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251279 L/Cpl. William Herbert McQuitty British Army 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment In July 1939 William McQuitty was a Lance Corporal serving with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment. I know that he was married on 29th July 1939 to Irene Muncaster, my natural grandmother, in the Registry Office at Alton, near Southampton. At the time of marriage Irene was working as a waitress in the NAAFI. The name of the camp William was based at (and Irene worked) was something like Oscrey Farm Camp, Burchead.
I am aware that William was listed as a full Corporal in March 1940, when my natural mother, Kathleen was born in the South Shields area of Tyneside. I was informed by my natural grandmother, prior to her death, that William survived the war and may have served for a lengthy period. |
Additional Information: | After extensive research I now have a good deal of further information.
William Herbert McQuitty joined the British Army and became a regular soldier in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment on 14 December 1936.
The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment were part of the British 4th Infantry Brigade, which formed part of the 2nd Infantry Division.
Between March 1937 and January 1939, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment were stationed in Gibraltar.
Following the end of the Gibraltar posting in January 1939, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment returned to the UK for a period of training at Borden, near Aldershot.
The Battalion moved to Oxney Camp in Hampshire in May 1939.
On 29 July 1939 William married Irene Muncaster at the Alton Register Office, north east of Southampton.
At the time of their marriage William was shown as being aged 20 years and serving as a L/Cpl in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment, service no: 5772357.
Irene Muncaster is shown as being 18 years of age and was working as a waitress at the NAAFI, at Oxney Farm Camp, Broxhead Garrison.
One of the witnesses to the marriage was (at the time) a L/Cpl Robert H. Cropley, a colleague / friend of William’s from the Royal Norfolk Regiment.
(By then) Sgt. R.H. Cropley, was killed on 9 December 1941 as a result of some form of accident, whilst serving with the Royal Norfolk Regiment somewhere in England.
In issue no: 26 of the “The Britannia”, the Royal Norfolk Regiment, Regimental Magazine, dated October 1939, William Herbert McQuitty is mentioned as part of the M.T. (Motor Transport) Section of Headquarter’s Company, 2nd Battalion.
In “The Britannia” magazine William is congratulated on his marriage and it is described that he is awaiting the results of his trade (driving) tests.
Shortly after the outbreak of WW2 on 3 September 1939, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment, left from Southampton for France aboard the vessels “Royal Daffodil” and “Royal Sovereign”, arriving at Cherbourg on 21 September 1939
The 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment arrived on the Franco-Belgian border on 3 October 1939 and on 1 January 1940, the Battalion took up positions between the Maginot Line and the Siegfried Line.
During May 1940, William was evacuated back to Britain from Dunkirk, as part of Operation Dynamo.
After the evacuation the 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk regiment numbered just 5 officers and 134 men, from an initial compliment of over 1000.
After his return to Britain, William is shown in military records as having transferred to the RAOC 4th Training Battalion on 26.6.1941.
William is subsequently believed to have been transferred, or seconded, to REME and served with them in North Africa and Italy.
After the end of the Second World War, William left the Army but could not settle in civilian life.
He rejoined REME and served with them during the Palestine Conflict. William was awarded the General Service Medal (GSM) with Palestine clasp.
William Herbert McQuitty died in 1982 aged 64 years. His address at the time of his death is given as 40 Snugville Street, Belfast. He was buried in the Roselawn Cemetery, Belfast.
Gary Luther |
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