Help understanding grandfathers service record - starting 78th fld reg

Apologies I dont have any pictures or scans of actual documents, just notes i took. I have done some research on the net but I am struggling with this record. Any help gratefully accepted.

SN 796079

postings

23.2.38 – 78 fld

38/43 corps 78f – a/c/c 5.4.41

(unreadable) KENT

2 ech 928/43 – to x2 14.6.43 disch x 2 14.6.43 (78 fld Regt RA)

2 ech ME 1344/43 – sos MEF to BNAF 29.8.43

2 ech NA 918/44 – to x (2) 26.4.44

2nd ech NA 506/44 – from x2 to x 1V 19.5.44

2nd ech NA 593/44 – HQ 2 INF Bde 28.5.44

(hard to read could be BREF) 2 440/44 – to x2 2.8.44

G53586 9/9/42

Cmf x 809/44 – from x2 31.8.44 x (1V)

2 ech cmf x838/44 – allied pw coll (hard to read G o ll?) post 27 area 17/9/44

Cmf x 330/45 to x2 9.4.45

Cmf x 375/45 – from x (2) 17.4.45 to “d” (allied pw) collection post

Cmf x 608/45 – 312 transit camp 10.7.45

Cmf x 705/45 - sos cmf to bld 24.7.45

Posted to Y LIST class a release

ACC 202/45 14.10.45

Class a release 19.oct 1945

Order - promotions

106/41 – p/a/Bdr 31.5.41

136/41 – w/bdr 29.8.41

Training record 311/78 FD Brigade – attested and posted – rank gunner from 23.2.38 - stamped 311 midlothian

Territorial army – attestation

royal regiment of artillery 311 field battery R A (TA)

termination of engagement 26.8.33



Service at home and abroad

HOME – British - 23.2.38 to 12.7.42 – years 4 days 140

ME -4- 13.7.42 to 28.8.43 – years 1 days 4

BNAF 29.8.43 to 13.10.45 – years 2

Home 14.10.45 to 19.11.46

Promotion, reductions and casualties

38/43 – 38 field rgt - trans to A CC bMO 2E/332/2656 A d 1 – 10.3.43

02E/MEF/pte?/376/2.4.43

SOS ME to 18 (or 13) NAF

Stamped discharged on completion of engagement – Authority 1A REG PARA 234/1

Allocated to the army general reserve group P and eligible for recall to H45

Authority navy army and airforce reserve act 1954

Medals Africa star ( 2ech bnaf acc 350/44)

8th army clasp wic 1692/44 – 2nd echelon

Efficiency medal (T) A O

Awarded war medal 1939/45

Defence medal

Italy star

1939/45 STAR (this is stamped) n/c RG

 

Before looking at your notes in detail, could you clarify - are you saying that you have seen his service records and taken notes? Has someone else sent for them and you have seen those?

Full service records are only available from the MOD:-
Get a copy of military service records

796079 enlisted in the Royal Artillery 27.8.1929 (to 26.8.1933) and re-enlisted 23.2.1938? To ACC (? Army Catering Corps) 5.4.1941.

 

Worth looking at the 'abbreviation' post on this site:
Abbreviations
CMF Central Mediterranean Force
BNAF British North Africa Force
Bdr Bombardier
MEF Middle East Force
SOS Struck off strength (left a unit)
TOS Taken on strength (joined a unit)

You find something using the search facility:
http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/4064325/&q=78+field&o=relevance

 

I saw the record, I could not get photos at the time, its not in my possession. I am not yet next of kin but my grandfather died in 1978. I took notes on a family visit. I am negotiating a full copy. It could be years until I become next of kin. I know he was a butcher by trade and was in the army and reenlisted in 1938. His records show promotions as Bdr twice in 1941. So the ACC confuses me. Was he a cook/butcher the same time as a w/Bdr? etc. Was he promoted to w/bdr after he was in acc? I don't know.

 

Not sure what 2 Ech NA is. I did read up a bit on MEF CMF etc. But I am finding it hard to track his starting place overseas and his postings.

 

You do not have to be next of kin to get his records, anyone can. This is from the service record link:

"Apply for the records of someone who's deceased
You can apply for a copy of someone else’s service records if any of the following apply:
- you’re their immediate next of kin, for example their spouse or parent
- you’ve got consent from their immediate next of kin
- you have a general research interest - you’ll only have access to limited information, unless they died more than 25 years ago
You need to know the person’s full name, date of birth and service number."

In fact you do not need service number, just DOB and death certificate. If you are a relative could you not get their permission?

 

I will attempt it if I cannot get a timely copy from my family. In the mean time I just have notes...

 

2nd Echelon, North Africa (fully: BNAF: British North Africa Forces)
Prior to that he was 2nd Echelon MEF: Middle-East Forces

Different commands covering different territorial areas at different times:

MEF: Egypt & the desert to Tunis.
BNAF: Algiers to Tunis
CMF: Italy, Greece and the Balkans

Or so I've read:
BNAF, CMF, MEF

 

To X(ii) list 2.8.44
From X(ii) list 31.8.44
See here:
X lists (Service Records)

 

apply for the records as suggested you will get full records due to the fact he died over 25 years ago
if you are going by notes you will possibly get it wrong

you will not find anything on the internet about him or his service records so dont be fooled by websites offering you this type of info

 

Best pictures I could get texted to me.

 

Bump

 

Promotion, reductions and casualties

38/43 – 38 field rgt (change to 78 field reg) - trans to A CC bMO 2E/332/2656 A d 1 – 10.3.43

 

Royal Artillery: 78 Field Regiment (Fd Regt) | The National Archives
Royal Artillery: 78 Field Regiment (RA Fd Regt) | The National Archives
Royal Artillery: 78 Field Regiment (RA Fd Regt) | The National Archives
Field Regiments: 78 Fd. Regt | The National Archives

TD

78 (Lowland) Field Regiment RA(TA)
RA 1939-45 78 Fld Rgt

 

?

Transferred to Army Catering Corps

 

Is there any way of knowing from that record the date or ship of his first overseas appointment? I have found this and I am just trying to work out if he went with 78th fld since day one or if he arrived later? Trying to figure out which battles he was actually in/supporting.

A Short History

 

Did ACC in the artillery regiments have the same ranks as those manning the guns? Just noting the promotions in 1941 with artillery ranks. w/bdr etc.

 

He could well have been the Regimental Butcher.

If he served with 78 Fd Regt RA then that would place him at Anzio in support of 1 Inf Div Jan-May 44.

Regards

Frank

 

Royal Artillery Attestations, 1929:

 

To be honest it is difficult to work out from the images you have posted, I don't think they are complete, and, a bit difficult to read. The summary indicates that he was 'Home' until 12.7.42, but no details on the other forms for that period. Can you get whoever is holding them to scan complete pages and send them to you in order? Either that of perhaps they could photocopy them and post them to you to scan.

ps. the place in Kent looks like Sidcup.