Military Chat

Hi, I am trying to find what part of the forces my Grandad was in. I know he was stationed in Malta in 1941 as we have photos in his uniform, sadly I can’t attach a photo. He was in a desert somewhere too. Can anyone help or give me some pointers. Thanks
:-D

If you can scan the photo and save it to your "Keepsafe" you can then make the image public and you can post a link to the page then someone might be able to help.

Kath. x

https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/_resources/keepsafe/thumb.ashx?id=59016086&at=1&mk=11288826&ok=11288826&c=False&ff=False&pl=1&w=640&h=640&q=70&as=0&rk=&d=//www.genesreunited.co.uk/_resources/images/keepsafe/notavailable_640x640.jpg&ex=81AEEDAD0933E88FC49B2F11AF5213C8

https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/2544842

28 July 1942
1715-1747 hrs Air raid alert. Three JU88s escorted by twelve ME109s drop
bombs on Hal Far and Bubaqra, and near Luqa. Heavy Ack Ack engage and
Malta fighters destroy all three bombers and one ME 109. One JU 88 crashes
onto Wolseley Camp of 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt, damaging vehicles and
equipment.

https://maltagc70.wordpress.com/category/1942/july-1942/


And other mentions of both Wolseley Camp and 1st Dorsetshire on this link - re April 1942.
https://tinyurl.com/yc6x9a7b

Re 1st Battalion Dorsetshire:


https://tinyurl.com/y8h6kg2z

The 1st Battalion The Dorsetshire Regiment in World War Two

The outbreak of war found the Dorsets garrisoning Malta, a sleepy colonial
backwater in the Central Mediterranean. In June 1940 Mussolini’s declaration of
war hurled Malta to the forefront of world events. The island’s position below
Sicily and above Italian Libya and British Egypt made her strategically vital
in both the campaign in North Africa and the war in the Mediterranean.
The Italians (and later the Germans) tried to bomb and starve surrounded Malta into surrender.
The siege lasted three years, during which the 1st Dorsets defended the coast,
repaired bomb damage, mended roads and runways, manned anti-aircraft guns
and prepared for an invasion that happily never came.
Thirty-three were killed while all faced hardship, hunger, danger and deprivation.

[and more on that link]


But maybe they weren't in Wolseley Camp in 1941, or maybe other regiments/battalions were there too.

I don't suppose you know his service number?

If you do, you can apply for a copy of his army records:

https://tinyurl.com/gph5frz

It costs £30, and they can take months to arrive.

???? (Obviously there was more than one J Lythgoe in WW2 !)

J . Lythgoe
in the UK, British Army Lists, 1882-1962
Name: J . Lythgoe
Military Year: 1941
Regiment: Royal Regiment of Artillery
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant




The RA were in Malta, but I don't know which camp:

http://maltaramc.com/regmltgar/royalart.html

More re Dorsetshire Regt , at Wolseley 1941 (if relevant) -

OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 1 JANUARY 1941

LUQA 431 Flight: 1 Maryland reconnaissance Tripoli; 1 Maryland reconnaissance
Taranto prevented by bad weather; 1 Maryland reconnaissance Pantelleria
prevented by engine trouble. 148 Squadron: 10 Wellingtons bombing raid Tripoli,
Spanish Wharf: 2 large merchant vessels hit.

1st Bn DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT B Company completed their move from
Rinella Sector to Zeitun School and are now in Battalion Reserve. Two Companies
2nd Bn Royal West Kent took over Rinella Sector. Carrier Platoon moved from
Luqa to Wolseley Camp.

https://tinyurl.com/y9rpgj3k

Brilliant, thank you ????

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk

Searching the above for J Lythgoe, WW2, produces these results.

(Some people don't think much of that website - I don't know if justified or not.)

First Name Surname Service Number Rank Record Year Unit
J Lythgoe 2nd Lieutenant 1941 Royal Regiment Of Artillery
J Lythgoe 2nd Lieutenant 1941 Oxfordshire And Buckinghamshire...
J Lythgoe 1496924 Gunner 1940 Royal Artillery
J Lythgoe 2nd Lieutenant 1943 Royal Artillery
J Lythgoe 1950644 Driver In Charge 1945 Royal Engineers

Possibly this one? - I note the Father of your Joseph was also Joseph. This one was later transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1944.

First name(s) Joseph (Jnr.)
Last name Lythgoe
Age -
Birth year -
Birth place -
Attestation year 1940
Service number 1734792
Former service number -
Record set Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942
Category Military, armed forces & conflict

Thanks for this information. It is hard to know which one might be him.
He was defo in the Royal Artillery as the uniform matches ones that I have compared on line. I also have photos of him with other men on the large guns in Malta.