For Attention Of Clarion

[Sqad]

Good morning Clarion, i wonder if you could help?
I have a friend who's father was in the D-Day landings, a W.O in the navy, probably a destroyer.
Her father rarely spoke of his role in the war and since the recent commemoration, she would like to know more of the part that he played. His name is obviously known to her, as is his number, but could you recommend a website which could give her further information.
Thank you.

[albaqwerty]

familysearch.org (free sign up)
found my grand-dad's grave (died 31-12-1944) on it was listed the regiment in which he served and went from there.
Unfortunately, still haven't found his theatre of war tho, but it is still early days in my search.

Wish your friend success in her search.

[albaqwerty]

oh, as his number is known, that would help.

I'll see if I can find out a dedicated web-site

[bookbinder]

You might find this useful:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/research/tracing-your-family-history/tracing-your-royal-naval-history/where-to-find-royal-navy-service-records

[237SJ]

It might be worth searching the british newspaper archive. If she signs up with a name and password she can have a few searches for free. You never know, his name might have been in the newspapers.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

[bookbinder]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-navy-warrant-officers/

[Sqad]

Thanks guys....much appreciated.

[jno]

possibly a silly question, but has she tried just googling his name? All sorts of links sometimes come up.

[Peter Pedant]

having been in a family whose exploits are well known ....
I certainly know every camp my father was in
and who his cronies were
and what THEY did

your frenz father may not have wanted the family to know


[ also on another subject - men in bomber command who spent their war having their arrisses shot off over Germany tired in the nineties of teenagers saying to them - you a war criminal you are ! ] (and that included denying they fought in the war)

[I drag my family around the British Museum to show them what I dug up 1980 - er Beverley sackler room, Nubia case, Qasr Ibrim - and they politely tag along. Quick or else there is a mutiny.
and in twenty years some will say:

he dug up fings in the British Museum he did. Ever so old and he showed us. Day were in a case - glass it was but there are ever so many cases in the British Museum have you been dare? - everywhere day are. Foo I WISH I had listened ! He dug them up yeah and DEN they were in the British Museum. They werent in the Museum BEFORE he dug them up yeah?

others say: you didnt do dat you did somefing else you did

and the rest - he spoke arabic well but he never told us why or how

[woofgang]

Jno "possibly a silly question, but has she tried just googling his name? All sorts of links sometimes come up."

This is very true. Its how I found out that my estranged brother in law had died. Googled his name and found a memorial website weirdly with pictures of my wedding day on it, posted by his partner who I didn't know and had never met. He was a most unpleasant person and I have to say that it was a relief to both his stepfather (my father in law) and to me.

[10ClarionSt]

There are various options, Squad.

1. If you know the name of the destroyer, there will be a history of it's part in WW2 simply by Googling it's name. Wikipedia should have details, but there will be other options to select from.

2. You could apply for his service record, which would have details of all his postings during his service. It shows the names of the ships/shore bases where he served. These can then be Googled for more information.

Some good links have already been provided. If I can help further, please let me know.

[Sqad]

Thank you Clarion and thank you all for your help.

[10ClarionSt]

No problems, Squad. I have to say I was slightly disappointed when I received my dads' service record. It was only one sheet of paper, whilst at the same time I was looking at programmes on TV where they had applied for service records and brought out brown folders with lots of detail in them. No such thing from the Royal Navy. Maybe each branch of the services deals differently with service records.