WWII Mentioned In Despatches - headache

[spook]

Hi

Am researching my fiancee's grandfather George John William Smith who served in The Royal Engineers.

His number was 2190950 and he was a Sergeant.

I have a piece of paper that states:

By the KING'S Order the name of Sergeant G.J.W. Smith Royal Engineers, was published in the London Gazette on 22 March 1945, as mentioned in a Despatch for distinguished service. I am charged to record His Majesty's high appreciation.

and it is signed by the Secretary of State for War.

I've tried looking on The London gazette's website but drawn a blank and would love to know why he was mentioned in despatches - can anyone help?

Also, we have another certificate dated October 1944 and signed by Field Marshal Montgomery (although it looks like a preprinted signature to me) which mentions performing good service and great devotion to duty during the campaign in France.

I presume the Service Record would be the thing to obtain to ascertain all the details?

Thanks

Matt

[Wendi]

Hi again Matt,

I would obtain his service record although my understanding is that Service Records in general do not make mention of any specific deeds - although there always are exceptions.

It may be more lightly that the information you are looking for will come from Regimental Diaries.  I think the Royal Engineers is a Corp, so he would have been attached to a Regiment, presumably the Service Record will tell you which one

At this point I hope other Chatters have suggestions for us.

Wendi

[spook]

*bump*

Thanks Wendi.

Anyone?

[Kevwood]

Here is the mention in dispatches for the gazette.

took a lot of searching and doesn't come up with anything.

In the end i put the date and then checked every page.

If you look through a bit more it might tell you something.


http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveViewFrameSetup.asp?IssueNumber=36994&pageNumber=15&SearchFor=22%20march%201945&PageDuplicate=n&selMedalType=&selHonourType=

Kev.

[spook]

Kev

I really appreciate your efforts - I spent ages searching that site on combinations of names and service number and drew a blank.

You're a star! 

[Kevwood]

No probs.


its weird cos usually if you put service number in it finds them, but it didn't or g. j. w. smith.

Search engine must not be working properly.

I don't know if the royal engineers have a regimental museum, if the do it may be worth contacting them to see if they have any info.

also you could ask on here.

http://www.ww2talk.com/index.php?

they are very good.


Kev.

[spook]

Yep I'll try that.

Thanks again

Matt

[Thudnut]

Matt,
I think the National Archives hold copies of all London Gazettes.  Could they provide a copy?

The document 'signed' by Montgomery is called a Certificate of Merit or Commander in Chief's Certificate (depends on who you talk to).  As it says - presented for meritous service.

Happy hunting.
Thudders

[loo]

its weird cos usually if you put service number in it finds them, but it didn't or g. j. w. smith.


http://www.ww2talk.com/index.php?

they are very good.


Kev.

Thanks for this info.  I have one with a Service number that I would really like to know more about.