Parachute Regiment Research Help...

[Greeves]

Hello gents!

Someone I know has a medal group to a Para who served during the war and possible post-war. Here are is details:

3130788 Pte T S Newlands, Para Regt.

1939-45 Star
Africa Star
Italy Star
France & Germany Star
Defence Medal
War Medal
Efficiency Medal

Would any of you Para experts happen to have any records or knowlege of which battalioin he served with - was he at Arnhem? etc etc. Any information or sources greatly appreciated!

[leigh kitchen]

All I can say is that his serial no. falls within the block 3122001 - 3178000 issued to The Royal Scots Fusiliers, so presumably that was his original regiment....................

[Greeves]

That's a great start - thanks Leigh!

[lnijherald]

PRO or National Archive should be able to tell you the basics from his military career, date of enlistment, promotions, change of unit, date of discharge etc.

This is not cheap, recently I heard the price had gone up to 30GBP. And be prepared for a long wait.

Luc

[Greeves]

Thanks for that Luc. I thought that all those records were still sealed? So it is possible to get some information out of the National Archives?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Luc, are you saying that WW2 records are now available????


Cheers, Ade.

[Greeves]

Hi Ade, I don't suppose any of your contacts would have known Newlands? Or if you know of anyone who has any private databases of Para muster rolls etc?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Geoff, I do have access to some stuff. Let me see what I can do.

Going from the medals it is really impossible to say if he was 1st or 6th Airborne Div or 2nd Indep. Para. Brigade. He could have quailified for all the campaign medals with his original parent unit, so they are not really a help.

Cheers, Ade.

[Greeves]

I appreciate it, Ade! The guy who's asking isn't a member here but I can vouch that he's a good bloke!

[lnijherald]

Hi Luc, are you saying that WW2 records are now available????


Cheers, Ade.

A friend of mine visited the Record Office a few months ago to find out about the previous owner of his 1915 RMLI uniform and he got this:
http://home.hetnet.nl/~elbro4/Key.html

Two other friends have made a payment and are now waiting for their fathers records (GPR and 2nd battalion, the parachute regiment).

Luc

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Luc, WW1 records are open to anyone. The reason that your friends have got access to those WW2 records is that they are next of kin


Cheers, Ade.

[lnijherald]

Hi Ade,

A subtle diffence indeed. I hadn't thought of that.
Luc

[DJT]

How long more do we have to wait for the WW2 records to be opened up? Anyone know?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Des, I reckon a good ten to twenty years. To make sure all the Vets are gone..


Cheers, Ade.