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Looking for more information on my Grandfather who served from 39-45..

Ralph Wesley Grace
Enlisted with the Royal Montreal Regiment September 29, 1939.
Departed Canada December 6, 1939 (Assuming from Halifax)

I know there were five ships that sailed as part of the first convoy destined to Britain.
Aquitania
Duchess of Bedford
Empress of Britain
Empress of Australia
Monarch of Bermuda

I would also like to find out which ship he may have been on, and whether or not a list of soldiers who sailed on which ships might be available.

Mostly looking for pictures associated with his time in various places. For me, it's like being introduced to him for the first time..

Mike

Hi,

In my opinion, the first step is to apply for your Grandfather's service records. Details about the process and records available online are here: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/transparen ... files.aspx

These records will confirm details of your Grandfather's unit with in the RCASC, which will provide more details on where to look.

Other members may have access to the embarkation logs for the vessels mentioned, but the service records are always the best place to start.

Hello, BFBSM

I have his service records here, details are vague though. I guess I get lost from the point of his original Regiment, and his other postings throughout his time in the U.K.
I did see one mention of North Africa, but nothing more than that.
Transferred to No. 1 Convalescent Depot March 23, 1941.
Transferred to No. 1 Transport Company RCASC June 25, 1941.
I'm sure there were other postings, but I can't be sure where.

His service/Regimental # D76535

LostGrace wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:18 pm

Looking for more information on my Grandfather who served from 39-45..

Ralph Wesley Grace
Enlisted with the Royal Montreal Regiment September 29, 1939.
Departed Canada December 6, 1939 (Assuming from Halifax)

I know there were five ships that sailed as part of the first convoy destined to Britain.
Aquitania
Duchess of Bedford
Empress of Britain
Empress of Australia
Monarch of Bermuda

I would also like to find out which ship he may have been on, and whether or not a list of soldiers who sailed on which ships might be available.

Mostly looking for pictures associated with his time in various places. For me, it's like being introduced to him for the first time..

Mike

Give me a minute Mike to do some quick research. I may be able to help you with this

Found the correct Convoy, As you can see it was Convoy TC. 1.
Depart Halifax on 10 December 1939.
Arrive Clyde on 17 December 1939.
I’ll see if I can find the Convoy records now

Mike, I haven’t found the correct Convoy records yet to see if I can find the Nominal Roll. Still looking. I’ve got back to July 1940, but can’t find the 1939 records yet.

Mike, just so you know I haven’t forgotten you........still searching for info.

So far, I haven’t been able to determine were the Convoy records are......BUT......I have been working thru the “train schedules” that transferred the troops from locations in Canada to Halifax for departure. The issue with these records is its very hard to tell “which unit” was on each train, as the Unit names were NOT give.......BUT (yes lots of buts)

I have found some records that tell me that “a battalion (MG)” was shipped on the proper dates, arrival in Halifax near the appropriate time.

I won’t post these yet (I’m making copies of the records that seem correct).....until I’m able to either:

A) confirm I’ve found the right unit, or
B) this is my “best guess” that I have found the RMR(MG)

Also, the records tell me which ship the unit was assigned to by “ship code” (each ship is given a code, rather than use it’s name).......so hopefully if I AM able to determine I’ve found the RMR(MG)........I could then know WHICH SHIP they were assigned to......OR SHIPS, sometimes units were placed on “two ships” in case of one being “lost” while sailing to England

So, that’s the story so far......it does take time, as the files I”m looking thru do NOT have a search engine, so I have to go page by page......and the file has 5000 plus pages.........the good news is I”m in the right “date area” in the files and just searching page by page now.

Hopefully I’ll have more news shortly

Cheers

UPDATE.......MIke, just so you can see where I am searching.......below is a “appendix A” that lists all the train numbers, dates, points of departures, points of arrivals

In RED, I’ve mark the “file” where these train records are kept.....the file we need is 61-206.....WHICH I HAVE FOUND

Next, in BLUE, is the location “Montreal”......which I am “assuming” the RMR(MG) would have boarded the trains.....I’m guessing, as I do NOT have the War Diaries of the RMR so I don’t know where they may have been prior to going to Halifax.........And as you can see they were on Train Numbers 4 & 5.....and the UNIT SERIAL is 44........so that’s what I’m look for now......these records in the 5000 page microfiche files.......I’m getting close, but not their yet

I do appreciate your effort on this, Temujin. Thank you.

So I guess the date of 6 December, 1939 in my original post would coincide with their departure from Montreal, not Halifax.

Hey Mike.......found the records......I was able to confirm that the Royal Montreal Regiment (MG) was indeed on Trains 4 and 5 from Montreal. Also, the ship they were assigned to was E6

What I have to do now, is try and determine WHICH of the ships in Convoy TC.1 was assigned the number E6....that’s my next search

Below are the records for both Trains 4 and 5.......and in a couple of the records they TELL US that Serial 44 was the RMR(MG)