Hi I am trying to find the records of 133 Officer Cadet Training Unit RA which was based at Shrivenham in 1940 and 1941, training for AA units. It was to be part of the force manning the Red Stop Line in Oxfordshire. Any idea of the reference at Kew or other sources for documents? Many thanks
Many thanks for posting the photo. Was there anything else at all? I have an account of training there which I could scan in and email to you if you PM me your email address. Again thanks!
The only other thing I have referring to 133 (according to my personal notes) is a letter my grandad sent dated 25.02.1942 no.1434435 Cadet Lafford. I'll dig it out and have a look - it might only be a love letter, my grandparents married a few months later. I have a few photos from 1940 but I'm not sure where they were taken and they refer to NCO's 252/80 HAA. and I have what reads as training notes from Dec 1940 titled Armoured Division (I might have already put these on). I found them with a few I.D. charts for tanks and armoured cars. and The only other photos I have from 1941 refer to Tangmere After that there's not many photos until Burma. If it's of interest I'll scan them for you. Jo
Hello there, I've just requested my grandfather's war records, and he was posted as a cadet to 133 OCTU in Schrivenham as well. He was posted on 5/9/41, and was assigned to a commission about a year later. He was in the Gunners at the time (Royal Artillery, Leeds Rifles 66th regiment). Is he likely to be in this picture? He was 6 feet 5, which should make him easier to identify - although the probably made him sit down. His name was Dennis William Trinder (nickname, Tommy). Anything you can tell me would be great - I know nothing about Schrivenham or anything. Thank you, Ceri
Wow, I've just received my grandfather's paperwork & records & found that he was sent to Shrivenham in 1941. In researching where/what this was I saw the photo (above) that JCFLAFF has put on. To my great surprise there he is, Frederick Charles William Mortimer, back row, 3rd from the left. Amazing. He was born in 1900 & served in the Royal Fusiliers 1918 - 1919. He signed up into the TA in May 1939 & joined 434 Battery, 64th S/L Regt (The Essex Regiment) where he became the Battery Sergeant Major. He was demobbed in 1945 at the age of 1945 & died in 1966. Thank you so much for putting the photo on here.
Hi, JCLAFF hasn't been active on the forum got over 2 months. I've sent him a PM to alert him to above post. Steve Y
And my grandfather is standing in front of your grandfather (middle row, 4th from the left)! I'm not sure if I have more photos of Shrivenham, I've found the love letter my grandfather sent to my grandmother, envelope postmarked 25.02.42, I think I need to censor it a bit. There's a little bit about the training and that the weather was so cold that all the water pipes were frozen! I'll go through it properly and see which bits I can put on.
Gosh - A BSM who remembered when Centurion really was just a rank and Pontius Pilot was still a Navigator. I'll get my coat....
Surely those who can remember Centurion as a tank* aren't much younger than those for whom it was a rank? * I've read about it in old books, obviously...
Did you ever find any more records of 133 OCTU RA based at Shrivenham in 1940 and 41? I have just discovered from my grandfather's service records that he was posted there on the 6th Sept 1940 and earned his commission on the 29th Nov 1940. Unfortunately, that's a bit earlier than the group photo posted by Jo, but I am keen to learn more. Thanks.