Dad's service records received, need help deciphering please!

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by deedale, Jun 18, 2018.

  1. deedale

    deedale Member

    Hi, I hope someone can help me out here. My Dad passed away in January of this year. He would never speak much about the war, though I knew from what he did mention and photos and souvenirs he had, that he was in Egypt (I have a photo of him stood in front of the pyramids, next to a jeep), Palestine (there is a photo of him with refugees at Haifa docks) and latterly Italy. I assume this was mainland Italy.
    I am also curious as to why he was in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, as he was born and bred in West Yorkshire. I have his cap badge, which he made into a small photo frame to fit a photo of my Mum and himself.
    From what I can make of his service records (and it isn't much!) that all seems to fit in, but I'd love to know more details if anyone can help out.
    Hopefully the 3 photos have uploaded successfully. servicerecords1.jpg servicerecords2.jpg servicerecords3.jpg
    Thanks, Dee.
     
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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Dee - Welcome

    He seems to have spent most of his time with the 93rd Anti Tank Regt

    93 (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders) Anti-Tank Regiment RA(TA) - https://web.archive.org/web/20160331000326/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/atk/page50.html
    North Africa, Italy & Palestine

    Unfortunately as such, Regiments were not based geographically, ie the A&SH would have reinforcements from a Holding/Training Regiment all of which would have been trained together and would have come from all over the UK or even its colonies

    Others will be along

    Maybe adding his name and service number would help others to help you

    TD
     
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  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

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  4. deedale

    deedale Member

    Thanks for your quick response. I have read a couple of threads on here which have given me a bit more information. I'm also interested why he was at 2 CRU. I'm assuming that it was just for holding as I see his name was on the x list as x(iv) just before.
     
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    He was only in 2 CRU for 2 weeks which I think is unit for holding reinforcements before they are posted to actual units. The X list (iv) is:
    THE X (iv) LIST comprises all unposted reinforcements and incoming reinforcement drafts.
    Personnel discharged from (x(ii)) to Training Depots, fit for duty, are transferred to the X (iv) list of
    their corps, until posted to a unit, when they are struck off X (iv) and taken on unit strength.
    Reinforcements in transit between the Base and a unit remain on X (iv) (and the Base Depot
    strength) until they actually reach and are taken on the strength by the unit to which they are
    proceeding. Escaped PoWs [Prisoners of War] who until such escape have been on the X (iii) list
    are transferred to X (iv) list on reaching their respective training depots.

    Whats his name and service number?

    TD
     
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  6. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    My Father was from Birstall near Leeds West Yorkshire and he served throughout the war with Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. As previously stated, men were sent to where they were needed.
     
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  7. deedale

    deedale Member

    His name was Arthur Bell and his service number 7963373
     
  8. deedale

    deedale Member

    I did wonder if that was the case. My Dad was from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and coincidentally my maternal Grandfather served with the Argylls in the first world war and he was from Liversedge, nr Bradford in West Yorkshire.
     
  9. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Dee

    Welcome aboard !

    I see you say "I am also curious as to why he was in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, as he was born and bred in West Yorkshire."

    This was par for the course for anyone in the Army !

    I was living in Houghton Regis (near Luton) at the time of my call-up and yet I was sent to Bury St,Edmunds for Primary Training, then Whitby in Yorkshire for Driver/Wireless training in the Royal Artillery and then finally posted to Congleton in Cheshire preparatory to being sent to the 1st Army in Tunisia.

    It was common parlance that the Army could do anything they liked to do to you except give you a baby,

    This was later altered to read "They can still give you a baby, but they can't make you love it " !!!!!!!!

    Enjoy your stay ........

    Ron
     
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  10. deedale

    deedale Member

    Thanks for the welcome Ron. I see you must be the same age as my late Dad! Coincidentally I now live in Congleton in Cheshire!
     

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