628 Regiment

[Andy J2022]

I am pleased that Shaun has found both his service record and the RA tracer card. I had suspected that you had the wrong service number for him, as 3253012 is within a block of numbers (namely 3233001 - 3299000), allocated to the Cameronian Regiment.  Is it possible that he initially joined the Cameronians and served with the 2nd Battalion as part of the BEF in 1939 and then came back to the UK during the Dunkirk evacuation before transferring to the Royal Artillery in July 1940 and training as an Air Defence Gunner. He would have kept that same service number throughout his service.

[Glosterboy]

Well would you believe it. Unfortunately, upon checking out the National Archives records, the said link kindly supplied by Shaun, the F.G.Fox stated DoB is not my Dad. My Dad joined the Glosters during 1939. And off to France/Belgium with the BEF. A soldier of the 48th Infantry Division. I'm unsure if he was within the 144 Infantry Brigade with the 5th Glosters or the 145 Infantry Brigade with the 2nd Glosters? But, it is his service record upon his return to England after his evacuation from Dunkirk of which I've no information whatsoever. I do recollect him saying that he was with the big guns training in North Wales!!! So, upon recently receiving a snippet of information regards a Frederick George Fox enlisting into the RA 1st July 1940, I put 2 and 2 together and started the ball rolling to see what further and precise service record of him I could discover. Unfortunately, not the said F.G.Fox. Thank you all for help it's appreciated.

[Andy J2022]

What led you to believe that your father's service number was 3253012?  Was it just the snippet that you found about an enlistment in the Gunners on 1 July 1940?

Obviously now that you have looked at the service record for the man with that number you know that the number can't have been your father's. Indeed your father is likely to have been issued a number from the block allocated to the Glosters, which was 5172001 to 5239000.

Do you have access to any ephemera concerning your father's service, such as his medals? Unfortunately without the correct service number it will be hard to get hold of his service record from the National Archives because there are quite a few men with the name Frederick George or FG Fox who served during WW2.  Another place you might try to contact is the Glosters Association

[Glosterboy]

Received a "hint" Ancestry email regards Frederick George Fox RA Tracer card which started the ball rolling.
I do have his medals. The basic/normal 4 I believe.1939/45 Medal, Defence Medal, 1939/45 Star and France Germany Star. But, these are replacements. Of which I gained prior to taking him back to Dunkirk June 2000 for the 60th and final arranged anniversary. I'm sure at that time (prior internet) to gain, I included his service details.
I also have 2 war time photos of him. Both whilst dressed in army attire. Home on leave wearing a side cap. Date unknown. The other dated 29/12/1945. Taken while in Palestine. I've looked at both many, many times for some sort of clue of identification, to no avail. The side cap badge is obscured. No badge visible on his beret while in Palestine. I might even now trawl through the National Archives for that certain Frederick George (FG) Fox. Thanks very much to you all for your help and advice.

[ShaunJ]

There are several soldiers named F G Fox that have been catalogued by the National Archives so far (it's an ongoing process).  What was your father's date of birth?

[Glosterboy]

Thanks Shaun.

20/12/1920. Brockworth/Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.

[Andy J2022]

Glosterboy,

Thanks for the update. I assume that the replacement medals were not MOD issued but came from a commercial source, so they won't have your father's service number stamped on them.

Good luck with the TNA searches. Also don't forget my suggestion of contacting the Glosters Association. 

Incidentally, was there another reason, apart form the Ancestry hint, for believing that your father went on to serve with the Royal Artillery as an AA gunner? If so, you might like to explore the fact that in February 1942 the 11th Battalion of the Glosters ceased to have any affiliation with the regiment and was converted into 118th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. If he was part of 118 LAA Regt, he must have later transferred to another LAA Regt as the 118 went to India then Burma in February 1943 and remained there until early 1945 when it was disbanded.

Also if he served in Palestine during the war, then he should have been entitled to the Italy Star.

[ShaunJ]

20/12/1920. Brockworth/Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.

I'm not seeing anything for him in the TNA catalogue at the moment, but you should check back regularly as the cataloguing of the MoD service records is not yet complete.