Samuel Trimble RASC 10697604

[TreeTrimmer]

I have been trying to find out information about the Army Service Career of Samuel Trimble 1922 from Salford. I have already posted in general enquiries re his Merchant Navy Service and am awaiting response from Southampton Archives re Merchant records.

I have Sam's service records and together with family letters and photos have been able to put together some simple facts. However I would love to find out more, in particular any details of his time in France, Belgium and possibly Germany.

What I know is the following - he was a guard, sometimes driver with RASC Pioneer Corps.
He embarked for France on 28th June 1944 with 826 Coy and later this became part of the British Army on the Rhine

Nothing else known until 14th April 1945 where there is a photo of Sam with the Belgian family (Logghe Family) he was billeted with in Aartrijke, and on 20th May 1945 a letter from the same household. The letter indicates that Aartrijke had been the site of a V1 base, overrun before it could be used to attack the UK.
at the this stage Sam was expecting to possibly be going on to Hamburg or even Japan.

He returned to UK on 19 January 1946.

I would love to fill in some of the gaps (June 1944 - April 1945) and May 1945 - January 1946.

Thank you for any help that you can give.
Paul Trimble

[VALLMO9]

I would love to fill in some of the gaps (June 1944 - April 1945) and May 1945 - January 1946.

Have you checked for any War Diaries for the RASC 826 coy? If they exist for that time period they might help you fill in some gaps.
This article should be of help: https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine ... r-diaries/

"War Diaries are held by The National Archives at Kew (TNA), so search its online catalogue Discovery. The diaries are arranged by theatre of operations, with a separate series of records for each area. Many regimental museums also hold sets of War Diaries.
Traditionally, War Diaries have not been available digitally, but Ancestry has just added the collection ‘UK, World War II War Diaries, 1939–1946’. Finally, transcriptions for some units have been made available online by museums or researchers, so it’s always worth searching the web".

UPDATE: TNA have several entries for 826 coy (Pioneer Corps), but you would have to view the War Diaries there. They are not online. Links below for 1944-1945:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov. ... r/C4447599
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov. ... r/C4443354

[TreeTrimmer]

Thanks for your help. Shame the records are only available at the National Archives. Somewhere I will need to visit one day. In your experience how much relevant detail would I get for his company - would the size of 826 be liable to be a company of up to 200+ strong and based in the same place or a much bigger group?

Best wishes

[Thunder]

The amount of material does depend on what the company was doing and actions they were involved in. I would think that the company would be moving forward until May 1945 rather than staying put.

[VALLMO9]

Paul - perhaps the Royal Pioneer Corps Association website can help with your general queries regarding the 826 coy.
Link: http://www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk/rpc/index.htm
Contact page: http://www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk/rpc/contact.htm

[TreeTrimmer]

Thank you for all help given.
I received a very prompt response from the Royal Pioneer Corps association which included a War Diary attachment which showed exactly where 826 Coy were.

Most helpful! and only took a couple of hours to get back to me.

21 Jun 44 Moved to BOTLEY
29 Jun 44 Landed CREPON, Normandy
30 Jun 44 Moved to ARROMANCHES
Officers:-
Maj J H Leiper – OC
Capt E W Kilby – 2IC
Lts L W Wood, S Dixon, J A Staveley & W A Pedder
26 Jul 44 Moved to ST LOUP HORS – have been on odd jobs since arrival
29 Jul 44 Moved to LES FLAQUES – petrol depot work
2 Oct 44 BIRES, Private, ONDREY, 13803896, - casualty
19 Oct 44 Moved to ROUEN – POL
7 Nov 44 Moved to BRUSSELS – POL, guard duties etc
7 Dec 44 Moved to AERTRYCKE near TOURHOUT – working at 3 BAD
31 Dec 44 Officers:-
Maj J H Leiper – OC
Capt E W Kilby – 2IC
Lts S Dixon, J A Staveley & W A Pedder

13 Jan 45 Lt S E Bull – tos
30 Mar 45 HQ moved to LICHTEVELDE – working on ammunition at 3 BAD
9 Apr 45 Lt A E Fairfield – tos
Lt W A Pedder – sos Civil Labour
15 Apr 45 Lts E A Vallis & J R Pearson – tos
1 May 45 Pte H Joyce (267 or 46 Coy) attached on charge of murder of a German PW
9 Jun 45 Pte H Joyce – acquitted and released
30 Jul 45 Maj E P Sillett – tos OC vice Leiper (sos release)
19 Aug 45 Moved to BRUSSELS – miscellaneous duties
18 Nov 45 Capt E W Kilby – sos 50 Coy
16 Dec 45 Disbanded at BRUSSELS
Maj E P Sillett - OC