In other news, I got my great uncles service records at hand. Unfortunately, and as I expected, they do not shed any light to what happened to him on 7 July 1944 in Äyräpää where he went missing.
But, as I have them now, here's what it reads:
Page 1
Physical description: 175cm/70kg, blue eyes
Gas mask number (size?): 2
Boot size: 44
Name: Tikkanen, Martti Leo
Date and place of birth: 28.10.1920, Keitele
Place of residence and religion: Keitele, Lutheran
Father's name: Heikki
Closest relative and his/her place of residence: (father) Heikki, Keitele
Married/Unmarried: Unmarried
Occupation: Farmer
Education: Elementary School
Language: Finnish
Sentences before service: None
Time in Civil Guard: None
Date of military oath: 21.7.1940
Sentences/punishments during service: None
Basic properties: Punctuality/good, diligence/good, observation/good, individual progression/good, behaviour/good
Type of service: Armed
Description of service: AT-gun assistant loader, 12 months
Notes:
-Transferred to I/KTR.14 (1st Battalion/Field Artillery Regiment 14) on 15.6.1940
-Transferred to Tyk.K./7Pr. (Gun company/7th Brigade) on 1.11.1940
-10.6.1941 Tyk.K./JR 7 (Infantry Regiment 7 was formed from 7th Brigade)
On the side of page 1 there is other misc. information about his service. Note that the records are not in chronological order and a lot is repetition.
Specialized as: AT gunner
Rank: Private
Draft group number and place: 57/5/40, Kuopio
Date of draft: 21.3.1940
Draftee class: A1 (in full condition for service)
Ordered to begin military service on: 28.3.1940
Ordered to: Infantry Training Center 6 (Jv.k.k.6)
Arrived on: 28.3.1940
Discharged as fully served on: 27.3.1942
Length of service: 2 years
Place of residence: Keitele
Transferred to reserve: 27.3.1942
By decision of Ministry of Defence on 7.11.1947, declared KIA on 7.7.1944.
***
Page 2 (Service after general mobilization for the Continuation War)
Arrived on/to: 10.6.1941/Infantry Regiment 7
Dog tag #: 497978
Ordered to: Gun Company(14.)/IR 7, assistant loader
Closest relative and place of residence: (mother) Hilja, Keitele
Transfers: 21.7.1944 Iisalmi Civil Guard precinct (Some internal re-organization stuff I guess, he had been MIA for 2 weeks by now)
Description of service: AT-gunner (assistant loader) 14./IR 7 10.6.1941 - 7.7.1944
Promotions/medals: Medal of Liberty, 2nd class
Battles:
Tyrjä 30.6.-4.8.1941
Fighting in SW of Lake Ladoga 6.-20.8.1941
Karelian Isthmus 28.8-5.9.1941
Karelian Isthmus 4.10.1941-7.7.1944
Wounded in Ohta on 13.7.1943.
(I read their war diaries sometime ago and there was a mention of private Tikkanen being wounded in the arm from a mortar frag, might be this occasion)
Notes: MIA on 7.7.1944 at Äyräpää, company commander 2nd Lieutenant [signature I can't make out)
The rest two pages are his KIA/MIA reports, stating his name, closest relative and place of disappearance.
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