One of the tasks on my never-ending to do list, is to follow my maternal Grandfather’s time in Europe during the Second World War.

In the lead up to the D-Day 80th Celebration, I wanted to focus on where he was in the days prior to 6th June 1944.

I knew as a child he had been in Holland, as when I was about 4 he gave me a small leather pouch, which contained inside a small square coin. About 10 years ago, perhaps longer, I asked the curator at Guildford museum if he knew anything about the coin. He advised me that this was a coin that was issued during the time of the allies in France – more on that another day.

Having called for his military service record I was able to identify that he was assigned to the Royal Artillery. Following training he was shipped to Sierra Leone on 7 May 1941 where he was posted to the 16 Coastal Regiment, which was part of the West African Force. He remained in Sierra Leone until 7 November 1943. On arrival in England he was granted six weeks leave.

He was posted to 81 Field Regiment, unit 403, on 1 February 1943. On 18 July 1944 he embarked a vessel in England and disembarked on 25 July 1944. I have been able to identify where the regiment was until May 1945, which are as follows:

• June 1944 – Normandy, France
• September 1944 – Lille, France
• October 1944 – Nijmegen, Holland
• January 1945 – Eindhoven, Holland
• February 1945 – Goch, Germany
• May 1945 – River Elbe, Germany.

Sources & References

• ra39-45.co.uk
• George Butcher (I5)
  • Soldier Pay Book
  • Service Record
  • Medals
  • Tapestry which he worked on whilst in Sierra Leone.

Whilst my Grandfather did not go over to Europe in that initial push on 6 June 1944, he played his part in liberating France, Holland and Germany.