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Norman F Astell - Military Service

Ministry of Defence
Defence Records 2b
Bourne Avenue
Hayes
Middlesex
UB3 1RF

Date: 1st December 2000

Dear Mr Astell,

In reply to your recent letter, our records show the following particulars of the military service of

Major Norman Francis ASTELL (P/172179)
Green Howards

15. 02. 41

Appointed to an Emergency Commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Green Howards

21. 02. 41

Joined for duty and posted to Infantry Training Centre, Richmond, Yorkshire

25. 02. 41

Posted to 11th Battalion

15. 11. 41

Posted to 9 Corps Junior Leaders School, Leybourn as Instructor

15. 11. 41

Appointed Acting Captain

15. 02. 42

Promoted Lieutenant and appointed Temporary Captain

27. 04. 42

Attached to 9 Corps Battle School as Instructor

31. 08. 42

Posted to 11th Battalion, Callaly

09. 09. 42

Relinquished the appointment of Temporary Captain

09. 10. 42

Attached to 1/5th Battalion - West Yorkshire Regiment

26. 10. 42

Embarked at Glasgow

06. 12. 42

Disembarked at Durban, South Africa and posted to Transit Camp

19. 12. 42

Embarked at Durban

31. 12. 42

Disembarked Middle East

31. 12. 42

Posted to No 1 Infantry Training Depot, Egypt

08. 04. 43

Posted to No 1 Infantry Training Depot and Battle School as Rifle Wing Instructor

08. 04. 43

Appointed Temporary Captain

14. 04. 43 to 21. 04. 43

Attached to Mountain Warfare Training Centre

15. 07. 43 to 22. 07. 43

Granted leave

19. 09. 43

Relinquished the appointment of Instructor

19. 09. 43

Posted to No 6 General HQ Training Team

19. 09. 43

Appointed General Staff Officer III

02. 12. 43

Posted to HQ Raiding Support Regiment

02. 12. 43

Relinquished the appointment of General Staff Officer III

03. 12. 43

Appointed Acting Major

03. 03. 44

Promoted Captain and appointed Temporary Major

16. 09. 44

Embarked Middle East with the Raiding Support Regiment

17. 09. 44

Disembarked Allied Army Italy

17. 09. 44

Entitled to Parachute Pay

24. 12. 44

Died of Wounds (Greece)

Medals

1939/45 Star
Africa Star
Italy Star
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939/45

Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 22nd February 1945).

May I explain that you may be able to obtain further information from the Commander's War Diaries, which if still in existence should be held at the Public Record Office (PRO), Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Surrey.

It must be noted that the PRO do not carry out searches on behalf of members of the Public. You need to visit in person or alternatively you could employ a professional researcher. Details are available from the Search Dept at Kew.

Additional details taken from the record:

Date of birth recorded as 4th July 1913.
Birthplace: Walthamstow.
He attended Sir Anthony Browne's School, Brentwood and Winchester Training College, Hampshire.
He married Mary (maiden name not recorded) on 7th September 1939.
Address in 1941: "Beaulah", Glebe Road, Ramsden Bellhouse, Billericay, Essex.

I hope this information is of interest to you.

Yours sincerely,


for Departmental Record Officer.


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