My sister just got a copy of my dad's WWII service records, and pouring over them is proving interesting and somewhat fustrating. The naming system for groups is a bit confusing....
As far as I can tell, these are the groups he served with -
Enlisted at 18 in Liverpool to the TA, Kings Regiment
Jul-Sep 1940 10th Battalion (Home Defense)
Sep 40 - Aug 42 70th Kings Regiment (Young Soldiers)
Wiki Note Formed from the 10th King's, September 1940 - so he was in at their formation
Aug 42 - Jan 43 10th Black Watch
Jan 43 - Oct 43 4th Black Watch
Oct 43 - Apr 45 1st London Scottish
Sometimes referred to as the Gordon Highlanders
I think this is how it was in the Italy campaign
56th (London) Infantry Division One of four Brigades 168th (London) Brigade One of four regiments 1st London Scottish Regiment
I think I have the Anzio time sorted out, but am still working on what happened the year after that.
Some surprises -
A few hospital stays, one in Dorset and a long one (we knew about this one with a broken back) in Naples.
At least two AWOL - but only a few hours, each losing a days pay. We think he slept in...
Five months in Gibraltar Jan to May 43
Mom always said he was a "young soldier" - I never realised this was the name the Battallion was called...
Confusing in that the location column that would say "CMF" for Central Mediterranean Forces,
but did not mean he was actually there, since the records show he was training in the UK.
Training seemed to be at Bridlington and Catterick. Still working through acronyms - METC for
3" mortar training is one - was it in Europe or back in the UK?
Lots of stuff to go through, and dad never talked about it much...
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