War Memorial to 59th at Whipps Cross

After a lot of searching, I have now found an image of the Whipps Cross memorial.

 

This includes a dedication to the 59th (The Essex Regt) HAA Regiment RA.

ID Card for Mechanical Transport Drivers

How did my dad get a driving license?

 

Did he ever take a proper driving test?

These questions came up again recently when a ww2talk forum member posted some information about a relative, who had served in the RASC company of 11th Armoured Division. He stated that;

All tradesmen no matter what their trade needed to be able to drive due to Dunkirk (2 months prior) – some of the soldiers couldn’t drive then so the vehicles had become stuck on the beach...

This set me thinking about my dad. He had once told me that all he had to do was ride a motor cycle around a field without falling off, and he was then given a license!

On 12th October 1942, dad was issued with an Identification Card for Mechanical Transport Drivers.

I don't know if this was the first or last drivers card he was issued with. The significance of October 1942 was that the Regiment was, by then, preparing for an overseas posting (...which of course turned out to be North Africa).

I suspect he continued to be allowed to drive for all the time that he was in Italy and Africa.

So the next question is; could he have used this qualification to apply for a full driving licence when back in civvy street, without the need to take a formal driving test?

Regular Driving tests were suspended on 2nd September 1939 for the duration of World War 2. Testing didn’t resume for over a year after the end of the war.. During this time, I understand that wartime provisional licences were converted to full licences without testing.

So, although I haven't been able to validate this, it seems likely that dad could have converted his wartime drivers card into a full driving licence.

A Brief History of the 59th HAA Regiment by A.S.Cross

30 years ago, Albert Cross compiled, edited and probably typed (yes, on a real mechanical typewriter) this short history.

 

I've been revisiting this document and trying to find out a bit more about Albert.

Albert played a major role in The Eagle & Gun Regimental Association.

This organisation provided a means for ex-servicemen to stay in touch, support one another when necessary, and meet up once a year to talk over old times, new times, and remember those who had passed on.

 

As Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Albert notified members of up-coming events such as Remembrance Day arrangements, Dinner dates and reunion dates. He probably also chased people for their annual subscriptions.

But for me, his most important contribution is his body of work that includes a brief history of the 59th Regiment. And he is also responsible for documenting the contributions of others; facts, opinions and wartime stories that he took the trouble to edit and type-up...thank you Albert!

For more information on Albert Cross, and to read "A Brief History" follow this link: https://sergeant-ack-ack.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

The Accidental Death of BSM Herbie Wells

As mentioned on the history page: The 59th Regiment poor Herbie lost his life in a silly training exercise.

 

I asked about BSM Herbie Wells on a forum and very quickly uncovered some information.

"Ever Your Own, Johnnie" by Nick Kemp - Britain 1938 - 42

John Kemp wrote many letters home during World War 2.

 

There's nothing unusual about that.

But so many of these letters have survived that Nick Kemp has been able to publish 3 books.

WW2 Royal Artillery website

Wouldn't it be great to be able to lookup an RA Battery number and find which Regiment it was attached to?

 

Or maybe you need to find all the Batteries associated with a Regiment.