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John Frederick Vickers 3535419

Started by DAVickers, October 20, 2014, 04:34:54 PM

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DAVickers

Hi, I am new to this forum. I ma trying to find records for my great uncle who died on 1st May 1942 and is buried in Kirkee Cemetery in India.
War grave has him listed as 7th Bn. Manchester Regiment.

Can any one help?

Thanks
David

charlie

Hello David, welcome to the forum.
You could apply for his service record.

https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

Charlie

Wendi

Hi David and a Warm Welcome to our forum.  :)

I'm going to move this to the WW2 section,  there is not too much personal info out there regarding WW2  service personnel,  so charlie's advise is sound.

Wendi
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it!  No matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and with your own common sense" ~ Buddha

themonsstar

#3
Hi David

The 2nd Battalion The Manchester Regiment was at Freetown Harbour on its way to India on the 1st May 1942. The 7th Bn The Manch Regt was at Tranby Park, Hessle, near Kingston-Upon-Hull in May 1942, The 1st Bn The Manch Regt had been captured at Singapore in Feb 1942. If you get his service records it should tell you what he was doing in India before his death, and which Battalion of The Manchester Regt he was with.




This is from the Army roll of Honour.

Name:   John Vickers
Given Initials:   J F
Rank:   Private
Death Date:   1 May 1942
Number:   3535419
Birth Place:   Manchester
Residence:   Manchester
Branch at Enlistment:   Infantry
Theatre of War:   India
Regiment at Death:   Manchester Regiment RA
Branch at Death:   Infantry



From the CWGC

Rank:Private
Service No:3535419
Date of Death:01/05/1942
Age:28
Regiment/Service:Manchester Regiment 7th Bn.
Grave Reference: 4. E. 12.
Cemetery:KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of William and Elizabeth Vickers, of Patricroft, Lancashire.





Roy

Robert Bonner

To the best of my knowledge this is not documented anywhere but certainly a number of 7th Battalion men were attached to the Royal Artillery during the war and served onboard Merchant Navy ships as Gunners.  Assuming that John Vickers was part of this scheme it could account for his death and burial in a part of the world where no Manchester battalions were then serving.

If moderator George reads this he may be able to add something as he knew one of these men, sadly now dead. 
Robert

george.theshed197

Bob, Just by chance I noted this item and will pass over what little bits of information I had gained from my connections to those whom had made  the joining of those 'So called Manchester Gunners'.
As I remember there were about six or so at least involved from those at Ardwick and how that their first barracks were across the road from here ( the old 8th Bn Depot).
Seemingly, following Dunkirk and that period, the Battle of the Atlantic had expanded tremendously and the Government had apparently called for Volunteers from Artillery Units to serve on merchant ships on the new guns being placed on board. No one good give me any direct leads to follow  to support these statements, however, subsequent looking and finding references to DEMS, as they  came to be known, started to bear fruit amongst most of the lads I chatted with. hey told me loads of 'stories' of their own involvements but still could not give me any actual details of how and why other than start to tell me about - how they had special badge they wore on their sleeve of the Battle Dress etc and on and on about the various guns etc. I promised myself that I would make further enquiries but without any success. Now that I have some time on hands I will give it another go and come back with such information I will or can find.
George.

george.theshed197

As I thought -
Once I had started on Wikipedia my original  memories began to emerge. I arrived at the conclusion that these "Manchester Gunners" in all probability  MAY have joined the 103 Regiment Royal Artillery at the Army Reserve Centre down in Belle Vue, MP12 5PW and we all tended, as they were here with the OCA at  Ardwick, at least I obviously did, that they originally had been Manchester Regiment.

I have found absolutely nothing  in Wikipedia to imply or state that these were soldier drafted on board of merchant ships from this Regiment.

Yes indeed merchant ships were armed as far back as even before WW1, as in the 18h century as readers of Wikipedia would find, BUT WW1, nothing , only as members of the Royal Maritime Regiment of the R.A.

So we are still looking for something specific that would definitely confirm such a posting, on his records or similar.

Sorry folks,
George.

DAVickers

Thanks everyone for your help. I have applied for the service record as suggested and I just got the Death Certificate this morning. My Great Uncle appears to have died in a hospital in Jubbulpore (India) now known as Jabalpur.
David.

george.theshed197

#8
David,
Now you have something positive on which to work, does the Death Certificate state which Regiment he was with ? Jubbulpore sounds about right for the 2nd Battalion of the Manchesters.
Keep us informed please , it is nice to see and hear of a success.
Keep up the good work.
George.

DAVickers

Hi the Death Cert just says Manchester Regiment.
David