Searching for my father's lost years

[christopher walton]

My father was John Norgett, always known as Jack, born 08/08/1914. He was in the Royal Navy during WW2 and I would like to find out where he was and what he was doing between 30/08/1943 and 27/04/1946.

I believe he served in Italy at Salerno and Anzio and definitely in India and Burma. (I've found letters he wrote to his sister from Columbo, Ceylon in late 1944 and from India through 1945.)

This is his service record. This came from MOD RN Disclosure Cell Whale Island. They know no more than the following. Historical Records know nothing as they only deal with ships-so although HMS Copra was where his records were sent whilst he served on ships Historical Records don't know anything because it was a shore base.

01/10/1940 - 20/12/1940 Enlisted as Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Patrol Service, HMS Europa, qualified as hydrophone listener operating ASDIC.
21/12/1940 - 27/12/1940 HMS De La Pole (Anti submarine trawler- Auxiliary Patrol Vessel) tender to HMS Minos RN Base, Lowestoft.
28/12/1940 - 11/03/1941 HMS Europa (RNPS Central Depot, Sparrows Nest, Lowestoft.
12/03/1941 - 04/06/1942 HMS Negro (Minesweeping trawler) tender to HMS Beaver (RN Base, Hull)
12/06/1942 - 02/08/1942 HMS King Alfred (RNVR Officers' Training Establishment)(additional)*
29/06/1942 Appointed Temp Sub Lt.`
03/08/1942 - 08/08/1942 RN Barracks Portsmouth HMS Victory (lent)*
09/08/1942 - 29/08/1943 HMS Quebec (Combined Operations Training Centre Inverary) (additional & HMS Monck for Landing Craft Training.*
12/06/1943 Promoted to Temp Lieutenant
30/08/1943 -27/04/1946 HMS Copra (additional, for Landing Craft Duty)*
*Navy Lists show no appointments for him: these appointments taken from official service records.
Any help, guidance or information will be gratefully received.

I'd be please to hear from anybody with any ideas or advice.
Thank you
Christopher

[Priscilla]

Wonder if you are aware of this website ...

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12107

[Hackstaple]

I suppose you are aware that HMS Copra was the naval equivalent of the Royal Army Pay Corps HQ? Since landing craft were not required such after D-Day I suppose they had to be retrieved and repaired or decommissioned but that would not be the task of Copra which was at Largs, Scotland for most of the period you refer to.

I think it unlikely that you will find out much about that period of his service as most of his contemporaries would be now be deceased. it is possible that he worked in the Release and Non-Effective Section which processed gratuities, pensions and the final effects of deceased sailors. That was then becoming a large task especially after August 1945.

If, however, he did not actually serve at Largs but instead was abroad on service and the details are not shown it may be that he was on detached but secret duties.

[christopher walton]

Yes.
His papers were transferred to HMS COPRA (Combined Operations Pay Records & Administration) on 30/08/43 while he was sent to places where his training at Combined Operations (HMS Quebec Inverary) in landing Commandos by assault landing craft on enemy occupied shores could be put to use.
HMS COPRA was a shore base and was used on grave stones, in pay books and other service records and only confirmed that the men concerned were in the Royal Navy and served in, or were lost from, an unknown landing craft assigned to Combined Operations Command.
I have letters he sent from Ceylon and India to his sister in 1944 and 1945 and a relative told me that he served at Salerno and Anzio.
I'm sure all of his contempories are now dead but someone may recognise a name or connection.
I live in hope.
Christopher