Buy collectable wwii military uniforms and get the best deals. Rasc how do i find old ww2 records including medals. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the first or second world war, please do not destroy them. Cpl from the 7th armoured divisional signals d troop no. Ballymena 19141918 ww2 panel 6 ballymena in world war one family history. Orig ww2 canvas shoulder flash rasc air dispatchers service corps.
Awarded permanent commission as a major 1 nov 1919. The record for an individual contained in this listing does. Nov 01, 2007 with the canadian involvement in the war in afghanistan being an ever constant reminder of world unrest, it makes it that much more important for us to remember those that served our country during the two world wars. Air despatch squadron historical information to view free. Rasc 8th army north africa photos world war two page 1.
World war ii, or the second world war often abbreviated as wwii or ww2, was a global conflict that was underway by 1939 and ended in 1945. Dozen or so men soldiers put up a large tent various shots of the poles being put into place and guy ropes being attached. War diaries from world war i, world war ii, palestine, korea and. Hi, i am an history researcher from italy, i am very interested about your memories of the raid to jalo by. The british army in north africa 1944 driver a beagle, an rasc despatch rider. Royal air force or raf or royal flying corps or rfc r lancs for the kings own royal lancaster regiment krrc for the kings royal rifle corps use the wildcard for army units i. Despite short notice of the influx of extra troops, the rasc royal army service. The 5th was the first unit in the ninth air force during wwii to be equipped with air to ground unguided rockets.
The london gazette claims to be the oldest surviving english newspaper and the oldest continuously published newspaper in the uk, having been first published on 7th. There is now only one air despatch unit in the british army, 47 air despatch squadron rlc royal logistic corps. As far as research has resolved, the first airdrops in the new guinea campaign took place on the 28th of july 1942 at efogi and kagi during the withdrawal to kokoda. Research the history of the royal army service corps. The flight was uneventful until we neared the rhine, where a smokescreen set up. Services in the series united states army in world war ii, his torians have told. Good mens vintage ww2 army dispatch rider motorcycle coat overcoat 1943.
Regiments that served with the 7th armoured division. Members who served with training battalion rasc forces reunited. Royal army service corps in the second world war 19391945. Original this was the job of the supply department and the transport departments, but these two units were merged to form the royal indian army service corps in 1884. The royal army service corps rasc was a corps of the british army responsible for land, coastal and lake transport, air despatch. The ordnance department us army center of military history. Motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world wars dispatch riders were paid well, but received little recognition for their service. Hi, i am an history researcher from italy, i am very interested about your memories of. Motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world wars. The london gazette is one of the official journals of record of the british government, and the most important among such official journals in the united kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published. The book was published during the war so wont have great insights or history, but it maybe of interest to you. Part 2 call up after the war, rasc, army of occupation in germany, berlin airlift. It was hoped that the seventyfive twoengine transports would be able to deliver 7,500 tons a month of cargo to that point. Search records of soldiers awards from the london gazette.
These rasc men were air despatchers who were responsible for the army supplies the aircraft were carrying. Rasc army supply and transport a battledress tunic. Oct 15, 2014 rock fought in north africa and italy. Orig ww2 canvas shoulder flash 3rd port task force re. Night shots of vehicles of the royal army service corps rasc.
Royal air force raf officer on a phelan and moore panther 3 12 horse power. Welcome to forces reunited the place where you can find information and friends from training battalion rasc we are the largest and fastest growing community of uk forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members. By 1939, it was clear that every ablebodied british seamen would be needed to serve on ships so the royal navy decided to reconstitute the womens royal navy servicenicknamed the wrenswhich had been disbanded after world war i. After seeing the report off by dispatch rider, i had a wash and shave at the. This is the story of eight and a half years in the life of the author between 1939 and 1948. This letter was stamped on the 28th of november 1944. The 5th squadron was known as the rocket squadron within the group. During the restoration of a house in southbelgium i was working on the attic. Aboard the first, all four aircrew and four rasc dispatchers were killed, and on the second two aircrew and two dispatchers perished, but five men survived.
The harleydavidson wla was designed specifically to meet u. The arcre search engine enables you to easily find references for british army and commonwealth war diaries held by the british national archives tna. Facing withering antiaircraft fire and fierce german fighter attacks twelve stirlings had been lost, thirtynine aircrew and twelve rasc dispatchers killed, and fifteen aircrew taken prisoner. How to research a mention in despatches the long, long trail. Rasc royal army service corps land rover and other military vehicles drive in convoy. The engine aims to give more focused results than the official tna catalogue, especially using natural language search terms.
At that time duties of 55 company rasc ad included the resupplying by air of the commonwealth brigade in their operations against the. The subject is a private in the british liberation army. Abbreviations for british army, royal navy, royal air force and. Ww2 peoples war the ardennes and crossing the rhine bbc. The logistical support of the indian army to keep the fighting forces supplied was a specialised activity over the decades and centuries.
Royal army service corps,rasc british military store. The royal army service corps rasc was a corps of the british army responsible for land, coastal and lake transport, air despatch, barracks administration, the army fire service, staffing headquarters units, supply of food, water, fuel and domestic materials such as clothing, furniture and stationery and the supply of technical and military equipment. Rasc air despatch companies were first formed in march 1944 in order to make full use of the advantages that supply by air could bring to the army. Rasc air despatch formation sign formation signs and patches. Dispatch riders received very little recognition during the wars, though their roles were vital in delivering important messages and information while facing grave danger. Theres a mention of the tobruk arms in i was an eighth army soldier by driver robert john crawford rasc. Adjt and hq det took up defensive position in al bde area to act as reserve for capt cranmerbyngs party and so remained for remainder of operation. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. This is an archived page from the older dcboard forum of raf commands.
The exceptions were weaponry and ammunition, which were supplied by the royal army ordnance corps. A despatch rider or dispatch is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle and occasionally in egypt during world war i, on camels. Dec 15, 2008 hello gents and ladies, i am researching my grandfathers time in the rasc during ww2 and am in need of direction about how to get information on such things as his job, charge sheets, medals, rank, ect ect i know he was in naples, africa and france but have no service number. Airborne rasc landings took place on the beacons approx 1 mile east of lucsurmer and 1 mile west of ouistreham. Original photograph photo, wwii dispatch riders on. In addition rasc units are provided for the carriage of infantry, tanks and. I have a list of the other rasc members from 799 coy killed that day, but no details of the air crash or details of cause. Africa, western desert, ww2 by cecil beaton pin by. A despatch rider or dispatch is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle and occasionally in egypt during world war i, on camels in the uk despatch rider is also a term used for a motorcycle courier despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units.
Calcutta by the 15th of june, and meanwhile work was rushed on the construction of a suitable hardsurfaced airfield at myitkyina. Ww2 british army dispatch riders pantaloons world war. Army specifications during the early stages of world war ii. The first uniformed unit to carry out transport duties for the british army was the royal waggoners. I thought my parents had given the photo collection away. The code usually includes a date in this instance, 20 april 1920 of the issue voucher iv that authorised its release. Can anyone confirm only the first type is of wwii and the other 2 are of postwar manufacture. After a week or two we were given world war one rifles and bayonets. A motorcycle is lifted in the air, as is a car presumably to be placed on boat. This is one of the finest examples ive ever seen of these badges. Casualties killed after the end of the war until 26 september 1919 are also included in the listing. In the uk despatch rider is also a term used for a motorcycle courier. We were sent on an air dispatch course at gatow, which was a british air. Official royal canadian air force histories of the second world war.
They were the 5 hvra high velocity aircraft rocket, which rang the death bell for the enemy tiger tanks as well as locomotives, armored vehicles, gun emplacements, etc. Ww2 peoples war rasc by robert nelson white, part 2 of. See more ideas about wwii, world war and world war two. Motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world. Len i started to read your story because it mentioned the rasc and d day. His division sign is the second army which was formed in the summer of 1943, landed in normandy and liberated brussels and antwerp in 1944. The armed forces radio services had its roots in the early days of world war ii as american troops were dispersing throughout the globe. The role of the royal army service corps in the field falls into two main parts, supply. If you think a relative may have died in the first world war it should be possible to confirm this by looking at the records held by one of the war grave agencies responsible for the care and maintenance of graves and official memorials for the war dead of the first world war. Soldier with life jacket around his neck hands out paperwork or mail. Alternatively you can leave a comment on this page using facebook in the comments box at the bottom of the page.
The first formalised british commonwealth air dispatch capability dates from the new guinea campaign of world war ii. Mobile bakery everything carried in these vehicles to make bread. From the dispatch of the first american observers to embattled britain in. The royal army service corps rasc was the unit responsible for keeping the british army supplied with provisions. A list of over 41,000 officers who died in the great war was published in one volume in 1919. Air despatchers have served worldwide on training, operations and famine relief duties. At least nine royal army service corps rasc dispatchers aboard. Before the second world war, rasc recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 2 inches tall and could. A quickthinking team worker, you will support operations all over the world, including raf.
With the canadian involvement in the war in afghanistan being an ever constant reminder of world unrest, it makes it that much more important for us to remember those that served our country during the two world wars. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the rasc flickr tag. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport. The badge has a yellow dakota aircraft, with the top of the tail cut off, on a blue ground. The title has air despatch in the same yellow on blue ground. Message 1 a2057032 memories of world war ii posted on. The dates covered for casualties are from and including 4 august 1914 to 11 november 1918. In april 1944, with the establishment of the allied air forces, indiaburma sector of the cbi, general stratemeyers and general hardins headquarters, together with those of the cbi air service command, the eastern air command, and the sectors communications, weather, and statistical organizations, were moved from new delhi to the calcutta area. Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to ww2. He wears an economy tunic with exposed plastic buttons. Air despatch group, royal army service corps royal corps. I joined the army in march 1940 as a volunteer and was placed in the royal army service corps as a driver. I served with the corp in egypt, but some time after.
Swincar spider electric motorbike crawling on a road near you soon. Harry watts the dispatch rider motorcycles in the war. British military store is a small family owned business, we offer high quality products which we are happy to say have received outstanding feedback. His shoulder title and arm of service strip tell us he is in the rasc. Danger at sea and a deadly time on mount everest are among the topics in mikes story of his adventurous life. Members of training battalion rasc forces reunited. The royal army service corps was formed from the historical board of ordnance, commissary general and other organisations such as the corps of waggoners. These troops had grown up listening to bing crosby and jack benny on the radio, and their notions of morale demanded more than harmonicas and baseballs. It involved most of the worlds nationsincluding all of the great powerseventually forming two opposing military alliances. This photograph demonstrates how much can sometimes be gleaned from one tunic. Despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. If you wish to post a query about this page, then please go to the newer raf commands forum and register as a member. A further twentyfive personnel who had been shot down over arnhem, however, had been able to return to the allied lines when the 1st airborne division. Hello gents and ladies, i am researching my grandfathers time in the rasc during ww2 and am in need of direction about how to get information on such things as his job, charge sheets, medals, rank, ect ect i know he was in naples, africa and france but.
It was based on an existing civilian model the wl with a 45cubic inch vtwin and a solo saddle. This style of badge was never authorized by the army air force but there are several examples of base wings with an applied r that were worn in the cbi theater. Ww2 british army dispatch riders pantaloons world war wonders. Its readily available on amazon, for as little as a couple of quid. Conferred 12 oct 1945, kg 3 dec 1946, gcb 11 jun 1942 kcb 11 jul 1940, cb 2 jan 1939, om 1 jan 1946. One of those roles was motorcycle dispatchers for messages. Written and published by r l houghton and j m houghton. The code tells us that the soldier had been mentioned and was issued with the bronze oak leaf emblems.
Its familiar organisation really can in 1889, when the army service corps was formed by amalgamation of commissariat and transport staff and commissariat and transport staff corps. Army air forces, indiaburma theater, nov 1944 attached to combat cargo task force, c. A paperback book with 252 pages and 250 photos about the royal army service corps rasc during world war 2. Youll then work as part of a dispatch crew, based at raf brize norton. Us ww2 aac air force cbi officers chocolate brown ike jacket.