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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
| Date |
Action |
| 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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