Jan-May
WO 170/1628 Companies: 110 Company 1944 June -Dec
WO 170/5169 Companies: 110 Company 1945 Jan-Jun
WO 170/5170 Companies: 110 Company 1945 July-Dec
WO 175/627 110 Company 1942 Nov-1943 June
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Findmypast.co.uk have just released royal engineers tracer cards years 1900 to 1949.
I found my grandads in them. :)
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Salonika.
Group in the second row on the far right is Johnnie Wood (far right); probably Nobby Clarke (middle) and Bill Lamb (not looking at the camera).
Topper has this photo labelled as 'Hut 10' in his dad's album.
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Here's Bill Lambs
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Hi I have just located my grandads tracer card and it was googling some of the codes in it I found this thread. It would seem he was in the BEF 21/10/1939 and then discharged under KR1940 but on the second page there is the following Ylist (E6/110ELATcoy) 10.1.42. It was the reference between the brackets that brought me here.
it is a fascinating thread and ive scanned all the pics to no avail im not even sure if 110ELAT relates to the troop in this thread however one of your pics states they are in Falkland Dundee, and I know for a fact that my grandad was up in Falkland long enough to move his wife and son (my dad) up there an have another son up there. Does anybody know what they were doing in Falkland, from the pics it seems like they moved on but im positive my father etc was up there for some time
any light anybody can shed on this would be much appreciated.
thanks
Steve
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Hi I have just located my grandads tracer card and it was googling some of the codes in it I found this thread. It would seem he was in the BEF 21/10/1939 and then discharged under KR1940 but on the second page there is the following Ylist (E6/110ELATcoy) 10.1.42. It was the reference between the brackets that brought me here.
it is a fascinating thread and ive scanned all the pics to no avail im not even sure if 110ELAT relates to the troop in this thread however one of your pics states they are in Falkland Dundee, and I know for a fact that my grandad was up in Falkland long enough to move his wife and son (my dad) up there an have another son up there. Does anybody know what they were doing in Falkland, from the pics it seems like they moved on but im positive my father etc was up there for some time
any light anybody can shed on this would be much appreciated.
thanks
Steve
Hi Steve, what was his name ?
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Amazing what turns up on the Internet. Found this advert for a ww2 cap on Facebook. Turns out he's 110th.
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My Dad's pal 'Bill'.
I think his name might be Bill Hutton.
Think this is bill?
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Hi,
We have just recently found out that my paternal Grandfather served with 110th from March 1943 until his "notification of impending release" papers were written in Vienna in 1946. He very rarely spoke of his time in the army in the years that followed until his death in 1990 and the family respected his wishes and didn't ask too many questions so we don't know much about his service or where he went. He showed no interest in reunions and never claimed the medals he was entitled to until the early 80s (under strong encouragement from his family) whereupon he scarcely looked at them before passing them to me as a young child. He was awarded the Italy Star and North Africa star so until now that's about all we knew about his wartime whereabouts!
My Dad (Grandad's only child) had until recently never really sought to find out about Grandad's service until recently - I assume out of respect for his wishes to forget about the wartime and just live his life - but has recently started showing an interest and hence we ordered a copy of his service records and found out he served in this unit.
My Grandfather's name was Alexander (Sandy) Robertson and was from Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. I know there was mention of another Scot from Aberdeen in the unit too. His army trade was a Turner. I have looked closely at the photos and can't recognise him in any of them.
I wonder if some of you more knowledgeable folks might indulge me with some (probably very basic) questions:
1 - Do you know roughly how many men would make up the unit?
2 - Would the men in the unit remain together throughout? I read that Elaine had pieced together her relative's timeline - can I assume my grandfather shared the same timeline and went to the same places for the time they served in the same unit or does it not necessarily work like that?
3 - Is my next step to order the unit's war diaries for the time period my granddad was in the 110th? Do I just order them in full from National Archives website or am I supposed to search for subsets somehow?
4 - Any idea what a Turner did in the army in WW2!? Repairs to machinery??
It amused me that, on discharge, his conduct was recorded as exemplary and amongst his remarks the CO noted that he'd been with the unit "for about a year". By that point it had been well over 3 years. Perhaps Grandad liked to keep his head down!! :-)
Any help gratefully appreciated!
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Hi,
We have just recently found out that my paternal Grandfather served with 110th from March 1943 until his "notification of impending release" papers were written in Vienna in 1946. He very rarely spoke of his time in the army in the years that followed until his death in 1990 and the family respected his wishes and didn't ask too many questions so we don't know much about his service or where he went. He showed no interest in reunions and never claimed the medals he was entitled to until the early 80s (under strong encouragement from his family) whereupon he scarcely looked at them before passing them to me as a young child. He was awarded the Italy Star and North Africa star so until now that's about all we knew about his wartime whereabouts!
My Dad (Grandad's only child) had until recently never really sought to find out about Grandad's service until recently - I assume out of respect for his wishes to forget about the wartime and just live his life - but has recently started showing an interest and hence we ordered a copy of his service records and found out he served in this unit.
My Grandfather's name was Alexander (Sandy) Robertson and was from Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. I know there was mention of another Scot from Aberdeen in the unit too. His army trade was a Turner. I have looked closely at the photos and can't recognise him in any of them.
I wonder if some of you more knowledgeable folks might indulge me with some (probably very basic) questions:
1 - Do you know roughly how many men would make up the unit?
2 - Would the men in the unit remain together throughout? I read that Elaine had pieced together her relative's timeline - can I assume my grandfather shared the same timeline and went to the same places for the time they served in the same unit or does it not necessarily work like that?
3 - Is my next step to order the unit's war diaries for the time period my granddad was in the 110th? Do I just order them in full from National Archives website or am I supposed to search for subsets somehow?
4 - Any idea what a Turner did in the army in WW2!? Repairs to machinery??
It amused me that, on discharge, his conduct was recorded as exemplary and amongst his remarks the CO noted that he'd been with the unit "for about a year". By that point it had been well over 3 years. Perhaps Grandad liked to keep his head down!! :-)
Any help gratefully appreciated!
Hi there welcome to the gang. What was his service number ?
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Hi there welcome to the gang. What was his service number ?
Thanks! :-) His service number was: 2020258
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Just checked to see if his tracer card was on findmypast. There is one card, but it has no detail.
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Just checked to see if his tracer card was on findmypast. There is one card, but it has no detail.
Ah, that's a shame. Thanks for checking
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I believe a field troop was 44 men commanded by a lieutenant.
I have the 1939 war diary, very basic stuff, rarely mentions the men. But you can get an idea of geography...i.e where they were. I would send it to you, but it's on my laptop which is kaput at the moment.
I would assume the troop would stay together, and follow the same timeline. Depending on when they joined. My grandfather was in from 1939..up to 1943. So although he did get to Sicily, he did not go to Greece.
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I believe a field troop was 44 men commanded by a lieutenant.
I have the 1939 war diary, very basic stuff, rarely mentions the men. But you can get an idea of geography...i.e where they were. I would send it to you, but it's on my laptop which is kaput at the moment.
I would assume the troop would stay together, and follow the same timeline. Depending on when they joined. My grandfather was in from 1939..up to 1943. So although he did get to Sicily, he did not go to Greece.
ah wow, just 44 men. They surely would all have known one another. My grandad did not join 110th till 1943 so maybe they didn't even overlap! The 1939 diary wouldn't cover any time my grandad was with the unit. What's involved with ordering copies? Just fill in the form on national archives website?
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I'm not sure, I ordered the first one of a chap online, but it wasn't cheap. I'm not up on the charges from the national archives at the moment. I'll have a look.
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I could be wrong about the size of the 110th. A field troop is 44 men. But I've seen pictures of just the band, and there's nearly 40 men in that. So maybe an army troop was more.
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Here's Bill Lambs
Thanks for this. I've not been on here for a while, so didn't see it until now.
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Here's Bill Lambs
Thanks for this. I've not been on here for a while, so didn't see it until now.
No problem x
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Hi I have just located my grandads tracer card and it was googling some of the codes in it I found this thread. It would seem he was in the BEF 21/10/1939 and then discharged under KR1940 but on the second page there is the following Ylist (E6/110ELATcoy) 10.1.42. It was the reference between the brackets that brought me here.
it is a fascinating thread and ive scanned all the pics to no avail im not even sure if 110ELAT relates to the troop in this thread however one of your pics states they are in Falkland Dundee, and I know for a fact that my grandad was up in Falkland long enough to move his wife and son (my dad) up there an have another son up there. Does anybody know what they were doing in Falkland, from the pics it seems like they moved on but im positive my father etc was up there for some time
any light anybody can shed on this would be much appreciated.
thanks
Steve
Hi Steve
According to my Dad, following their arrival back from France, the 110th "spent two years training", with much of it being done in Scotland.
I have the telegram that my Dad sent to my Mam on his arrival at Plymouth on 20 June 1940 "after the Battle of France"; the 110th were evacuated from St Nazaire. He made the point that there has always been a focus on Dunkirk and that it was easy for people to believe that it was all over at Dunkirk, when evacuations were still taking place from St Nazaire ten days later.
In 2018, I visited the National Archives and read some of the 110th Diaries and remember seeing a communication from one of the officers - I think it might have been Everson, but as I cannot currently put my hand on my notes, I cannot be sure. The officer was writing from Falkland House and was responding to a complaint by the War Office, that he had failed to submit his Diary record for a specific date (when the 110th were still in France). Reading the Diaries, it is easy to see why a record that had been written and submitted to the WO, would go astray. Although the language in the entries is restrained, it was clearly chaos, to the extent that equipment the men had been told to retain, had in fact been destroyed. They were expecting to receive the evacuation order at any minute and had little idea of what was going on.
I think it is likely your Granddad was at Falkland House soon after June 1940. I've looked at my Dad's records and he didn't go on leave in 1940 until 22 November (for 7 days). This Leave record and the officer's communication from Falkland House, suggests the 110th were there soon after June 1940. Your Uncle's birth record should also give an indication of the time scale.
My Dad talked about other places in Scotland, such as Rest and Be Thankful and Peebles, but nowhere near as much as about his time at Falkland. He used to tell lots of stories about his time at Falkland House - many about the ghost and one in particular about him being very popular with the village folk for First Footing on New Year's Day. My Dad had jet black hair and being male, was invited into many households, to bring good luck. I reckon he was in Falkland in January 1941 and possibly January 1942, as the 110th did not leave for North Africa until December 1942.
I visited Falkland village in 2019 and seeing Falkland Palace (which I thought was Falkland House), I could not reconcile it with the building behind the men in the photo. The staff at the Palace put me straight - Falkland House is a cock's stride outside Falkland's main street and it is now a school. The House is so close to the village, you can easily see how the 110th would have been very much a part of the village's life. Falkland is a lovely village and the people were very welcoming, if you ever get chance to follow in your Granddad's footsteps.
Hope this information helps.
Cheers
Elaine
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Hi Elaine
many many thanks for providing that background information, thats really helpful. My uncle was born in October 1941 and actually baptised in the chapel at Falkland Palace. I was under the impression that my grandfather actually stayed up there til the end or near the end of the war, well thats the impression I got from my dad. Sadly he isnt around anymore to ask. My dad moved up to Falkland from Manchester with his mum (probably after the evacuation of the BEF) and when I was a child my dad took us up to Falkland and even showed us the one roomed house they lived in, thinking about it now I would think that he wouldnt have lived in that house with his father I would have that wouldnt have been allowed. I can assume that they were there at some point in 1941, although I guess my grandfather didnt have to be there at the birth in October :-). Many many years later I actually lived in Perth not far from Falkland and while living up there I visited the palace and even managed to find the house (it was very close to the Palace) to show my own children. The reason I have a gap in many of the facts is that my grandfather died in 1948 and soon after starting to research my family history my father and his brother passed away. So there isnt anyone around anymore or even flipping photos to assist in my research. Anyway, once again many thanks for the information that you have provided me. This thread has taught me so much
kind regards
Steve
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I could be wrong about the size of the 110th. A field troop is 44 men. But I've seen pictures of just the band, and there's nearly 40 men in that. So maybe an army troop was more.
Hi everyone. What a really great thread. I have no connection with this Company or the Royal Engineers, but I do have an Army background so I can throw a little light on the size of the unit. The first thing to note is that it wasn't a 'troop', it was a company, commanded by a Major. The words Army Troops in the title mean that it was the Royal Engineers unit employed in support of an Army. It would have been given its tasks by a Lieutenant Colonel on the staff of the Army HQ who had the title Commander Royal Engineers (CRE). An Army (eg the Eight Army which fought in Egypt and later Italy) is the next size of formation up from a Corps, which is the next size up from a Division.
At the time we are talking about the Royal Engineers was made up of Regiments, which in turn might consist of a number of Companies, which were made up of Platoons. In the post war period the RE started naming their sub-units as Squadrons and Troops. Gortonboy is correct that the typical size of a field troop can be around 44 men, but it would all depend on the role of the troop.
So going back to the size of 110 (Army Troops) Company RE, since this was an independent unit (ie it wasn't part of a Regiment) I wouldn't be surprised to hear it consisted of anything between 175 - 200 officers and other ranks. The Company probably consisted of four or five platoons, each made up of various specialist tradesmen. Their role consisted of building things like camps, fortifications and repairing roads, airfields and ports. Consequently, the sort of trades found among the soldiers would include plant operators, surveyors, bricklayers, plasterers, painters, plumbers, electricians and other trades typically found the construction industry, as well as mechanics etc the keep the vehicles and plant running. I can't remember who it is who has the complete war diaries for the unit, but you may find that they occasionally include strength returns, which obviously would give you the most authoritative figure for the size of the unit.
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I could be wrong about the size of the 110th. A field troop is 44 men. But I've seen pictures of just the band, and there's nearly 40 men in that. So maybe an army troop was more.
Hi everyone. What a really great thread. I have no connection with this Company or the Royal Engineers, but I do have an Army background so I can throw a little light on the size of the unit. The first thing to note is that it wasn't a 'troop', it was a company, commanded by a Major. The words Army Troops in the title mean that it was the Royal Engineers unit employed in support of an Army. It would have been given its tasks by a Lieutenant Colonel on the staff of the Army HQ who had the title Commander Royal Engineers (CRE). An Army (eg the Eight Army which fought in Egypt and later Italy) is the next size of formation up from a Corps, which is the next size up from a Division.
At the time we are talking about the Royal Engineers was made up of Regiments, which in turn might consist of a number of Companies, which were made up of Platoons. In the post war period the RE started naming their sub-units as Squadrons and Troops. Gortonboy is correct that the typical size of a field troop can be around 44 men, but it would all depend on the role of the troop.
So going back to the size of 110 (Army Troops) Company RE, since this was an independent unit (ie it wasn't part of a Regiment) I wouldn't be surprised to hear it consisted of anything between 175 - 200 officers and other ranks. The Company probably consisted of four or five platoons, each made up of various specialist tradesmen. Their role consisted of building things like camps, fortifications and repairing roads, airfields and ports. Consequently, the sort of trades found among the soldiers would include plant operators, surveyors, bricklayers, plasterers, painters, plumbers, electricians and other trades typically found the construction industry, as well as mechanics etc the keep the vehicles and plant running. I can't remember who it is who has the complete war diaries for the unit, but you may find that they occasionally include strength returns, which obviously would give you the most authoritative figure for the size of the unit.
Thanks for this information Andy.
I have several documents that read 110th East Lancs Company R.E. and 110th East Lancs Army
Troop COY R.E. and one document that reads 110th (East Lancs) Army Troops COY R.E., so it is good to have the term 'Army Troops' put into context.
My Dad enlisted in May 1939 as a 'Driver' and in January 1941 he was re-mustered as a 'Driver Mechanic'; his Service Records show that he passed the Trade Test as a Motor Mechanic. He had been an Apprentice Engineer for several years, until my granddad died and my grannie forced him out of his apprenticeship, to take up a driving job that paid more. I guess his engineering background attracted him to the R.E. and the 110th capitalised on his driving and mechanical skills. He told several stories of driving here and there, to source parts for repairs. On one occasion, in North Africa, he and Gil Almond (I have referred to Gil in an earlier post) were on a mission to secure much needed parts and they stopped to rest. My Dad was dozing in the shadow of his vehicle, when he became aware of 'missiles' landing around him. He assumed Gil was throwing them, as they used to pull each others leg, so said nothing. When one of the 'missiles' hit him, he told Gil to "Pack it in". Gill responded that he had done nothing. Then 'missiles' began to land around Gil, who was likewise dozing in the shadow of his vehicle. Being irritated at the situation, they came out from the shadows, to find a large troop of Baboons lobbing rocks at them!
Cheers
Elaine (LamBowes)
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Hi Elaine
many many thanks for providing that background information, thats really helpful. My uncle was born in October 1941 and actually baptised in the chapel at Falkland Palace. I was under the impression that my grandfather actually stayed up there til the end or near the end of the war, well thats the impression I got from my dad. ...................
Steve
Hi Steve
I am going to respond to your message in chunks, to keep within the word limit.
I'd be surprised if your grandfather was at Falkland near the end or until the end of the War, though I guess that when the War ended, he may have returned there, given his family were there. I'm not surprised he moved them to Falkland. You've seen the village. It would have been a far cleaner environment than Manchester and much safer. We lived close to the train lines and my mam saw the bomb that fell in the next street, after the 'all clear' had been given; I bet she would have preferred to be living somewhere safer.
I was fortunate, that my Dad talked a great deal about his time in the Army, that he lived until just after his 89th Birthday and that I have his documents and photographs - though some items that he had, e.g. silk cards he sent to my Mam, 'disappeared' after he died. Looking at his paperwork, aside from the time he was on leave or in hospital, it appears he was with the 110th from start to finish. He enlisted on 11th May 1939 and went on Release Leave on 9th October 1945. I have listed his chronology of events previously, but I'll list them again, so you and others don't have to scour through the posts. These are the likely places your grandfather served in:
France - October 1939 to June 1940 with the 42nd and 46th Division.
I saw a document regarding the B.E.F. on the Internet some years ago, that had the 110th listed in the 'Lines of Communication' section.
There is a photo on here that was taken in Southampton in 1939, on which my Dad has noted "Leaving for France". I can count 44 men on the photo, one of which I can only see his left shoulder and another, a small section of his face and I'm betting that all are from the 110th.
20th June 1940 - Arrived at Plymouth, following evacuation from St Nazaire.
Reading the Diaries, I gained the impression that the 110th moved to the port as a unit. My Dad has listed five ships he travelled on to/from France and I cannot be certain which was the ship that returned him from Plymouth.
Scotland - 1940 to 1942
Judging by the correspondence from the officer regarding the 'missing' diary entry, (I think it was Everson), the 110th were in Falkland soon after 20th June 1940. According to my Dad's R.E. Card, he 'proceeded to Port for embarkation' on 19th November 1942.
North Africa 1942 to 1943 with the 1st Army
The entry on my Dad's R.E. card shows the 110th embarked for North Africa on 1st December 1942. The entry that follows, states that he 'disembarked in UK' on 28th December 1942. This, I don't understand, as there is only 27 days between embarking for North Africa and disembarking in the UK, but it is certainly correct, as I have a telegram that my Dad sent to my Mam on 29th December 1942, stating that he had "landed safely" and was "trying for Leave". He has noted on the telegram that he was applying for "S" Leave and that he had been in the Atlantic on the SS Norelge. Did the 110th embark in Scotland? My Dad was granted 8 days 'Priv' Leave between the 12th and 19th January 1943.
Continued.....
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Hi Elaine
many many thanks for providing that background information, thats really helpful. My uncle was born in October 1941 and actually baptised in the chapel at Falkland Palace. I was under the impression that my grandfather actually stayed up there til the end or near the end of the war, well thats the impression I got from my dad...........
Steve
.......continued
In his chronology, my Dad states that he went to North Africa on the SS Norelge. I assume that he embarked for North Africa on the Norelge soon after 19th January 1943.
Unlike the other ships he sailed on, he talked a lot about Norelge and I wish I had asked questions. I have what my Dad said is a 'thank you' letter from King Haakon of Norway, for his 'help' whilst on board the Norelge. I never asked him what he 'helped' with and I don't recall him volunteering the information. I looked Norelge up some years ago and, after a great deal of digging, I found a small bit of information. It was a Norwegian ship and at some point during WWII (I can't currently find my notes), it sustained damage. I'm going from memory here - I think it was damaged by fire and not by enemy action. IF this event took place in December 1942, that might be the reason for disembarking in the UK on 28th December 1942.
1943 to 1943 Invasion of Sicily with the 8th Army
My Dad stated that he went from North Africa to Sicily on the Stephen C Foster, which was an American ship. It is likely he embarked from Algiers or Bizerte (he spoke about both), as this ship was sailing between these ports and Palermo between 7th August and 22nd September 1943.
1943 to 1944 Invasion of Italy with the 8th Army and the 5th Army.
From Sicily to Italy on the Forth Bank.
1944 to 1945 Liberation of Greece with the 4th Indian Division
The 110th were in Salonika and left their mark by rebuilding the quay and naming it Lancashire Quay. My Dad travelled from Italy to Greece on the Ben-my-Chree and to Salonika on the cruiser Ajax. Incidentally the Ben-my-Chree was involved in operations on D Day/Omaha Beach and Winston Churchill was on Ajax in December 1944, prior to attending a conference in Athens.
Italy
My Dad has Italy after Salonika, but only in reference to the ships he travelled on. As the ship is the Landing Craft Samas, I assume the 110th went back to Italy after Salonika.
1945 Occupation of Austria
I have a couple of photos of my Dad taken in Vienna and he stated that he returned to England on ‘Hitler’s Yacht’, which was called Grille.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Elaine
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Hello Everyone, I am happy to have stumbled across this site.
I am researching my great-uncles and have begun with the two I have more information on. I am wondering if anyone's ancestors talked about the Stenson brothers? Two were with the 110th Army: Harry (Thomas Henry) and Bill (William) Stenson.
Best wishes
Claire