Definition of No.2 M.R. & E and a member of this unit.

[Danny152]

Hi all,

Can anyone inform me the full title of this unit please, I know it was connected to locating casualties and their final resting place after the war, and one of its members, Squadron Leader I. C Clowes. His full name would be brill!

Thank you all for your time and help.

Cheers

Danny

[alieneyes1]

That depends, Danny.

It could either be MRES Missing Research and Enquiry Service or MREU, last word being Unit. They often used ex aircrew or, as in the case of P/O Hubert Brooks of No. 419 Sqn. former POWs. Brooks, as a F/Lt, was in charge of the Scandinavian section. This after three escapes and two years fighting with the Polish Home Army. He was also RCAF and I have seen RNZAF, RAAF, RCAF and RAF members as staff in MREUs. "Missing Believed Killed" by Stuart Hadaway is the go-to book on the topic.

So, any idea which service Clowes was a member of?

Edited to add: Another problem with IDing are wrong initials. In the excerpt from the MREU report in this loss, we have an S/Ldr ACW Clowes signing the report for the OC No. 2 MREU. I looked at the physical file at NAA. No helpful numbers.

Regards,

Dave

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Try this:

http://www.aircrewremembered.com/kidd-leslie.html

To peruse the original No.2 M.R. & E. Unit document, see:

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...aspx?B=1071587 - see: pp.15-16 of 63.

I believe there was no such airman as Sqn Ldr A.C.W. Clowes in the R.A.F.

The problem is caused by the fact that there is no provision in typed documents of the day to reproduce signatures. The A.C.W. is probably the rank of the typiste who typed the letter (her surname simply being omitted in the retyped document). The attribution is poorly laid out.

Col.

[Danny152]

Thanks for all your help. Clowes initials were I. C Clowes. Hopefully this will help, I believe he was RAF.

Thanks and hopefully someone can work his full name out.

Danny

[alieneyes1]

78332 Squadron Leader Ivo Charles Danyers CLOWES, Czechoslovak Military Medal, 1st Class. London Gazette with the Czech award is dated 2 August 1949. For some reason it doesn't come up on the LG's search. Despite the urge to make his name IvoR, it was indeed Ivo.

Likely some other awards as well. As you now have his full name, he also served in WW1 and you will find him in the LG for that. Born Paddington July 1890. No sign of marriage, children or death.

Regards,

Dave

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

You will find Clowes' Czechoslovak Military Medal, 1st Class, here:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/3747

Col.

[Danny152]

Gents,

Truly amazing and thank you for this information. Interesting his awards.

Regards

Danny

[alieneyes1]

Deceased 23 March 1977, Trianon Chemin-St-Esteve, 6230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France