1st S.A.S shoulder and para wings.

[gmac1986]

Hello!

I was given these yesterday as a gift from the son of a veteran.

Story goes that he was catching a ride on a Canadian Sherman either on the border of Belgium or Germany and it hit a 10 second delay mine. He was sprayed with shrapnel up his right side and was taken out of service for the remainder of the war (date of enlistment or of incident unknown).

The name attached is a "John Gamblin" of unknown rank with the 1st S.A.S.

This is about all I have on this guy but if anyone can point me in a direction to find out more I would surely appreciate it.

Also, are these rare? And more importantly are they real? I've known of the S.A.S since watching Desert rats on the history channel, what were their involvement in the European theater?

Fronts
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/...1986/para1.jpg

backs
Backshttp://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o569/gmac1986/para2.jpg

[gmac1986]

sorry here's the backs

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/...1986/para2.jpg

[gmac1986]

at about 6:10 in this video it mentions an advance by the Canadians would this
fit?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PIf7...feature=relmfu

[lnijherald]

I think you have been very lucky.

Luc

[JON4188]

Lovely. and if they are both restless in Canada and fancy a home in England, drop me aline. YOu can have my wife!!

[lnijherald]

YOu can have my wife!!

We need to see some good close ups first. Front and back please.

Luc

[gmac1986]

Sounds good. I will post better pictures in the next 2 days.

More information on this man has surfaced.


Lt John Gamble, Wounded in action, Oldenburg Germany 17-4-1945.


So it appears I had a dead on with that video and did not even know it.

[1stSAS]

Great find. The badges are original The wing appears late war 1945 as concurs with action in Oldenburg.

So nice with extra story/info too.

It was in Oldenburg that Paddy Maine got his 3rd bar to his DSO and really should have won a VC instead.

Cheers

JB

Sounds good. I will post better pictures in the next 2 days.

More information on this man has surfaced.


Lt John Gamble, Wounded in action, Oldenburg Germany 17-4-1945.


So it appears I had a dead on with that video and did not even know it.

[johanwiegman]

John Gamblin

Friends,

Lieutenant John Robinson Gamblin, Army Number 309000, was indeed a member of 1st SAS. He was on the nominal roll of Operation Howard, operations in Northern Germany in support of the Canadian 4th Armoured Division. Operation Howard lasted from 6-29 April.

Lt. Gamblin left the UK on 6-4-1945 and was wounded on 17-4-1945.

After the war he emigrated to Canada, which would explain why the badges turn up in Canada.

With his army number, you can look him up in the London Gazette. He was commissioned Lt. in the Royal Armoured Corp on 13 February 1944.

He transfered to Army Air Corps:

The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be 2nd Lts.,
retaining their present seniority: —
From R.A.C., I5th May 1944: —
J. L. Gamblin (309000).

next: correction to initials (L. to R.)
S.A.S.R.
The initials of 2nd Lt. J. R. Gamblin (309000) are
' as now described and not as notified in Gazette
(Supplement) dated 22nd Sept. 1944.

That is all I can find about him.

Cheers,

Johan

[gmac1986]

I just finished a short discussion with the son of this veteran who happens to live down the street from me.

He has wartime pictures of his father in S.A.S uniform, at S.A.S reunions, a silk scarf as well as a couple of still sealed silk maps of France (unknown regions at this point)

Sorry if this is kind of a teaser but I'm pretty excited to see this stuff and will share pictures of everything asap!

Coincidentally I also live about 100ft from a Canadian artillery veteran of Monte Cassino.

[1stSAS]

hi Johan,

you must have bought the SAS war diary to find out these details.?

great info.

cheers
JB

Friends,

Lieutenant John Robinson Gamblin, Army Number 309000, was indeed a member of 1st SAS. He was on the nominal roll of Operation Howard, operations in Northern Germany in support of the Canadian 4th Armoured Division. Operation Howard lasted from 6-29 April.

Lt. Gamblin left the UK on 6-4-1945 and was wounded on 17-4-1945.

After the war he emigrated to Canada, which would explain why the badges turn up in Canada.

With his army number, you can look him up in the London Gazette. He was commissioned Lt. in the Royal Armoured Corp on 13 February 1944.

He transfered to Army Air Corps:

The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be 2nd Lts.,
retaining their present seniority: —
From R.A.C., I5th May 1944: —
J. L. Gamblin (309000).

next: correction to initials (L. to R.)
S.A.S.R.
The initials of 2nd Lt. J. R. Gamblin (309000) are
' as now described and not as notified in Gazette
(Supplement) dated 22nd Sept. 1944.

That is all I can find about him.

Cheers,

Johan

[1stSAS]

hi keep them coming JB

I just finished a short discussion with the son of this veteran who happens to live down the street from me.

He has wartime pictures of his father in S.A.S uniform, at S.A.S reunions, a silk scarf as well as a couple of still sealed silk maps of France (unknown regions at this point)

Sorry if this is kind of a teaser but I'm pretty excited to see this stuff and will share pictures of everything asap!

Coincidentally I also live about 100ft from a Canadian artillery veteran of Monte Cassino.

[neilnitro]

SAS Diary

were do you find the SAS war diary? I wondered if they were going to make some available, but I've never seen any for sale? or it just Johan's great wealth of knowledge on SAS,
I hate this thread as it keeps reminding me that I can't find the 1st SAS title I've been after

[seebee1]

www.saswardiary.co.uk prices from £975 to £2,500

[neilnitro]

Thansk for the info

ouch , do they do a free online version .
don't think I'll be getting one anytime soon, like the 1st SAS title