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#1
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Commando Signals
Could anyone help me with my search for further information on Alex Austen who served in Commando Signals during WWII.
I believe he was a regular soldier who served in the Royal Signals before the second world war and ended up post war as an officer. Thanks in advance. Rob |
#2
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There was an acting WOII AJT Austen, RA, No. 4 Cdo.......
You won't have any more detail or youd've mentioned it, there are a few "A Austen's" to check ...... |
#3
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There are 9 Alexander Austins whose births were registered in England and Wales between 1910 and 1920. One with the second initial F, one with M and two with the second initial G. None of these with second forenames appear in the 1945 Army List.
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#4
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Births Sept 1918 Austin. Albert J T Mother's maiden name: Harris. District Milton 2a 1513 S
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#5
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#6
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Commando Signals
Many thanks chaps for your information, I will dig further . . !
Rob |
#7
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I've just had a quick look at one entry on that Commando Veterans Forum link - could be your man?
AUSTEN, Alexander Fred Primary tabs View(active tab) What links here Known as: Bunny Rank: Company Quartermaster Sergeant (later Hon. Lt Col. ) Unit/Base: Special Service Brigade & Signals Troops Regiment/Corps: Royal Corps of Signals Service: Army Service number: 2320292 & 360980 Honours & Awards: Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) British Empire Medal (BEM) Company Quartermaster Sergeant Alexander Austen, 1st Special Service Brigade Signal Troop, was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of his exemplary service [1]. Recommendation including Record of Service 1929 enlisted in the Royal Corps of Signals. 1941/42 at Special Training Centre Lochailort on operational and instructional work. Promoted CQMS [2]. "July 1943 joined 1st Special Service Brigade Signal Troop since which he has been in charge of all technical and other equipment. Such operational success that this Troop has enjoyed has been largely due to the efficient and painstaking manner in which he has organised the equipment of this Unit [2]" "The complete equipping of the raid parties of 'Hardtack', 'Manacle', and 'Tarbrush', with Signal Stores and tested Signal Operations equipment, was almost entrirely due to the efforts of this excellent WO11." [written by Major General R.G. Sturgess] [endorsed by Maj. Gen. Laycock, Chief of Combined Operations] [2]. 12 January 1946 commissioned Second Lieutenant (Royal Army Ordnance Corps) [3]. 19 July 1947 promoted Captain (R.A.O.C.) [4]. 24 November 1948 promoted Major (R.A.O.C.) [5]. 4 April 1952 appointed M.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya during the period from 1st July to 31st December, 1951 [6]. 20 November 1961 retired and granted honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel (R.A.O.C.) [7]. Sources [1] London Gazette Supp. 36866, page 35. [2] National Archives file WO373/157/85. [3] London Gazette Supp. 37467, page 957. [4] London Gazette Supp. 38051, page 3936. [5] London Gazette Supp. 38618, page 2552. [6] London Gazette Supp. 39507, page 1879. [7] London Gazette Supp. 42517, page 8439. Archive pages : Commando Training Brigade Signals Malaysia and Brunei |
#8
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Maybe not the same man as the above post as the second entry here gives date of seniority as 1942:
UK Army List 1952: First Name: A.F. Surname: Austen Nationality: British Information: Directing Staff, Rank: Major Service: British Army Regiment: Royal Army Ordnance Corps Seniority Date: 24/11/1948 UK Army List 1947: First Name: A F Surname: Austen Nationality: British Information: Directing Staff Rank: Captain Service: British Army Regiment: Royal Army Ordnance Corps Seniority Date: 20/11/1942 Last edited by leigh kitchen; 02-07-19 at 11:13 AM. |
#9
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Note named spelling in this entry ("Auston").
British Empire Medal First Name: Alexander Fred Initials: A Surname: Auston Nationality: British Rank: Company Quartermaster Sergeant Service Number: 2320292 Award Details: Honours List Gazette Date: 01/01/1945 Gazette Page: 35 Service: British Army Regiment: Royal Corps Of Signals Service: Army London Gazette. |
#10
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Excellent research. That would be the Alexander F Austin, born 1910 in Camberwell and who died in 1974 in Southwark.
His not being commissioned until 1946 explains his omission from the 1945 Army List. |
#11
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These seniority dates are confusing me - and I'm wondering if the Military Medal here is a typo for BEM.
Army List 1947: First Name: A F Surname: Austen Nationality: British Information: Directing Staff Rank: Lieutenant Rank (2nd): Temp Capt Service: British Army Regiment: Royal Army Ordnance Corps Seniority Date: 20/11/1936 Military Medal. |
#12
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Entry re. GSM (Malaya?)
First Name: Alexander Fred Initials: A Surname: Austen Nationality: British Date of Action: 01/07/1951 - 31/12/1951 Rank: Major Rank (2nd): Acting Lieutenant Colonel Service Number: 360980 Gazette Info: 39507-2-04-04-52 Service: British Army Regiment: Royal Army Ordnance Corps Collection: General Service Medal 1918 (covers 1918-1962) Gallantry Awards: Mbe British Empire Medal |
#13
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LSGC:
First Name: A F Surname: Austen Incident Date: 1948 Information: Authority: London Gazette 09/03/1948. More Information: Issue Voucher No: B.499. 25/05/1948. Rank: Captain Service Number: P/360980 Service: British Army Primary Unit: Royal Army Ordnance Corps Archive Reference: WO102/28 Collection: Long Service Good Conduct Medal Roll 1901-53 Gallantry Awards: British Empire Medal |
#14
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I hope this info. is about the right man, otherwise I'm spreading confusion nicely.
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#15
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Just opened another link on The Commando Veteran's Association site - a Sgt A "Bunny" Austin (note Austin not Austen) features in this IWM post Dieppe raid image:
http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/...tSettings%5D=1 Further mention is made re. "Austin" and of an "AB Austen" being a War Correspondent. Title: British Commandos and US Rangers after Dieppe Summary: Photo © IWM (H 22580) Description: Update from Pete R. 24/5/10 : This photo which is well publicised is also in the book by Will Fowler called The Commandos at Dieppe. I have seen it referred to as being US Ranger Sgt Alex Szima accepting a light for his cigarette apparently from a Sgt A. "Bunny" Austin. The tall man behind is Cpl William Brady. Also in the photo but partially hidden is Staff Sgt Kenneth Stempson. Alex Szima died on 13th September 2006. Certainly Szima who was from Florida , Brady who was from Texas, and Stempson from Minnesota, were all in the 1st Battallion of the US Rangers with No.4 Commando at Dieppe. However the A. Austin is not mentioned on the US Rangers website. In the book The Fighting Fourth by James Dunning he refers to A.B. Austen as "a War Correspondent who had landed with us and was in the beachhead on Orange One". Update 3/11/11 by Pete R. Photo © IWM (H 22580) reproduced here under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. The IWM desc of the photo is "An American soldier receives a light for his cigarette from a compatriot at Newhaven on his return from Dieppe. This was the first time that American troops had seen action in Europe during the Second World War." Owner: Geoff Murray Last edited by leigh kitchen; 02-07-19 at 12:28 PM. |
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