George Frederick Arthur Barfoot 14266271

[Chris Walker]

Hello,
Please can you help me trace the path my Grandad took during WW11. I’ve been meaning to do this for a few years now & am very keen to re-trace his steps when we go to Italy (hopefully) later in the year. I have his ‘soldiers service & pay book’ plus his ‘Class A Soldiers release book’. It is very difficult to make out what is written in parts of the Service book.

He spoke very little about the war except for two stories, which both happened in Italy. His rank is listed as W/CPL of the unit 638, L of C, W/S REME. He was a driver (recovery) & vehicle Mechanic and the picture is him with others recovering, what I think maybe a Panther tank.

I have tried to get his records but the Army Personnel Centre Office is shut because of the Corona Virus.

I also think he was attached to the 8th Army as I have some further information, including a letter from his best mate who he was serving with, plus an invitation & Menus for the Eighth Army Old Comrades Association in Portsmouth (where he was from & lived all his life) from 1972 – 1976. He was awarded the Italy Star on 4th March 1946, 50 years to the day before my daughter was born.

I would be grateful if anybody can give me some help in tracing his movements or point me in a direction of where I can find out any information. As a side I found out at his funeral that he was the only NCO to have had R & R from a shrapnel wound to his face to stay at Gracie Fields home in Capri. The shrapnel remained with him for the rest of his life.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this.

Chris

[Frank de Planta]

Chris.

Whilst you wait for APC Glasgow to re-open, May I suggest that you go to http://www.ww2talk.com, register and start a thread with the information that yo7 have. Photos of the various pages of his Service Book would be good.

The many geeks on the site may well be able to shed some light whilst you wait for his Service Record.

When you eventually get his Service Record, get in touch with me through my website at http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk and I will happily help you interpret what it says.

Once the Service Record confirms what unit he was in, go back to http://www.ww2talk an£ look up a member called Gary Tankard. He will get the unit’s War Diary for you from the National Archives for £0.10 a page. He simply sends you a CD with it all on.

Regards

Frank

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