I am trying to find out about this Army Officer. It seems he joined the Royal Engineers on 28 March 1939. Then from 2nd Lt in the RE he was posted and promoted as Lt 13 Oct 1942 to 134 Light AA Regt. As far as I can make out this was: 134th LAA Rgt – new unit formed February, joined June, to 57 AA Bde August 1942 192, 275, 287 LAA Btys 230 LAA Bty – left July 1942 475 LAA Bty – joined July 1942 I have looked up his RA Tracer card but I am finding it difficult to understand his movements and units he was in. As far as I can make out XIV Div based in North Africa was largely a fictional unit made up to fool the Germans before the invasion of Sicily. Can any body help?
Hi, Are you sure this man was an officer? Seven digit army service number was issued to other ranks and would be replaced by an officer number on commission? Your XIV Division appears to be a reference to the the X list - X (IV). There are various other X list references on the Tracer Card. X lists (Service Records) Steve
It might also be the case that OP is interpreting 13/10/42 posting to “Lieutenant” AA from “S/L” as a rank abbreviation for Second Lieutenant when it is the accepted abbreviation for a RA Searchlight Regiment. Steve
Makes sense as many RE Searchlight units were moved into the RA in 1940. So he enlisted in the RE and his unit then became RA. Had he been commissioned after enlisting one would expect to see him effectively discharged and then re entering as an officer with a different number. Also unless he was commissioned on the field of battle one would expect to see a movement to officer training
The Tracer Card is for someone else with a similar name who was also Royal Engineers transferring to Royal Artillery. Here are some details for your man. THE LONDON GAZETTE,19 JULY, 1938 TERRITORIAL ARMY. ROYAL ENGINEERS. 32nd (7th C. of Lond.) A.A. Bn.—Douglas James Edward KING (late Cadet, Taunton Sch. Contgt., Jun. Div., O.T.C.) to be 2nd Lt. 20th July 1938. [This was a Searchlight (SL or S/L) Battalion] THE LONDON GAZETTE, 16 MAY, 1939 The undermentioned offrs. are transferred from 32nd (7th C. of Lond.) A.A. Bn., retaining rank and seniority, 1st Apr. 1939:— … 2nd Lts … D. J. E. King. SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE,.25 OCTOBER, 1940 TERRITORIAL ARMY. ROYAL ARTILLERY. The undermentioned offrs. are transf'd. from R.E. (T.A.), retaining their rank and seniority, 1st Aug. 1940:— 2nd Lts.:— D. J. E. King (76358). [This is when the Royal Artillery took over the Royal Engineer searchlight units] From Army List April 1943 Royal Artillery – Territorial Army (495f) Richard
Richard thanks for the information I got the wrong Douglas King. Thank you. He is the man you have posted up