A Tribute to 508 Field Park Company

Read about the power of google and how someone found that their nephew who was killed om this very day 60 years ago was in my royal engineers unit unit.

As we celebrate the end of ww2 sixty years on let us remember how unlucky he was to lose his life for freedom only one week before the end.

Cheers

Robin

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Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 1:40 PM
Subject: 508 Field Park Company
Robin,

Forgive my unsolicited e-mail, but I have just come across your very interesting outline of life in 508 courtesy of "Google".

I have been looking for many years now, for the part that 508 played in the NW Europe campaign, because my uncle, Trevor Giltinan was a sapper with them, employed as a carpenter and joiner.

He embarked from the UK on the 20 June 1944 for Normandy and was killed in action 60 years ago today at about 1730 hours.

I have the notification of his death from the Royal Engineers record office in Brighton, together with a letter posted to my grandmother by a Major R.G.D Vernon R.E describing his last day, where he been employed repairing bridging on the River Elbe at Lauenberg, before being killed by an anti-personel shell that burst near him.

Trevor is now buried in the British military cemetery at Soltau (Becklingen) in Germany and it is my intention to visit his grave next year.

Anyway, thank you very much for sharing your experiences with those of us still researching the details and not forgetting the sacrifices made by so many and especially for me, on this the anniversary of my uncles death.

Kind regards,

Terence Giltinan.

Congratulations, you hit the jackpot for me!

Another successful search - finding old friends is fun!

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Robin,

Congratulations, you hit the jackpot for me! I had a phone call this evening from YYYY's daughter, and she will see him tomorrow with the news, unfortunately YYYY had a stroke a couple of years ago so I hope the shock wont be too much for him, once again thanks for all your help.

Best Regards,

Yours Aye

ZZZ

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Let me help you find your old friend by visiting findanoldfriend.co.uk

Cheers

Robin

You have done a great job for me

When searching for long lost friends, especially late in life, you should always be prepared for unfortunate news. There is the positive side though when you can put closure on searches you have been making for a number of years.

Here is an email I recently received from someone I was helping find their old shipmate. I have deleted the names for their own privacy.

The email reads .....

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Things have moved on in the meantime; I telephoned XXXXX immediately on receiving your advice by telephone on 3 February and, sad to relate, my old shipmate ZZZZZ died about ten years ago and had I been able to locate him early on in my search for him we should have had a couple of years at least back together again. However, I wrote a lengthy letter to XXXXX on 22 February as a result of which I received an e-mail on 8 March from one of ZZZZZ's sons who sent his thanks for giving his mother something to think about and she is working on a project of bringing me up to date with information about ZZZZZ. In fact I received a letter only a couple of days ago from XXXXX herself saying she has been unable to write before due to several commitments and that I shall hear from her again in April. Her son sent at my request a photocopy of a photo of XXXXX taken when he was in his 70s and I replied that he looked exactly as I remembered him all those years ago.

So you have done a great job for me in finally putting me in touch with XXXXX's wife........

Thank you very much for your help.

Best wishes

YYYYY

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Don't forget I'm here to help you with your searches.

Cheers

Robin