Hello. I'm wondering if anyone can help me or at least point me in the right direction. I'm trying to research my two Grandfather's military service - Frank Bullers and Horace Tranter. I have got a 16 year old copy of my one Grandfather's service record (Frank Bullers -born 1920), but I'm not sure how to figure out what it was he actually did during WW2 - he started off in the South Staffordshire Regiment Territorial Army in 1938 and then was in the Royal Artillery from 1939 - in Orkney with the Orkney Coast Regiment, but it lists him as a Craftsman in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers on the paperwork. I know he saw service overseas as it's listed as North West Europe 06/06/44 - 06/03/46. Unfortunately he died in 1992 when I was a child so I never got chance to speak to him about his service. Any ideas as to what he may of done during D-Day would be much appreciated. My second Grandfather (Horace Tranter -born 1925) died in 2001 when I was still a child, so again I never got chance to talk to him about his service - I also know he didn't like talking about it. His medal's show that he received the Italy Star, but I haven't any idea as to who he served with in WW2. I have requested his service record for my Grandmother, but any clues as to where to begin looking would be great - from the only picture I've seen of him he may of served with the Gordon Highlander's (he was born and raised and always lived in Shropshire), from the look of the insignia - but I may be wrong (I don't have the photo as it's my Grandmothers). All help, clue and directions will be much appreciated Thanks Laura
Hi Laura, Welcome to the forum. I will try to help you if i can unravell the records. First lets deals with Frank. There are many jobs he could of been doing on D-Day, from blowing up German defences to fixing defected eqipment in the field. Do the records show what unit he was with on the day? Have you tried contacting the REME Museum? They have a website where you can ask for help with research. According to the Gordon Highlander's regimental history the 6th Battalion served in Italy and landed at Anzio which they stayed in that theatre of war until they reached Rome. Again try the regimental museum once you recieve Horace's records. You will find both museums will help you as much as they can. Try and get to visit both of them at some stage, you'll get a huge boost to seeing what they would of gone through within both theatre's of war. Regards Sniper [Mike]
Hello. Thank you for your help. Frank was posted to 532 Battery 191 Field Regiment in April 1943 and was passed as a Fitter Gun Class III Group A in June 1943. He was posted to 143 Field Regiment in December 1944, I'm guessing because the 191 Field Regiment was disbanded? I will look into contacting the REME Museum or visiting there. This is the photo of Horace, from my own little bit of research I came to the conclusion from the insignia that he served with The Gordon Highlanders, but I may be wrong as it is not the clearest of images. Thank you Laura
Hi Laura, Your right about Horace being a Gordon Highlander, that is certainly the cap badge of the Gordon's. I am pretty sure that as he served in Italy he was 6th Battalion and would of fought at Monte Casino which was one of the hardest fought battles of the war. No wonder he didn't like to talk about it, he would of seen a lot of mates killed and maimed. As for Frank, i now think he was an armourer and doing the major repairs and servicing to the field guns and equipment. Hope that helps a little more Sniper [Mike
