87th GRU - Maj. R.T. Heacock and Captain Brent - 42 Garrison

Hi,

I'm looking for information related to the work of the 87th Graves Registration Unit in 1947. It's related to the grave of an unknown RN Sailor in St Malo.

Information was submitted by letter to the War Office on 9 Sep 1947 by a Captain Brent, H.Q. G. R. & E. Directorate Western Europe, ℅ H.Q. 42 Garrison (Brussels, Belgium), B.A.O.R.

The letter supplies info provided by Maj. R.T. Heacock (Reginald Thomas Heacock 3651999) O.C. 87th G.R.U. (Graves Registration Unit).

My family and I are looking for information related to our uncle, who was a 20 year old RN rating, killed during the evacuation of St. Malo in June 1940.

Maj. Heacock was in the Intelligence Corps. In 1940 he was CMP in France and was in St Malo.

We're hoping to be able to find more detailed records if possible.

Thank you!

Welcome Lou

For my research I have a copy of the Location Statement for all units in Line of Communication for April 1945 from the National Archives at Kew, the HQ was responsible for the Low Countries until 1 Dec 46 and France until 1 Jul 46, disbanded and replaced by Brussels Garrison and Hook Garrison command HQ BAOR with 1st Corps District for administration.

87 GRU is not listed so presume disbanded as not recorded in Germany, however units of a lower number were formed in Mar 46, have searched https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk and 87 GRU does not come up, the Imperial War Graves Commission was established in Arras France Mar 46.

This is all I can offer perhaps others can help further, best of luck with your research.

https://britisharmyingermany.com (under construction)

Hi Steve,

Thanks for this.

On the 1947 letter, the G. R. & E. Directorate Western Europe is c/o the Brussels HQ. Ideally, it might be useful to try to search out any records from March 1946 then?

Maj. Heacock was also on:
41 GRU
43 GRU
54 RFT Holding Unit
52 GRU
52 RHU
32 GRU to x/2 list
Proceeded on to Python
87 GRU

Thanks very much for your input.

Lou

X List maintained by Field Records and reported to Home Record /Pay Offices:

X-LIST on activity sheet.

X-1 Prisoner of War
X-2 Detention
X-3 Hospital - means. Casualty Clearing Station behind the lines and not a front aid station .
X-4 Un-posted Reinforcements
X-5 Courses (for War means “Outside Theatre”)
X-6 Missing as in the Person was missing and recorded on a list, as such)
X-7 Officers & Men Seconded
X-8 Returned to Home Establishment  (UK)
X-9 Undecided, (reg Pending Medical Board etc) but not available for deployment
X10 Reinforcements for Special Employment
X11 Category Personnel.
This list will help to interpret some of the terms found in WW2 documentation.


(OP PYTHON went on for a number of years post 1945 until the ORBAT moved from wartime mobilisation to post war National service, althoug the term seems to have been used for demob for some time after... something like the Navy Run Down Period (RDP)).

Reginald T Heacock died after 2000.

Lou_Oldfield wrote:

Hi Steve,

Thanks for this.

On the 1947 letter, the G. R. & E. Directorate Western Europe is c/o the Brussels HQ. Ideally, it might be useful to try to search out any records from March 1946 then?

Maj. Heacock was also on:
41 GRU
43 GRU
54 RFT Holding Unit
52 GRU
52 RHU
32 GRU to x/2 list
Proceeded on to Python
87 GRU

Thanks very much for your input.

Lou

Lou, his service must be post pre April 45 as only one of the GRUs listed, so only have the following info:

32 GRU = Bayeux-F - 25 Garrison to British Army Staff France 31 May 46 - listed on discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk

54 Reinforcement Holding Unit = Bruges-B to Germany 26 Sep 45

52 Reinforcement Holding Unit = Boomgard Straat Bruges-B to Germany 2 Oct 45

Hope this helps
Steve

Thanks Steve.

Yes, Heacock served until 1958.

Appreciate the help!

Lou

steve wrote:

Lou, his service must be post April 45 as only one of the GRUs listed, so only have the following info:

32 GRU = Bayeux-F - 25 Garrison to British Army Staff France 31 May 46 - listed on discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk

54 Reinforcement Holding Unit = Bruges-B to Germany 26 Sep 45

52 Reinforcement Holding Unit = Boomgard Straat Bruges-B to Germany 2 Oct 45

Hope this helps
Steve

Hi Pborn,

Thanks very much! Will get digging into the new avenues.

Lou

Pborn4 wrote:

X List maintained by Field Records and reported to Home Record /Pay Offices:

X-LIST on activity sheet.

X-1 Prisoner of War
X-2 Detention
X-3 Hospital - means. Casualty Clearing Station behind the lines and not a front aid station .
X-4 Un-posted Reinforcements
X-5 Courses (for War means “Outside Theatre”)
X-6 Missing as in the Person was missing and recorded on a list, as such)
X-7 Officers & Men Seconded
X-8 Returned to Home Establishment  (UK)
X-9 Undecided, (reg Pending Medical Board etc) but not available for deployment
X10 Reinforcements for Special Employment
X11 Category Personnel.
This list will help to interpret some of the terms found in WW2 documentation.


(OP PYTHON went on for a number of years post 1945 until the ORBAT moved from wartime mobilisation to post war National service, althoug the term seems to have been used for demob for some time after... something like the Navy Run Down Period (RDP)).

Reginald T Heacock died after 2000.

Reginald Thomas Heacock
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36952/supplement/1059

London Gazette of 23 Feb 1945 notifies award of Commission in General List
in the rank of Lt. wef 12 Sep 44 (to CSM Reginald Thomas Heacock of the I Corps)

Lou_Oldfield wrote:

Thanks Steve.

Yes, Heacock served until 1958.

Appreciate the help!

Lou

steve wrote:

Lou, his service must be post April 45 as only one of the GRUs listed, so only have the following info:

32 GRU = Bayeux-F - 25 Garrison to British Army Staff France 31 May 46 - listed on discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk

54 Reinforcement Holding Unit = Bruges-B to Germany 26 Sep 45

52 Reinforcement Holding Unit = Boomgard Straat Bruges-B to Germany 2 Oct 45

Hope this helps
Steve

Just realised my error changed to pre April 45 have checked in Low Countries/Germany up to Mar 49 and not listed there either.