Harry Walker & Norwegian Certificate.

[Spatts]

Hi Jan & George,

Thank you so much for the information & stories concerning Norway, Uncle Harry's cap badge & the Liberation Certificate, appreciate the help you gave, it was very helpful.

Kind regards,

Spatts. 

[Spatts]

  Hi Guys,

After rumaging through boxes in the loft, I come across some more old pics & another pic Harry Walker with a different cap badge?

Well, I'm confused now, can George or anyone tell me what the cap badges are on these jolly fellows, Harry Walker on the left.

spatts.

[Neil48]

Hi
On 8th May 1945 Norwegian and British troops landed in Norway, followed on 13th May by Crown Prince Olav and representatives of the Norwegian government.

The Units involved were the 146 Infantry Division and the 1st Airborne Division.

146 Infantry Division included the following Royal Artillery units
69, 70, 71, 74, 79, 80, 143, 178, 185 Field Regiment, RA
55, 58, 88 Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
89, 118 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA

1st Airborne Div included the following Royal Artillery
1st Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery
1st Forward (Airborne) Observation Unit, Royal Artillery

The code word for the operation was Operation Doomsday.

Have not been able to identify the cap badge, the bottom part seems to be a hunting horn which is used by Rifle regiments

Hope this helps narrow down you search

neil

[Spatts]

Hi Neil,

Thank you for the information, Harry's cap badge on the first picture I put up is a Royal Artillery badge, I'm wondering if he was involved in the first to land in Norway & the Hunting horn meant that he was either in the Light Regiment, Royal Artillery or the Observation Unit, Royal Artillery.

I will do some more digging & try to find out which Unit Harry was in or which of the Units were from Manchester.

Thanks again Neil,

Spatts.

[Neil48]

You might try this site, if you have Harry Walker's regimental number the Mod will release his service record to next of kin for a fee, it also has a number of other links specifically for tracing gunners

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.army.mod.uk/ra/gunnernet/research/tracing_gunner_records.htm


Neil

[Neil48]

I dont think the cap badges on the picture are Royal Artillery, they look like The Rifles.

[janrm]

This may also be of interest in this topic:

Last summer I had the pleasure of reading "vi dro mot nord" (English: "We were heading north") - a book written by two Norwegians, but describing the invasion of Norway with German eyes & based on German archive material as well as interviews with former soldiers.

When capturing the north of Gudbrandsdalen, the Germans took a Whole train full of British equpiment, - amongst that: a lot of sporting equipment!

Private Herbert Silla wrote in his diary: "The Tommies* were obviously planning to do sports. Unfortunately it turned out to be only one sport: Long Distance Running. In return they performed excellent..."

Jan

[Spatts]

Thank you Neil & Jan,

Much appreciate the time & trouble you have taken, it is one of the family story line I will be back onto in the near future, thanks again.

Best regards,

Spatts.

[alisonelizabethbenson]

Dear All

This is my first post. I have been finding the exchange really interesting as I was only recently told that my grandfather was also involved in Operation Doomsday. I would be interested to know why his certificate has a photograph, as I have not seen any others on the Internet that do?

His name was Charles Arthur Wanger and he was in the 96 Battalion, Royal Artillery.