Help wanted with three abbreviations found in 1942 war diaries….. MRS, AMDI and MOISB The context in which they appear are repeated below…..any help would be appreciated… MRS perhaps Meals, Ration Soldier AMDI some sort of manning records office??? MOISB will have been a French bureau of some sort in North Africa….. D. Recommendations. 1. Dress. Battle dress should always be worn and the smock either rolled or worn. In the back part of the smock, pullover, shirt and socks can be inserted by opening up the lining. One basic pouch should hold first aid medical equipment and the other one emergency rations, water sterilising tablets, spare socks and one meal ration (MRS). 2. Rations. The ration is too heavy and not easily divisible into separate meals. I recommend the use of the MRS meal ration. 3rd April 1942 Hardwick Hall. In accordance with ADMS Airborne Division letter M/505/4 dated 1.4.1942 Major P R Wheatley RAMC reported to OC 2nd Parachute Battalion. Major Wheatley had travelled by road with a party of 15 ORs RAMC (including one QMS and one S/Sgt) and 5 ORs RASC from 181 Airborne Field Ambulance at Chilton Foliat. These ORs were attached to 2nd Parachute Battalion to assist in the formation of No 16 Airborne Field Ambulance and were to be returned to 181 FA when a Headquarters Staff in the new Field Ambulance was established. Four 30 cwt lorries were lent by 181 Field Ambulance. Officer i/c RAMC Records had detailed 260 ORs RAMC to report to Hardwick Camp on 6.4.1942. Major Wheatley was ordered to select from these, men suitable for parachute training and these would be posted to 16 Field Ambulance. In the first instance all these men are to be attached to 2nd Parachute Battalion for all purposes. Officers up to War Establishment of an Airborne Field Ambulance had also been posted by AMDI. Tuesday 1st December 1942. An eventful day. A Spitfire pilot shot down in Battalion area was entertained to lunch. M Borge arrived from MOISB as Arabic interpreter.
I wonder if Borge was Polish? Milicji Obywatelskiej i Służby Bezpieczeństwa - Polish police and intelligence department. Maybe he was an interpreter with the Polish Govt in Exile? Just a guess.
Matt...nice try...don't think so somehow as WD relates to Tunisia and no Poles with the 1st Para Brigade in 1942 as far as I am aware.....later entries and research point him to being French......
IgIt *trtbrits. R.A.M.C.-EXAMINATION FOR COMMISSIONS. TzHi War Office announces that an examination for not less than twenty commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps will be held on August 1st, 1923. Applications to compete should be made to the Secretary, War Office, not later than July 20th. The presence of candidates will be required in London from July 30th. Prospective candidates can obtain a, full statemetit of the duties and emoluments of- the serviwe on written application to the Secretary (A.M.D.I.), War Office, Whitehall, S.W.1.
IgIt *trtbrits. R.A.M.C.-EXAMINATION FOR COMMISSIONS. TzHi War Office announces that an examination for not less than twenty commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps will be held on August 1st, 1923. Applications to compete should be made to the Secretary, War Office, not later than July 20th. The presence of candidates will be required in London from July 30th. Prospective candidates can obtain a, full statemetit of the duties and emoluments of- the serviwe on written application to the Secretary (A.M.D.I.), War Office, Whitehall, S.W.1. Thanks but doesn't answer the question of what AMDI stood for........
Any more useful suggestions along the lines of Matt's would be appreciated....or is this question beating the power of the forum??????
I think its something that must have seemed quite normal and obvious at the time. If it was going to the war office I would say its something like Assistant Medical Directorate / Director..?? - I..? Not sure Information? The ref on the pre war form sounds like some kind of referal to a service that provides info to job applicants? ttfn Matt
MRS - Medical Reception Station Nice try but if you read the extract it talks about rations so MRS if totally out of context......unless there was special ration pack designed specifically for the MRS but I've never heard of it before..... Thanks also to Colin for the link but nothing on there.......
Just a thought. “I say old chap what are we going to call these new ration packs.” “Well old boy, the yanks call theirs, meals ready to eat , = MRE. A bit vulgar term if you ask me. We are a bit more posher and refined, best call them." Meals ready to serve, = MRS.
No real answers from me, but it does appear that AMDI goes a long way back as a part of the War Office from what I can Google, turning up in a Canadian account of their medical services during the Great War, but as ever referred to by initials, not name. *Edit - Army Medical Department...something! MOISB sounds a bit like Ministry of Interior...something something, perhaps?
Could be ...... AMDI Air and Missile Defence Initiative MRS Military Requirement Schedule Thanks but again unlikely.....AMDI it was 1942 not really any missiles around in those days and it was to do with formation of a field ambulance.....a medical unit......
