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Gainsford, Alan Peter

Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Captain
Unit:
171st Armoured Brigade Company, Headquarters, 11th Armoured Division, British Army
Awarded on:
April 5th, 1945
Awarded with Vermeil star.

Decision No. 589 (5 Avril 1945).
Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)

War Diary mentions

29 January 1944 WO 171/2401 - 171 Company
Capt. J.K.Munger S.O.S. on posting to H.Q. R.A.S.C. 11 Armd. Div. Capt. A.P. Gainsford posted to unit from 173 Armd. Div. Tps. Coy. R.A.S.C. Capt. C.C. Walker S.O.S. on posting to 174 Inf. Bde. Coy. R.A.S.C. 1 O.R. posted to 715 Gen. Tpt. Coy. R.A.S.C.

4 August 1944 WO 171/2401 - 171 Company
Replenishment Point opened, and closed at 1015 hrs. AP personnel ordered to be prepared to move under Capt. Gainsford. 36x3-ton vehicles despatched to 52 FMC to collect POL and hold in coy location. Workshops officer reported great deal of mechanical trouble from MACK 6-ton vehicles – which have proved entirely unsatisfactory both as load carriers and for cross-country work.

24 August 1944 WO 171/2401 - 171 Company
Replenishment Point 1100 hrs in location. AP under Capt Gainsford rejoins coy. Division NTR.

10 November 1944 WO 171/2401 - 171 Company
Capt Gainsford recces for detail following day – hauling timber for Canadian engeineers. Steel-bodied vehicles required.

13 December 1944 WO 171/2401 - 171 Company
Normal replenishment in location. Two complete platoons under Capt Gainsford and Lieut Milne leave at 2400 hrs with main RASC party under Capt Davey.

16 December 1944 WO 171/2401 - 171 Company
AFW 3008 and 3009 rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon. Capt Gainsford returns from Bde transport detail, thereby partly solving difficulty of company's own move due to lack of transport.

18 December 1944 WO 171/2401 - 171 Company
Lieut. Mackellar leaves 0800 hrs with first party. Remainder of company leave at short intervals throughout the day. Entire company, less 3x6 ton ADOS vehicles under Capt Gainsford, in new location by 2200 hrs. Capt Basgallop remains to collect Xmas canteens goods from BIS at GERWEN.

21 December 1944 WO 171/2401 - 171 Company
Point opens 1000 hrs. OC proceeds Bde HQ to receive instruction for forthcoming move. Coy moves, again in small parties, to WAVRE. Capt Gainsford rejoins company.

Sources

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