New Member

Hi,
I'm RichB and have just joined the forum. I myself was not in the Army, (I'm Ex- Royal Navy). My Dad was Army and based at the BMH in Bad Lippspringe 1945 - 1947. My Mother was German and I was born in civvy Hospital in Paderborn. I have joined hoping to find out some of my fathers history. Iknow he was attached to the 79th Armoured Division on D-Day, fought at Caen, the Fallaise and crossed the Rhine at Wesel. He also claimed to have been with one of the first units into Belsen concentration camp, at this point I believe he had transferred to the RAMC, but I don't know in what capacity. Unfortunately we have been living several miles apart for the last 20 years, and I only saw him once or twice a year, and sadly he died last september. I don.t know what unit my dad actually belonged to. I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction to find out.
Regards
RichyB

Richy,
Welcome to the site.

Try this site: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/

Some of the guys have access to some good data.

Good Luck.

Alan

Hi Richy, welcome to the site. I see that you live in my old home town, I was originally from The Saltmarket and moved to Nitshill, where are you?

Hi Richy and welcome mate

RichB

Welcome

Investigations are on going to determine which British units were where,when and for how long in the early days of BAOR but you are correct in thinking that elements of 79 Division together with Special Forces units may have been the first to enter Belsen Concentration Camp in April 1945

There is evidence that whilst the priority was to provide medical combat support to the advancing British units in the final days of World War2 in Europe some medical units were diverted to Belsen to provide essential first aid to the inmates (it was the subject of a TV documentary last year- unfortunately cann't remember which channel)

JPW,
Thanks for that, somewhere I have my dad's army paybook, this may throw some more light on which units he was attached to. If I can find that (Iv'e put it in a safe place) hopefully it will give enough information to find out a little more about his career. He died last september, and prior to that his memory was starting to wander a lot, so I was'nt able to get any firm facts from him.

Regards
RichyB

welcome richy

Welcome Chap - nice little crew here who will give you grief

big welcome from me too

Richyb, welcome to the mad house - enjoy the ride. Hope you get the info you are looking for.

Steady on lads he`s been here since the 1st March and not been back on since the 9th.

Firstly, Sincere apologies for not having been back to the Forum, Other commitments plus not having found my fathers Paybook until yesterday.
the main info i found in his paybook.

Cpl H. Brooking
His Number 14368814
Enlisted 3rd Dec 1942 at Chesterfield.
I am finding the majority of the entries in his paybook difficult to read. When I get a chance I will try to scan in any relevant pages.
Would it be possible that he was in 21st Field Ambulance, part of 79th Armoured Brigade from D-Day onwards. He did say he was once sent for commando training at Inverary Castle, but did not pass the course and returned to unit after 6 weeks.
He also said he played professional football for Chesterfield whilst based there during the wr.

Belated welcome Richy

Jimsigs1

Welcome from Caterers 4U all occasions catered for Compo a speciality

The banter has begun

"john boy" wrote:

Welcome from Caterers 4U all occasions catered for Compo a speciality

The banter has begun

I'd rather dine with Maggie Thatcher!!

Or Nick and Dave

Gordon. wrote:

Or Nick and Dave

Write to "Jim I'll fix it " then and I will do the Boffay Ok Yah

Where has that Avatar suddenly appeared from?

I know where it should go.................

The motto must be open to question...

Shelldrake wrote:

Where has that Avatar suddenly appeared from?

Defence cut back's paper badges instead of metal one's Draw your own .com this is the starter kit

Got any mutton scotch style 24 hr man packs to swap John boy.

Jimsigs1

jimsigs1 wrote:

Got any mutton scotch style 24 hr man packs to swap John boy.

Jimsigs1

Working on it Jim going to the field out back and bag me one of them ewe's (no snide remarks just because I live near Wales)


Hasn't she got lovely hooves

John Boy,
.
That looks like Mutton French Style

Jimsigs1

jimsigs1 wrote:

John Boy,
.
That looks like Mutton French Style

Jimsigs1

Found this one in the fields red light area so in the words of Captain Scott " I may be gone for a very very very very long time"

"john boy" wrote:

jimsigs1 wrote:

John Boy,
.
That looks like Mutton French Style

Jimsigs1

Found this one in the fields red light area so in the words of Captain Scott " I may be gone for a very very very very long time"

I find the attention to detail a little disturbing-particularly the lipstick !