How do I learn more about this record set? Where would I look to find more details about Military
I found this record transcription at FindMyPast. He is also listed in a few other military indexes. Where can I find the original records? Where should I look for more information?
My mother told me that during World War II, her father Charles Ernest East worked in the munitions factory in Vicars. He was part of the home guard because he was hearing impaired. He made armaments in the factory by day and was on home guard by night. The home guard put out fires of buildings that were bombed and guarded against German invasions. He often dismantled bombs that had fallen, but not exploded. He only slept a couple of hours a night, and expressed that many nights he was sure he walked home in his sleep. He inspected machine guns for spit fire planes, then navy planes.
My mother recorded this information about him in 1965.
@British Isles Family History Research
- @England Genealogy Research
Answers
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Hi Carolyn
This record relates to your grandfather's WW1 medals. The link is to Discovery, which is the catalogue of the UK National Archives (TNA). You could try this link, which gives you info about the Medals
Did your grandfather work at the Vickers factory in Crayford (near Dartford) in WW2? I think there were Vickers armaments factories in other parts of the country too.
Crayford town has an online archive, which might be helpful for you - https://www.crayfordhistory.org.uk/projects/vickers-crayford/online-exhibition-vickers-crayford/vickers-factory-crayford-1918-1985. I live near Crayford - Bexley Archives is the local archives.
Kind regards
Maureen
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Hi, Carolyn,
Follow these links which are about:
1) how to obtain WWII records for someone who's deceased:
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records
2) A NationalArchives.gov.uk "Guide" to researching WWII soldiers:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/second-world-war/
3) Try this link--which is for obtaining the actual "Medals" etc. document at TNA--currently "for free" if you login(!):
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3433339
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He lived in Wilmington, so I am sure that Vicars must be Vickers. I will check the online archive in Crayford too.
Thanks Maureen!
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Thanks Phil, I appreciate this information. I haven't done much research with British Military Records. What type of information would I expect to find in the records?
My Mom often told the story of her mother looking out the kitchen window while he worked in the garden shed. She was afraid that he might expode while disarming an unexploded bomb. My Mom wondered why she didn't realize that the family wasn't safe inside the house and peering out the window.
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I don't know much about these particular records as I've never had a need to order records out of WWII. They will give history of their service, but just how much more, I do not know. The NA "Guides" are your best source for finding out more about all such related records for WWII. Many of the solder's services records are held at out at the Hayes (Military) Record Center, which had a fire back in the 1960s or 1970s.
But here's one more link to the "Gallantry Medals" during WWII which may provide you with a bit more than previously shared:
As an asside,
My father told the story of how he would sometimes climb up on his London flat's roof at night-time and watch the air battles of that region, and witnessing British spotlights 'hitting' their target, and then watching the relentless barrage of anti-aircraft guns with their tracer bullets 'completing the task" with almost 100% accuracy. Talk about crazy!
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Thanks Phil for the suggestions.
I am guessing that families expereinced a lot of terror. I suspect that they were numb at times. My mother said that she and her little brother carried a gas mask to school. My grandmother told the stories of her life and stories about the war were definitely emphasized. This kind of puts our current situation into a different category, doesn't it? I was told about the nightly raids and going to the bomb shelters during the night. It must have been terrifying.
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The UK National Archives are currently closed so they are allowing free downloads. Sign up and don't delay using this source.
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