Royal(Maritime)Artillery,1939-45 Dominic Michael Stringer

[daisy1942]

Hi all,

More enquiries regarding Dominic Michael Stringer.

It seems he signed up in Glasgow to the RA circa 1940, but not under that name!  It appears he was born Dominic Cunningham Casey.  Neither name appears as far as I can tell in RA records.  However, he may have signed up under the surname Burt.  He was a very confusing man!

My current questions:
Where could I find a regimental(?) list of for Royal(Maritime)Artillery,1939-45?
Can anyone tell me if any such personnel served at Singapore?
Would a "deserters/AWOL" list for this regiment be available - if so where?

I think I am finally beginning to fill gaps - thank you all for your help.

[MaxD]

There will be no list of the men who served with the Maritime Regiment.  This organisation diagram will perhaps show why:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160306105516/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/maritime/index.html  (two pages)

Note the change of title in 1943 which slightly complicates matters

There will equally be no one central listing for deserters/AWOL

Singapore - don't know others may.

A man by the name of D Stringer attested to the RA in 1938 and served until 1946 but there is no detailed information.

The sort of information you are looking for can only be found in a man's service record but I do see the problem if you don't know what name he served under.  Even if the lists you seek were to be found, what name would you look for him under?

A difficult one that I feel military records aren't going to help with.

MaxD

[HMac]

Hi Hazel,
As Max states it is a difficult one - but one that I see you have not let up on, well done!

The D.E.M.S. organisation had bases at home and abroad but I am not sure about Singapore. Any military service record would only show his shore service unless there was a surviving 'maritime card' which would show service on any MN ships. With the lack of a 'maritime card' we go back to Merchant Navy crew lists for a known ship. He is certainly not making it easy for you is he
Regards
Hugh

[seaweed]

Hugh,
As far as I am aware there was no DEMS base or sub base in Singapore. Nearest would have been Colombo.
regards SW

[daisy1942]

Hi Hazel,
As Max states it is a difficult one - but one that I see you have not let up on, well done!

He is certainly not making it easy for you is he
Regards
Hugh

Hi Hugh, Max D

You are right it is still likely to be a tough search!

However, I do have some pointers.  Dad said he was sunk/torpedoed 2 times during WW2.  So I could look at crew lists for any ships sunk near Singapore.  By cross referencing names approx dates of birth and street names of Glasgow close to where he grew up I might find some possibilities.  Then if any names crop up for other branches of the family I might finally find him!

To think when I started all I had was the name Daisy, the story of the escape from Singapore and some tiny snips of memories from his childhood.  We have come a very long way.

Daisy1942

[HMac]

Thanks SW that was what I thought but I couldn't find my source material.
Regards
Hugh

[seaweed]

Hazel,
You wrote However, I do have some pointers.  Dad said he was sunk/torpedoed 2 times during WW2.  So I could look at crew lists for any ships sunk near Singapore.

Try and get hold of the book "Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two" by Jurgen Rowher
There is chapter devoted to ships attacked or sunk in the Indian Ocean. It also gives, the date and the position of the attack or sinking, thus cutting down the parameters of your search. Still a big job though.
If you cannot obtain the book from your local library, I have seen it advertised on ABE Books for £4/5.
Good luck with the search.

[daisy1942]

Try and get hold of the book "Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two" by Jurgen Rowher

Good luck with the search.

Hi Seaweed,

Thank you for reminding me of the book.  I am pretty sure I have a copy on my shelf!  I did wonder if Prince of Wales and Repulse would have had MRA/DEMS gunners?

Thanks for the help!!!

[HMac]

The answer to your question is no.
A warship would not carry D.E.M.S. gunners. The Navy have a gunnery branch of its own.
Regards
Hugh