Multiple questions: What is W/Leave? What is FSCA? What is Field Allowance?

Discussion in 'General' started by RRTB, Aug 26, 2016.

  1. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    Sorry for asking so many questions but my Google searching is not being terribly successful these days!

    On my father's service record it shows him as being granted a period of 14 days' "W/Leave" at the beginning of June 1945. He was in India at the time with the Berkshire Yeomanry, training up to join Operation Zipper.

    I have come across Priv Leave elsewhere in his paybook and on his record which obviously stands for Privileged Leave, but I cannot find anything anywhere online about this "W/Leave". It is very clearly written so there is no mistaking the W for another letter (not like some of the other entries on his record!), so I would yet again be indebted to the members here if they could enlighten me as to what this type of leave is called and does it have any particular significance?

    Thank you in advance,

    RRTB

    EDIT: I have added two further questions to the original one at Post #9 and have amended the thread title accordingly
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
  2. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Warrant leave ?

    Ron
     
  3. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    Thanks, Ron. I don't really understand what that means though.

    To be honest, I don't actually know what "Privileged Leave" means either as I thought that every serviceman would be entitled to a certain number of days' leave, even in wartime.

    RRTB
     
  4. andrewgfrench

    andrewgfrench Member

    Hi RRTB

    Would W/leave mean local leave where as privilege leave would be back to UK and thus very rare?

    Those training in the 145 (Berks Yeo) Fd Regt RA were given leave of about two weeks in the hill stations such as Mussoorie in the foothills of the Himalayas, where the men took a much needed respite from the heat of East India around Madras.

    If you could give me some detail of you father I can see if we have anything on him ? Do you know which Battery your father served in for instance?

    Regards
    Andrew French
    Asst Hon Mussoorie Snow on the Himalayia May 1945. GJ Parr Collection.jpg Curator
    Berkshire Yeomanry Museum
     
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  5. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    As far as I can make out, Privileged Leave, is leave that is gained by length of service or any extra they wished to give you.
    Warrant leave was when they also issued you with a travel warrant.

    Might be, but whether you got it would be a different matter, after all you were in the Army.:)
     
  6. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    Thank you all for your helpful replies.

    Andrew, I've sent you a private email. Long time no speak to!

    RCG: your reply makes a lot of sense because the title of one of the columns on the page to do with leave in Dad's service book mentions "whether issued with a Travel Warrant".

    RRTB
     
  7. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    RRTB

    I 've just done what I should have done in thr first plsce and went back to my Army Records in the Forum's gallery.
    Ron's Army Records | WW2Talk

    I've studied 17 sheets of records and can find no reference whatsover to w/leave .

    Which leaves me as baffled as you obviously are !

    I shall watch this thread with interest.........

    Ron
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
  8. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    Ron, thank you very much for taking such time. And yes, I'm baffled too!

    I also realised that I should have put up a photograph of the piece in question, so I shall try to attach one here: P1010157.JPG

    Blimey, it worked!

    RRTB
     
  9. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    Actually, I've just remembered that this particular section also includes a couple of other things which I don't fully understand. These are:

    "Entered FSCA wef 9.9.45" What is FSCA? I've found one explanation online as being Fire Support and Combined Arms. Bearing in mind that the regiment in question was 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA, the Fire Support bit would make sense, but "combined arms"?

    "Entitled to Field Allowance from 1.11.45". Field Allowance? I'm guessing that this is an allowance on top of standard pay for those men who are actually serving in the field?

    I have altered the thread title to include these questions.

    RRTB
     
  10. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    RRTB
    Field allowance ?
    You've got one that dead right, that was paid to all who served in an area of combat.

    Just to add to the type of allowances paid, have a look at "Ration Allowance"
    1947 061 Late Payment from the Army. | WW2Talk

    Ron
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2016
  11. idler

    idler GeneralList

    The CA may well be 'concession area'. The FS might suggest it was one of several such areas.

    It's a term that crops up on some records covering India/Burma but I don't think anyone's found a clear definition of it/them yet. It seems to imply an 'operational' zone where pay or allowances might differ from the 'safe' bit of the Raj.
     
  12. idler

    idler GeneralList

    OK, the FS might be Field Service as there is a reference to a Field Service Concession Area buried in here (it seems some things are still done the same way...)

    Perhaps a FSCA is a halfway house between 'base' and 'field' which entitles a serviceman to an intermediate level of allowance?
     
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  13. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    Thank you again, Ron!

    Idler, that's an interesting slant on things re FSCA. I think you've pretty much nailed it actually, having had a good look at things which now pop up because I can google the Field Service Concession Area. It would make sense too, looking at Dad's service record. He was in India with his regiment when they were preparing to be part of Operation Zipper, and the dates are 19 Jan 1945 - 1 Sept 1945. He then ships to Malaya which although the Japanese had surrendered was I guess considered much more than a training area but less than an actual combat zone purely because of the surrender, hence the Concession Area. He enters FSCA wef 9 Sept 1945.

    Field Allowance begins on 1 November 1945 because on 29 Nov his regiment is shipped to Java to support the units fighting the rebels, and therefore is indeed presumably considered a combat zone (it's actually where the 145 Fd Regt fire their 25pdrs for the first time).

    Would this seem about right?

    RRTB
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
  14. idler

    idler GeneralList

    It certainly makes some sort of sense in the context of 'liberation' after the Japanese surrender then the revolution in the NEI. Wish I'd thought about it a bit more and come up with that!
     
  15. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    It probably would have helped if I'd put up the photograph earlier and given out the timeline information as well. I really appreciate everyone's help to finally get this one worked out though; it's been bugging me for nearly two years.

    RRTB
     
  16. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Re Operation Zipper. Although the Japanese had officially surrendered, no one knew if individual units had heard or obeyed the order to cease fighting.Our ,troops arrived ,in a state of uncertainty, prepared and trained for a D Day type repulse, but were relieved to find that there was little opposition.
     
  17. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    That's precisely what the Berkshires were warned to expect: armed resistance. They landed at Morib beaches but found that the Japanese had moved inland.

    My father was present at the Japanese surrenders at Ipoh and Bidor, he and another officer being responsible for raising the Union flag at the latter. I am very fortunate to have seen photographs which he took at those events, and although most of them are now in the Berkshire Yeomanry museum I do still have some of the originals. He also brought back many little "trophies" like Japanese rank badges, Indian National Army badges, a "Good Luck" Japanese flag (hinomaru yosegaki) and an officer's sword (I have the War Trophy Certificate for that), all of which were donated to the Ulster Museum in 1975. About 18 months ago I got to see them all for the first time and indeed actually held the sword. It was an extremely emotional moment to see all these items.

    RRTB
     
  18. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Sounds very similar to my fathers experiences and mementoes but fear we are going off topic. He was present at surrender at Sungei Patani .....
     
  19. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    Topic redirected, even though as OP I don't mind the small deviation!

    RRTB
     
  20. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Am I being unhelpful in asking "What the F*ck does it matter?"
    It's leave, which is time away from the Front Line, during which many of your Pals may have been killed.
    How do you think you would feel if your best friend had died while you were away in some fleshpot?

    I may be a grumpy old git, but there must be times when you don't need to know every second of someones life.
    I know my Dad wasn't a saint and that some where along the line he upset some General enough that, postwar, his "crimes" caught up with him to be busted down to Private.

    I know my dad's attitude to authority but I also know that what he was charged with, was unacceptable even to his mates (and to me, had I known, in his lifetime).

    He may have survived the War but he also had baggage that he couldn't shake.
    That probably applies to many post WW2 veterans.
     

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