Killed in Italy in 1944 but no known grave or memorial

[Ruskie]

I don’t know if there would be anything here to help re his death/burial, but you may be interested in purchasing his service records:

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records

It will cost you £30. Currently I think the wait is around 12 months.

Once you find out regiments etc, you could consider looking at the war diaries, which are at Kew. They can be copied if it is not possible for you to visit in person. I believe that information contained in them is often vague/general, however names are sometimes included.

[Yorklad47]

Hi CaroleW. Yes only Ron and Herbert were born in Wortley. Lousia was born in Kings Norton and the others in Hope Woodlands, Chapel-en-leFrith, Derbyshire.

[Yorklad47]

Ruskie - many thanks for that. I'll try that route. They ask for a service number which I don't have but I'll try anyway.

[cuffie81]

I don't think the service number is mandatory when applying for service records (someone can correct if I'm wrong) so hopefully the basic info (eg dob, place of birth etc) should suffice.

Also, the reason we're asking about the family is just so we can cross reference any possible records we find for Herbert, his parents or siblings, which may reference other family members (hopefully Herbert himself). For example, it's not unusual for newspaper items about a parent to refer to a son or daughter that died during the war.

[stevej60]

A real mystery here Yorklad,not unknown but the CWGC don't often not miss war dead more so for
WW2 than the Great war where number's were far greater.Personally if the good folk's here on RC
don't come up with something his service records are the way to go you would hope a last entry might
give a location and unit.Tank recovery makes perfect sense for REME unit's here's a little info.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205204465
If you would like I could throw the question over on WW2 talk they came back with loads of info on a couple
of my family.

[Ruskie]

Ruskie - many thanks for that. I'll try that route. They ask for a service number which I don't have but I'll try anyway.

Service number is not required. Date of birth should suffice. You generally have to supply a death certificate when applying for someone else's records, but I think in this case should waive that. You can also include an explanatory note with your application.

Do you know if any family members received his medals?
You could email or write to:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-medals

They no longer issue WW2 medals so there wouldn't be any point filling in the medal application form, but presumably they will respond to any queries. They should be able to tell you if, when, who, where etc if any medals were issued. They would also be able to supply his service number.

I'm sure someone will correct me if any of the above is incorrect. 

[Yorklad47]

Thanks again Ruskie, that's good to know, I'll be posting an application off on Monday.

[Yorklad47]

stevej60 it is a mystery. Thanks for that tip, I'll see if they have anything

[Yorklad47]

Ruskie - I do not have any medals and I don't know if anyone else has them - I don't have contact with all the cousins but will see if any that I am in contact with know anything. Thanks again.