252507 Major Joseph Cardis RAMC

Hi all,

I am a forum newbie. The Museum of Military Medicine directed me this way for some help (they are undergoing a move, so they can't help me research).

I am a serving Medical Officer (Army) and was recently given my great-grandfather's WW2 medals. He clearly received them, shoved them in the back of the drawer, and never spoke of it again. Given our shared history, I am keen to understand slightly more about his wartime experience.

I have already applied for and received his Service history (relatively painlessly), which is attached. From this, I have gleaned that he joined as a medical officer in November 1942 on an emergency commission and was duly discharged post-war in January 1946. However, I am not versed in WW2 and am struggling to translate (and read!) his particulars of service and movements throughout the war.

I am in the process of having his medals framed (1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, and War Medal 1939-1945). I would love to tell his story, and I wondered if anyone could help me.

With many thanks in advance

Ollie

PS I can see that there are some entries on the Forces War Records website, but I don't have access to them. Is it worth signing up for, or is there another route?

 

Nothing really on there which you haven`t got ,medal card and London Gazette entry ,but here you go:-




Kyle

 

Thanks Kyle - that’s great. As you say, I have that information, but it’s good to see the extras - and to have a copy of him being Gazzette’d.

Appreciate it!

Ollie

 

Looked at an expanded view of the records and yes not easy to read. I can see a couple of postings, none to base hospitals and once to a hospital train. Bounced around at one point between British north African Forces (BNAF), Middle East Forces (MEF) and Central Mediterranean Forces (CMF) which usually meant Italy.

This is the best resource I've found, aprt from threads here, for the abbreviations: WW2 Abbreviations and Acronyms | Researching the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers

Will try to look again another day.

 

Thanks David... those acronyms have been totally incomprehensible, so thanks for the link, I'll put that to use and create a transcribed translation! Note to self, use fewer abbreviations in my life...

 

Hi Ollie,

Thanks for posting up and good luck with your research, I'm sure others will also be along but my take on 'The Particulars of Service Page' is:

4 Nov 42 - Granted an Emergency Commission as a Lieut RAMC + joined for duty.
Nov 42 - Experienced [??] in Gas Chamber. [which doesn't sound like fun!]
12 Dec 42 - Posted from Mytchett to 22 Anti-Tank Regiment RA Shoeburyness.
7 Aug 43 - Posted to draft RCGWZ.
11 Aug 43 - Proceeded to port of embarkation for service overseas with draft.
25 Aug 43 - North Africa - Disembarked and proceed to 1 GRTD (General Replacement & Training Depot??), posted to X(iv) list.
6 Oct 43 - Transferred from this theatre of Ops to Middle East Force with effect from 6 Oct 43. Taken on Strength (T.O.S.) Middle East Command ex U.K.

• X(iv)b. Posted to XI H.Q. 81 Group O.C. (Pioneer Corps?). Remain XI M.E.F. whilst serving with B.N.A.F. (British North Africa Force).
  [not sure of the next bit]. Amended to Struck off Strength [S.O.S.] M.E.F. to B.N.A.F.
  T.O.S. BNAF. X(iv) list - 27 Dec 43
  27 Dec 43 - P/A [permanently attached] to H.Q. No. 1 District B.N.A.F.
  28 Dec 43 - P/A to H.Q. 56 Area X(i). B.N.A.F.
  11 Jan 45 - P/A to A.F.H.Q. S + S [sorry, I don't know that one] Pool. [AFHQ is Allied Forces HQ]
  8 Apr 45 - posted to 22/B8 Ambulance Train.
  22 Nov 45 - Granted 28 days leave to U.K. Ceased to be Eligible (C.T.B.E.) to Med Allowance training [??].
  
  11 Jan 46 - Reverted to M.E. & S.O.S. C.M.F.
  
  Middle East Command based in Egypt
  BNAF covers Algeria / Tunisia.
  CMF covers Italy.
  
  It would be interesting to track down the location of 65 (British) General Hospital on 18 Dec 44 when it looks like he had a Medical Board.
  
  I hope that helps a little.
  
  Regards
  
  Tom

 

Hospitals WW2 - Scarlet Finders

65 British General Hospital
Oxford 10/41 to 6/42; Mussayib (Palestine) 9/42 to 10/42 then to Khanaguin; Khanaguin (Iraq) 10/42 to 6/43 then to Baghdad; Baghdad 6/43 to 7/43 then to Quassassin; Quassassin (Egypt) 7/43 to 9/43 then to Syracuse; Syracuse 9/43 to 10/43 then to Floridia; Floridia 9/43 to 10/43; Catania 10/43 to 11/43 then to Naples; Naples 11/43 to 9/45 then to Caserta; Caserta 9/45 to 25/6/46 then disbanded.


Kyle

 

Tom,

Thats really great, thanks! This is exactly the kind of expert insight I was hoping for and I'm really grateful for your help.

I will look into each named unit and see if I can tease out the detail of location, but as an approximate storyboard, do you think the below is an accurate summary? I assume that other forums on here might have more detail on 22 Anti-Tank Regiment RA, 1 GRTD, 81 Group O.C., H.Q. No. 1 District, H.Q. 56 Area, A.F.H.Q, 22/B8 Ambulance Train?

After a brief training (and gassing!) period at Mychett, he had approx 8 months in the UK in Shoeburyness, then sailed to North Africa, where he spent approx 3 months with the MEF (? in Egypt), before a temporary secondment and subsequent permanent posting to BNAF (different HQs across ? Algeria/Tuinsia). He then had four months in AFHQ (is that still N. Africa, or back to Europe now?), and closed out the final months of the war on the ambulance train (22/B8), before some terminal leave / pre-demob time and then demob.

This is brilliant, especially added to by Kyle - very helpful indeed.

With very many thanks

Ollie