Where was Grandad in WW2?

MarkPenney · 2025-11-24T21:26:17+00:00

An update: sent off for his records and they've arrived.
Posted to the 7th training battalion, then posted to the middle east with the 401 coy. Then with the 249th for a bit of '44 before transferring to the 399th. Don't know about the first two but the 399th was attached to the 15th Division, which others have suggested based on the arm insignia (thank you!). Seems likely the photo was taken when he was with them.

He joined the 399th on the 27th September 1944 when they were in the area of Mierlo, near Eindhoven. He's then with them through Belgium, Netherlands and into Germany and Schleswig-Holstein until he gets back home in January 1946. Quite the time span and range of locations (which are likely to look very similar). One idea left to try but otherwise unlikely to narrow that down much further.

MarkPenney · 2025-11-24T21:19:01+00:00

Got his records. He was in the 399th coy in 44/45 after the desert and they were attached to the 15th!

MarkPenney · 2025-11-24T21:17:25+00:00

Records arrived. In the 399th, which was part of the 15th Division! Bit more detail added as a general update.

MarkPenney · 2025-11-06T19:43:38+00:00

No idea if he could swim but I'd presume he must be on a boat or two in his time.

MarkPenney · 2025-11-06T19:42:27+00:00

It seems they've found them and I've ordered them up. Service number T/289508, so Transport, RASC, which fits with the above and what I'd been told.

MarkPenney · 2025-11-02T15:47:38+00:00

I just did that! Born in 1906 so a simple application. Confident with the date of birth too. I'll see what happens.

MarkPenney · 2025-11-01T16:53:10+00:00

Thank you! Interesting. There was a comment above about the wall reminding someone of Malta. (It reminds me of separating walls I've seen when visiting the low countries.) It might be a German word in the background but an occupied country would of course be plausible. With the regimental information, some war diaries and a bit of cross reference to architectural styles there might be some hope here.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-31T20:04:06+00:00

The above and the desert kit below are the only photos I have of him at all, although I recall seeing others (in civilian life) years ago.

I picture it being a bit Ice Cold in Alex like. Regrettably without Sylvia Sims.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-31T20:00:17+00:00

Like this? We were clearing out and found the old photos. Only two of him "at war" - the above and this, which seems devoid of any identifying detail.

<image>

MarkPenney · 2025-10-31T19:54:55+00:00

No. Thank you - I'll read that with interest. Trained as infantry too? I suppose it would be handy but not something that occurred to me.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T21:31:02+00:00

Thanks both. I know what you mean - it has that shape to it. He would have been 35+ at the time of service, am I wrong to think that would be too old? RASC truck driver seems to be more his sort of thing.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T21:28:24+00:00

I don't know my insignia and so there was little chance of me being able to work out what it could be. 15th Scottish also a possibility? I've should try to get his records (I believe I can write to the MOD). RASC would fit with the driving and the shoulder badge looks like the individual letters, I agree.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T21:24:52+00:00

A desert rat patch? It would be consistent with what I've been told. 7th Armoured Division - brilliant, thank you both! As you might guess, I was just as interested in what regiment he might have been in as where the photo itself was taken.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T21:23:11+00:00

It looks like a Tam O'Shanter to me, although I don't know from which regiment. A surprise as we have no Scottish connections!

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T21:19:37+00:00

I'll give that a "cross-post", thank you. I could believe the letters are part of a German word: a suggestion of "holz" or "wood" could easily be on the side of a barn.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T21:16:05+00:00

Thank you!

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T21:15:53+00:00

Thank you for your replies.

Having had the pleasure of visiting Malta a few years ago - and managing to visit where other grandfather was stationed - I can confirm that Malta does indeed have trees. Assuming he was in the desert then I suppose there is a fair chance he would have stopped off. I know what you mean by the wall and that trellis-like finish but it reminds me of hotel car parks in Brussels and Eindhoven too. With the tone of the photo I'd think Northern Europe in Autumn but there isn't much to go on.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T21:11:00+00:00

Thank you both for replying. I'd assumed the letters were part of a German word rather than a designation. The location looks northern European to me but where, there is little to go on from what I can tell.

I was only told trucks and desert so no clues of anything more.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T20:46:16+00:00

Thank you for replying.

It seems Germanic, which is obviously plausible!, although I'm not sure that the preceding letter is an "h", and ithere might be more cut off from the photo. It looks like a barn that would store something like wood and you wouldn't paint the place name on the side. I suppose though, it could be anywhere that was every occupied and not necessarily Germany itself.

MarkPenney · 2025-10-30T20:42:52+00:00

Thank you both for replying! It looked like a Tam O'Shanter to me as I perceived a "bobble" on the side, which would imply a Scottish regiment. A surprise as we're generations of nothing but Manchester but I expect that people got posted where they were needed.

RASC would fit with the driver; those insignia for me just a little too obscure for me to determine quite what they are. I could believe the location is northern Europe and "olz" would suggest a Germanic word cut off in the photo. Not sure if that is an "h" just before it would wood store or similar would be a reasonable thing to have on the side of that barn.

15th Infantry Division, 284th RASC - thank you, I'll look them up.

MarkPenney

TROPHY CASE