Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Soldiers billeted at Hotel Victoria Heswall 1939

I would be interested to hear from anyone who has any information relating to soldiers of the Royal Army Service Corps who were billeted at the Hotel Victoria Heswall and also several empty houses nearby in 1939. Many of these soldiers later served in France and evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940.

Any information gratefully received.

Nick.

My Father was in the RASC, he was billeted at the tented camp at Arrowe Park in 1939, went to France attached to the 4th Inf Brigade and came home via Dunkirk, then reformed at Dumfriese then off to North Africa with the 1st Army in 1942, came home in 1946, a long time away. (I would think it was the Officers who were billeted in the hotel).

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My father was a driver in the RASC 43rd Wessex Division but post 1940 (not up here) and landed at Normandy around day 12. I got his units war records from the National Archives. Think it cost me about £15 but was interesting to follow day to day movements through France and up into Holland. Would think they would have records for RASC up here

Many thanks for your replies.

I am pretty sure that the Hotel Victoria Heswall was for officers only.

My father was a pre-war territorial in the R.A.S.C. and on the outbreak of war was sent to Bulford Camp, Wilts and after a couple weeks came up to Heswall. He was billeted in a nearby house in Telegraph Road for three months and then proceeded to Tidworth Camp. In April 1940 he went to Southampton and embarked for France and returned to the UK wounded on May 27th,
1940. I have a group photo of him and his comrades entitled 'Heavy Armour Brigade Coy Supply Echelon 2 R.A.S.C. (T.A.) Bulford Camp, 1939'

Nick.

The following might be a good place to find out something ....

" ROYAL Army Service Corps and the Royal Corps of Transport Association Birkenhead branch hold their monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at the TA Centre in Wexford Road, Birkenhead.

Meetings start at 7.45pm. All ex members of the RASC or RCT regular service or TA service are welcome. "

This might be some help. On page one, Bert1 says that the Black Horse Pub, Heswall had it's name changed at one point to the Heswall Hotel, and then back again. There are various bit's that are irrelevant but it does get to the correct info eventually. Don't forget to open the links.
https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/892558/1.html

The last post on the page 2 which I haven't seen before now, is an amazing amount of info about the particular people that were being researched.