Harry's War Record
Here are two of the five medals Harry received - Africa Star with Eighth Army clasp (above) and the 1939 - 1945 War Medal (below)
Of the few memories he recounted, were the tremendous barrage of guns at Alamein and the 'mad' Scots marching into battle to the sound of bagpipes
And then, later, on a ship bound for Italy, when the announcement came over the speaker that Italy had surrendered "everyone cheered"
Harry served with The Sherwood Foresters
Here is the letter accompanying my receipt of his medals
This letter explains the medals are issued once only
A brief two-page description of The Sherwood Foresters time in WWII
Dates and details of his service
1940
Jul 1 Deemed to have been enlisted on this date to 50th (Holding) Bn. The Sherwood Foresters
Dec 11-17 At Keighley, north of Bradford - On leave with RA/SLRRation Allowance/Standard Local Rate Ration Allowance
1941
Feb 17 Passed test Cook Class II
Mar 13-19 On leave with RA/SLR
Apr 26-27 On Leave
Jun 5-11 At Ockley, on Leave
Sep 12-18 On Leave
Sep 24 Passed local test to be a Cook, upgraded to Class I
Oct 18-19 At Chiddingfold. On Leave
Dec 11-17 On Leave
Dec 5 to 12 On Leave
1942
Apr 18 Married Kitty
May 8 Embarked for overseas
Jul 1 to 27 First Battle of El Alamein
Jul 18 Dis-embarked for MEF (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force)
Nov 1 Granted Cooks Pay First Class
Oct 2 to Nov 11 Second Battle of El Alamein
Dec 28 Compulsorily transferred to ACC (Army Catering Corps) in rank of Private
1943
Jan 1 Transferred from M.E.F. to PAIFORCE Persia Iraq Force
Jan 5 Entered PAIFORCE
May 8 To MEF from PAIFORCE
May 29 GPB (?) Class II
Aug 1 Posted to BNAF British North Africa Force
Sep 8 Italy surrenders
Sep 10 14th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Class 1A
1944
Jan 1 Award date mustred Stead [sic]
Nov 14 Posted to P/A 384 Coy RASC (Army Tpt) Royal Army service Corps
Nov 20 ADM II Gen Hosp p posted X(2)
Dec 5 Transferred to 95 Gen. Hosp, Awarded Eigth Army clasp
1945
Jan 8 disch Hosp. to RASCTD and posted X(4)
Jan 16 SOS X(4) P/A to 384 Coy RASC (Apt) SOS Struck off Strenth - left the unit
Aug 1 left unit? 24.7.45 DID RASC Detail issue Depot
Sep 4 Rejoined Unit from Leave Evt MedAll
Sep 22 P/A II DID RASC
Dec 15 P/A to HQ 87 Grp PNR Corps Pioneer Corps
1946
Jan 1 SOS CMF to MEF - TOS from CMF TOS - taken on strength - joined unit
Jan 2 Back to M.E.F
Jan 18 Medically examined prior to release, found fit for further service
Feb 19 Posted to X(VIII)A Release
Mar 6 "Home" until June 16
Jun 17 Released to class Z(T) Terr. Army reserve
1959
Sep 8 Discharged from Reserve Liability
Harry's Army records.
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Territorial Army - Record of Service Paper - This shows Harry's details when he enlisted
Territorial Army - Record of Service Paper Shows a summary of his service and includes a pencil comment suggesting his medals were undelivered. They must have been eventually delivered as I saw them and have included their photos on this page.
Statement of the Services
Statement of the Services
Service and Casualty Form
Service and Casualty Form
Service and Casualty Form
Service and Casualty Form
Notification of Impending Release
For completeness, here are my hand-written summaries of the above pages
