241897 Pte. Ronald Ernest Shobbrook MID.British Army 6th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment from:108 Old Fosse Rd, Odd Down, Bath On 18 April 1940 Ronald Shobbrook was aged 24 when he enlisted in the Territorial Army at Taunton for the duration of the Emergency under the terms of National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939. He was posted to The Somerset Light Infantry (P.A.) with the service number 5677918. Ronald's home address was 108 Old Fosse Rd, Odd Down, Bath and he was a British subject, with British parents. His date of birth was 30th September 1915. Ronald was single and had never served in the armed services or the OTC. He was insured under the National Health Insurance Act by the Bath branch of the National Health Society.
He signed the AF B200d which was witnessed by 2/Lt M S H Suter and gave his next of kin as his father Ernest Shobbrook of 43 Curzon St, Calne.
Ronald's height was 5ft 8ins and he weighed 148 lbs. He had blue eyes and fair hair and his chest, fully expanded, was 37 ins with a 3 ins expansion range. His religious denomination was C. of E. He had no distinguishing marks. Ronald's medical condition on enlistment was grade A1. He was a shop assistant. Ronald served at home until 14th October 1942 (AF B200d) and he had a dental examination the same day (AF I 5033).
- 21 May 1940 - He had a dental examination in Taunton (AF I 5033).
- 26 June 1940 - He was transferred to the Royal West Kent Regiment where he was posted to the 6th Bn as a Private (AF B200d).
- 16 January 1941 - He was granted 8 days leave (AF B103).
- 18 April 1941 - He was granted 8 days leave (AF B103).
- 30 June 1941 - He had a dental examination in Haverfordwest (AF I 5033).
- 14 October 1941 - He was granted 9 days leave (AF B103).
- 15 January 1942 - He was granted 9 days leave (AF B103).
- 15 October 1942 - He embarked (for North Africa) (AF B103).
- 15 October 1942 to 23 January 1946 - He served in North Africa (AF B200d) (NB This entry did not mention his service in Sicily, Italy and Austria).
- 8 November 1942 - He disembarked in North Africa and entered the theatre of operations (AF B103). (NB This was the first day of Operation Torch - the allied invasion of NW Africa).
- November 1942 - The 78th Division, of which his unit formed part, moved swiftly east towards Tunis. They distinguished themselves by holding the crossroads at Djebel Aboid for four days against an armoured column. After this successful defence, the advance continued only to be halted on November 30th at Green Hill (Djebel Azzag), where the 6th lost 11 officers and 150 other ranks in a heroic attack.
- 30 November 1942 - He was wounded in action - a gunshot wound in the right arm (AF B200d) in North Africa (AF W3040).
- 1 December 1942 - He was admitted to 8 Casualty Clearing Station and posted to X(ii) list (AF B103).
- 5 December 1942 - He was transferred to the ambulance train (AF B103).
- 7 December 1942 - He was transferred to 94 General Hospital (AF B103).
- 12 December 1942 - He was transferred to 95 General Hospital (AF B103). (NB This hospital was housed in a French school in Algiers).
- 21 December 1942 - His father was advised of his being wounded by telegram (AF W3040).
- 27 December 1942 - He was discharged from 95 General Hospital (AF B103).
- 28 December 1942 - He was transferred to 1 I.B.D. (Probably 1st Infantry Brigade which consisted of the 3rd Grenadier Guards and the 2nd Coldstream Guards) (AF B103).
3 February 1943 - He was transferred to 18 Army Group HQ and the X(I) list (AF B103).
- 21 May 1943 - He was posted to the British Military Training Directorate (AF B103).
- 18 April 1943 - He was classified Scale D, Class 1 (A) (AF B103).
- 21 September 1943 - He was Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services in North Africa (page 4228 of The Supplement to the London Gazette).
- 11 January 1944 - He was appointed U/L/Cpl (AF B103).
- 23 June 1944 - His will was received and filed by his unit (AF B200d).
- 21 July 1944 - Act (?) CRS 57 Ane To X (2) (AF B103).
- 30 July 1944 - Ais (?) CRS Directorate of Military Training & X (1) list (AF B103).
- 24 January 1945 - He relinquished the (temporary) rank of lance corporal and was regraded as class 1 (A) when he joined 5 Bn J (?) RTD (AF B103).
- 1 April 1945 - He refused T.A.B. and T.T.S. inoculations (AF B200d).
7 April 1945 - He was transferred (back) to 6 Bn RWK (AF B103).
- 23 May 1945 - He was despatched to 202 Transit Camp (LIAP II) (AF B103).
- 25 May 1945 - He joined 3 Transit Camp. (AF B103).
- 30 May 1945 - He embarked at Naples for the UK (AF B103).
- 10 June 1945 to 15 July 1945 - He was granted leave to UK (AF B200d).
- 24 July 1945 - He disembarked (AF B103).
- 30 July 1945 - He rejoined 6/RWK (AF B103).
- 7 December 1945 - He had a medical examination. In the report, which he signed, he stated that his war service had included 30 months in England, 12 months in Algeria/Tunisia, 1 month in Sicily, 18 months in Italy and 7 months in Austria and that he had received a gunshot wound in his left arm during 1941 in North Africa (AF W3149).
- 12 December 1945 - His notification of impending release form was signed in Hermagor, Austria by Comd. 6 R.W.K. His military conduct was exemplary. His testimonial read: Pte Shobbrook joined the Battalion 5 years ago & he has taken part in the fighting in N. Africa and Italy; in action he was courageous & at his best in difficult circumstances. He is an efficient & energetic worker and has potentialities as a leader, because his colleagues have a high respect for his abilities & his character. He is loyal, trustworthy & his departure will be a severe loss to the unit
- 18 January 1946 - He was posted to the Assembly Centre at Villach (Austria) (AF B103).
- 19 January 1946 - He was granted Class A release (AF B103).
- 20 January 1946 - He entrained at Villach for the UK (AF B103).
- 23 January 1946 - He disembarked in the UK. His permanent address was shown as 4 Stepney Terrace, Haverfordwest, when he arrived at the Military Disembarkation Camp at Aldershot. He was aged 25 (notification of impending release form).
- 24 January 1946 - He was posted to Y list - Class A release (AF B103).
- 24 January 1946 to 29 April 1946 - He served at home (AF B200d).
- 25 January 1946 - He proceeded on terminal leave (AF B200d).
- 30 April 1946 - He was released to Class Z(T) Reserve (Class A Release) (AF A3091 (Stout) and (AF B103).
He was awarded various campaign medals: - 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Africa Star and Clasp 1st Army, War Medal 1939/45 and the Defence Medal (AF B200d).
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