19 thoughts on “Armed Forces Units Deployed to Hoy during WWII”

1. 

   My father was stationed on Orkney sometime between 1939-45 with Pioneer Corp,I have his photo album of dozens of his photos and post cards taken of every city/town in the UK he travelled through during this time inc Kirkwall and Stromness. We are visiting Orkney June 2016 and would dearly love to retrace if p ossiible his ife on the islands though I have no idea where he was stationed or indeed have any info of any sort.He took part in the Invasion 1944. I was born Aug 44 and my Mum told me that when Dad told her he had leave due she met him in Loch Lomond at a guest house hence my being conceived during the war and in Scotland. We have holidayed many times there but I feel now I must try one last time to try and ‘connect’ with Dad. I have written to the R O Corps and National Archves to no avail.I would be so grateful for any pointers to help me try to connect with Dad and what he went through,thanking you….Helen

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     I am responding to Helen Norbury’s message dated 1st February 2016

     My father served with 157 Company of the Pioneer Corps and was stationed on the Orkney Islands from 17 August 1941 until 6 May 1943. I have obtained details of his Army career and I am willing to share this with Helen Norbury if she cares to get in touch with me.

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       Hello John
       I have had trouble trying to trace my fathers army footsteps ,he was certainly on Orkney for a considerable time,one of his tasks was escorting prisoners, I would dearly love to follows his journey through the war years,he went over in the Normandy Landings on either 8 or 9 June. His photo /postcard album begins in Orkney in July 1940,he was demobbed May 1946
       Regards
       Helen

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         To Helen Norbury,

         If you are still interested in obtaining 157 Pioneer Corps service records some way i need to know your contact e-mail address

       • 

         Hi Helen, Whilst just watching the 80th DDay anniversary, and having just visited the Normandy Beaches 2 weeks ago, I reviewed my late Father (Joseph Devlin) war record to find that he was in fact stationed in Hoy on Orkney from late May to December 1944. He was with the 7th HAA. Is it possible that you might have detail to throw some light on his experience there; specifically the role Orkney played in Operation Overlord.
         Many Thanks
         Tony Devlin

   • 

     Hello Helen, my father,although not by the armed forces, was stationed in Kirkwall during WW2 between 1942-43.His contribution was to building facililities and general construction work. If you have any photographs of construction work or recreation and willing to share I’d be very grateful..His name was Jim Kearney,after the war he went on to play soccer for Crystal Palace in his younger years..

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     My dad also served with the pioneer corp Stromness and was posted over to europe in 1944

2. 

   my father was in the Royal Artillery and on heavy anti aircraft guns…I have postcards that he collected of Kirkwall and other places…I don’t know any other details but would like to know anything relevant of his time in the Shetlands

3. 

   I know very little about my Grandfathers time on the Orkneys during WW2 but I do know that he took me at 11 years old to Arthurs Seat in Edinburgh and to Edinburgh Castle and Loch Lomond as a trip down memory lane for him. I have found postcards of Kirkwall in with his belongings and photos of him in Scots Guards uniform. The above large photograph actually looks like he may be in it – fifth from the front in the line. I’m very interested in everyone’s posts on here and the photos are wonderful. His name was Colin King and he was in his mid twenties during WW2.

4. 

   Does anyone have any info/photos, of the south lancs reg on orkney around 1943, thanks in advance,

5. 

   Does anyone have any information about Women in ATS stationed in Orkney certainly in 1940
   My Maternal Grandmother served there for a long time I think but I don’t know where ? Kirkwall.
   She was Sgt Maggie Ann Gordon known as Ma Gordon from the Banffshire Section Scotland.
   She was given a rousing send of when she went off to serve in Yorkshire, Bristol & London
   I know she spoke to someone who wrote a book about the History of the ATS a Sheena Moir.
   If anyone has any information I would be so grateful.

6. 

   Good morning
   My grandfather was in the 19 Battalion Royal Marines at Orkney, I would love to know if there was any specific information about the Battalion available..?

7. 

   My father was on Hoy with the 434 S/L Battery arriving in November 1939.
   Having been transferred to various other posts around the UK throughout the war, he was part of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, attached to the 11th Armoured Division and landed on Juno Beach five days after D-Day. Through France, into Antwerp, Nijmegen, crossed the Rhine at Wesel and ended the war in Lubeck, Northern Germany.
   He maintained contact with a family on Hoy (Rackwick) for many, many years after the war.

8. 

   As a 14 year old (1941) I lived on the island of Hoy. My father, Reginald Warren, Chief Petty Officer, was in charge of the transmitting station at Longhope. I have many invitations requests (cards) to various dances sent out by army, air force and navy that was received by my mother.

9. 

   I have a letter written by my Father dated 24.9.43 from 394 H.A.A. Bty R.A Kirkwall Orkney. I remember him telling me about the Old Man of Hoy. Unfortunately, not much more . Planning to visit the Orkney Islands in June 2022. Hopefully there may be some information about the artillery based there around that time.

10. 

    Hello, I have just found a B/W photograph of my Grandad (Robert Kidd) with two other uniformed pals, captioned ‘Orkneys, August 1941’. Another identical photo has ‘L. A. C. Kidd’ on the reverse. He and his family were from Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. Any idea what regiment he’d have been in, what L. A. C. means, and what they’d have been doing while stationed there?

11. 

    My grandad was stationed at Caldale, orkney between 1940 and 1945 and served as sergeant in anti aircraft command.

    It’d be great if we could form a whatsapp group or something to share info?
    I have a few bits, photos, letters.

12. 

    Are there any photos of the Naval Hospital? Some buildings have been knocked down in the last 50 years, but the air-raid shelter and a big building are still there. Would love to have some more info as we are clearing the site and make it into a lovely natural place with woodland, bushes and wildflower area… to get more birds, butterflies, bees and even rabbits are now regular visitors.

13. 

    My Father James Samuel Price was a signalman in ww2 and stationed in Orkney, I cannot find out anything about his war record, he was friendly with a family surname Gray, Any information would be grateful.

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