Thomas Donaldson

[antheakn]

I am looking for info on Sergeant Thomas Donaldson Army number C40252. I believe him to be a relative. He was a canadian soldier based in or near Stockton Upon Tees, County Durham, UK in 1943. He was discharged in 1945 and was from Kingston, Ontario. We believe he was 35yrs old then.

Any info greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Welcome to MLU!!! WHAT do we call you? (your name???)

Good luck with your search and I hope someone in here can help you out!



Karmen aka Ma Yappy and other names

[antheakn]

Hi

I do to hope I can find some info. My name is Anthea

Originally posted by antheakn
Hi

I do to hope I can find some info. My name is Anthea

Hi Anthea ... thanks a lot so we know what to call you

This place, the members, are awesome and people often get lucky in finding out something, from a little to a lot, or at least get pointed to where they can find out more information about their "relatives".

THAT relatives info search is what brought me to MLU, a search about an Uncle. Got to like the people and the place, got hooked, and am still here 5 years later, come March I think.

Again, I wish you the best of success here.

Karmen

[PPS]

Anthea,

Hello and welcome to MLU.

As with Karmen I originally came onto the Forums seeking information for a friend of mine, liked what I saw and keep coming back.

In finding info on Thomas, I am sure that someone will do their best to help you out, but as a start may I ask for more details on Thomas if you have any ideas.

Do you have any idea who he served with (unit, Corps, Regiment, etc)?

Do you have any idea where he may may have served?

A couple of places to try, if you have not done so already:-

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/...neralfaq#obtain

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/g...909.007-e.html

It may be difficult to obtain records from them if you are not a relative (Othere here will clarify the point)

http://www.legion.ca/

The Canadian Legion may be able to help you in your quest.

http://www.legionmagazine.com/

The Canadian Legion Magazine does provide a lost comrades service, as does the magazine for the Royal British Legion.

I hope this is of some use to you, and I am sure that others more expert than I will try and help.

Paul.

[PPS]

This is only supposition, but it is possible that he did not serve with Armoured Regiments.

This is taken from the details on a map I found for another thread on this Forum which you will find here:-

http://www.firsthussars.ca/photos/ma...at-Britain.jpg

Paul.

[antheakn]

He served in Uk near or in stocjton upon tees, county durham. Thanks for the help so far.

[antheakn]

having thought he was in te army perhaps I am wrong. On his marraige certificate it has his number and RCAS, this stands for the air force doesnt it. I am confused because we had a letter from the high commission London and I am sure it said Army

[antheakn]

his nunumber C40252 does anyone know if this represents army or air force

[PPS]

RCAF would be the Air Force.

Are you sure it is RCAS? If you are able, scan the details of the certificate and post it here. Some script can be hard to decipher and someone else may see what it is.

Looking at an index of Canadian Regiments etc., it is just possible that he was in the RCASC. There again, it could be that he was in the Armoured Corps and the last letter was missed or has faded or been obliterated. But this is only my thoughts.

As for regimental numbers, I am sure there was a thread somewhere on here that gave some info on that; I believe that the initial letter stood for the area where enlistment took place, but I could be wrong.

Paul.

Found this thread with letters prefixing regimental numbers ... apparently "C" represents MD3 (Military District Three if I interpretted this correctly? Not sure if I did so verify with others who know for sure. Military district 3, I assume, is Ontario if your "relative" was from there at the time of enlisting, but that must be verified by someone who knows the numbers etc. I don't have a copy of Clive's book to do a lookup for you, otherwise I would, just to verify or not

Regimental Numbers

The same thread mentions Clive Law Service Publications who has published a book about service numbers!!!

Law, Clive M. Regimental Numbers of the Canadian Army, 1936-1960 (Compiled & Edited by Clive Law, Service Publications, Ottawa, ISBN 1894581024).
Retrieved from "http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/mediawiki-1.5.5/index.php?title=Regimental_Number"

[PPS]

Thanks Karmen,

I knew somebody would have a better idea than I did.

Paul

[PPS]

The site below gives a bit clearer understanding of Military Districts.


http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/orga.../districts.htm

Scroll down to reach the WW2 listings, it also gives a brakdown of the Brigades in each area. This leads me to a change of mind regarding Thomas due to the listing in MD3.

Could he possibly have been a Gunner - there are 3 Artillery Brigades listed in the District for that period. Add to that, Stockton was not that far from the Ranges at Warcop, about 50 miles/80km. It was also relatively close to a number of railheads and the docks on the Tees and Tyne.

Paul.

Originally posted by PPS
Thanks Karmen,

I knew somebody would have a better idea than I did.

Paul

Hi Paul .... I just "searched" MLU for "regimental numbers" and found that thread amongst others ... will search same terms again and see what other threads pop up. Smart cookie is Ma, huh?

Originally posted by PPS
The site below gives a bit clearer understanding of Military Districts.


http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/orga.../districts.htm

Paul.

COOL! Down the page you linked to, is Sept. 1, 1939 military disricts and military district "3" (MD3) lists all the elistment (?) locations in it ... and main headquarters as KINGSTON, Ontario ... so we're on the right track

Originally posted by Vets Dottir 2nd
Regimental Numbers

Okay ... whose messin' with me links? ... I'm hoping this means when I go straight to visit my post asking how to do this that I will find someone told me in it

[PPS]

Of course you are cool Karmen

(I know when to try and avoid )

Paul.

P.S. I edited one of my posts, by the time I had it done, you were back on again.

Originally posted by PPS
Of course you are cool Karmen

(I know when to try and avoid )

Paul.

P.S. I edited one of my posts, by the time I had it done, you were back on again.

Are you telling me that YOU are the sneaky culprit messin with me link, me boy? ......... if so, thank you ....

Now --- can you (anyone?) tell me how to do that too so I know how? You can tell me in the thread I posted about this in my post in TAC HQ or by PM if you're into helping me? Thanks ... Ma

Originally posted by antheakn
He was discharged in 1945 and was from Kingston, Ontario. We believe he was 35yrs old then.

Any info greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Hi Anthea ... have been thinking about your Sargent Thomas Donaldson's age if he were born about 1910 (if aged 35 in 1945) then he'd be about 98 if still living. If not, and he stayed around Kingston area, then there must be an obituary somewhere, possibly family with the surname, and more research needed to narrow down search to years/place etc.

1) I think that if Thomas has been deceased more than 20 years that anyone can order his service records files from the National Archives of Canada, which means YOU should be able to order them if you want to, they will cost about 40 cents per photocopied page. IS this something you'd like to check into right now, or keep the option for future reference? I'll find the info and post for you about how to order records from the archives. Sound like you might want to find out more info first though before you spring for records if you aren't yet sure of relatedness?

2) Maybe someone in here has a book that just happens to have names of enlisted people in the RCASC and can do a lookup if his name is on the list, for you, which would verify he was with them.

Oh ... I just did a search for his name in the Legion Magazine onlines LAST POST and none of the names were him. It only goes back so many years though, but I thought it worth a shot http://www.legionmagazine.com/lastpo...Name=Donaldson


All for now.

Originally posted by antheakn
having thought he was in te army perhaps I am wrong. On his marraige certificate it has his number and RCAS, this stands for the air force doesnt it. I am confused because we had a letter from the high commission London and I am sure it said Army

I was thinking that if you have his marriage certificate then you also must have his full name, birth date, and birth place on it as well. ANY info on the certificate a great clue and narrows the search as it's easier to eliminate any "Thomas Donaldson" who is not the correct gentleman, but regards cross reference him with the regimental number it's a given you've found him when you do.

That suggestion from Paul sounds promising, about the Legion Magazine and Lost Comrades Service. Sounds like a place to make queries that might pay off?

If you don't mind me asking before I inundate you with more search ideas (I should have asked this part first ... sorry ) Are you mainly wanting to find out about his military service, or do you hope for more personal history background on him so as to verify relatedness etc? ( sounds very much to me like you are hoping for more personal history and verification of relatedness etc )

[PPS]

Karmen,

The English marriage certificate would only give his age at marriage, place of residence at time of marriage, and occupation unfortunately. It could also show his father's name and occupation

Only his birth certificate would possibly show birth date, place, and full name. I don't know what details various Canadian certificates give. Could you possibly me please, as it could help in other research I am trying to do.

Paul.

Originally posted by PPS
Karmen,

The English marriage certificate would only give his age at marriage, place of residence at time of marriage, and occupation unfortunately. It could also show his father's name and occupation

Only his birth certificate would possibly show birth date, place, and full name. I don't know what details various Canadian certificates give. Could you possibly me please, as it could help in other research I am trying to do.

Paul.

Sorry to disappoint, I have NO idea what info is on a Canadian marriage licence as I've never been married or seen one - almost married, age 16 to a 26 yr old after being engaged for some time ... I panicked and cencelled 3 days before the wedding so never got to see those darned papers ............ ... many married folks in here can tell us what info on the forms ... I hope they will

[antheakn]

hi

I havent actually seen the certificate but my dad says it just says his age 35yrs old and the address given was 418 albert street kingston ontario. Yes I would very much like to know all there is to know about Thomas as he is my grandad and its a side of my family I know nothing about except what my nan told me. Also on his birth cert it says occupation Lab Ass for cancer research although he was in the forces I guess this was his occupation on civi street. They were married in stockton upon tees and my dad was born in billingham which is close by so i am presuming he was based there somewhere

Originally posted by antheakn
hi

I havent actually seen the certificate but my dad says it just says his age 35yrs old and the address given was 418 albert street kingston ontario. Yes I would very much like to know all there is to know about Thomas as he is my grandad and its a side of my family I know nothing about except what my nan told me. Also on his birth cert it says occupation Lab Ass for cancer research although he was in the forces I guess this was his occupation on civi street. They were married in stockton upon tees and my dad was born in billingham which is close by so i am presuming he was based there somewhere

Okay, thanks, now I (we in MLU) know what kinds of information you're looking for ... and that this is your "Grandfather" and you have not only an address from back then, but his work type. All these things are good leads to try and follow up on . I don't know if its posible for people to search addresses for curent and/or past ownership ... something to think about

Meanwhile, I'm very tired right now and about to say goodnight, but after some sleep maybe I can come up with some ideas to try and help.

Meanwhile, take care ... Karmen

[PPS]

There seems to be quite a large Military Base in Kingston, probably due to the fact that it was/is HQ for one of the Districts.

If you look at the link below (if it works) you should be able to find Albert Street on the map. On Satellite the area does seem to be mainly residential.

A check on White Pages shows about 14 home addresses with the name Donaldson in the Kingston area, with about 90 in the Kingston Metro area in total.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?tab=wl

Paul.

[PPS]

Unfortunately the link only goes to the start page, but if you type Albert Street, Kingston, Ontario into the search area it comes up quite quickly.

Paul.

[PPS]

Anthea,

Just a question!

You do not seem to say anywhere (unless I have missed it) if he returned to Canada or stayed in the UK.

Have you any idea which it is?

Paul.

[PPS]

On closer study, it looks as though that area of Albert Street is now part of the University Complex in Kingston.

Paul.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Vets Dottir 2nd
COOL! Down the page you linked to, is Sept. 1, 1939 military disricts and military district "3" (MD3) lists all the elistment (?) locations in it ... and main headquarters as KINGSTON, Ontario ...

MA ;

If this is what your referring to under the heading 'Military Districts as of 1 September 1939' and in the table under the map 'By 1939 there were 11 Military Districts, further divided into Brigades':-

No. 3 - Headquarters: Kingston, Ontario

Counties of Carleton, Frontenac, Haliburton, Hastings, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland and Durham, Peterborough, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Victoria and that portion of the district of Nipissing lyiug south of the Mattawa River (exclusive of the Townships of Ferris and Banfield and inclusive of the town of Mattawa) and in the Province of Quebec, the counties of Gatineau, Pontiac and Temiscaminque.

these are not enlistment centres, it is the geographical boundaries of Military District No. 3 as/at 1 September 1939.

In the next table down, under the heading of 'The Districts and Brigades were as follows (list as of 3 September 1939): ...', were it reads:

M.D. 3

and under the Military District Units sub-title:-

8th Infantry Brigade: HQ Ottawa
9th lnfantry Brigade: HQ Kingston
1st Field Brigade, RCA: Ottawa
4th Field Brigade, RCA: Cobourg
9th Field Brigade RCA: Kingston

these are not formations of the Canadian Active Service Force, which had been called out and placed on active service effective 1 September 1939, but are infantry and artillery formations of the Non-Permanent Active Militia, of the Military Forces of Canada, as/at 3 September 1939, within Military District No. 3.

Mark: Yes. That's what I was taking the MD3 info from. I didn't list all the other stuff, just wanted to establish that Kingston WAS military district 3 (MD3) for Anthea, tieing both together. Thought he would have enlisted there though So thanks for your info!

I need wakeups coffees and will be here back when I'm more awake and can think.

Ma