64th Primary Training Wing

Discussion in 'General' started by chrisy49, Mar 6, 2015.

  1. chrisy49

    chrisy49 Member

    Can anyone please tell me where the 64th Primary Training Wing were based in May 1944.

    I can see on a soldiers documents that he was tx to the Northamptonshire Regiment and posted to the 14. I.T.C. August 1944. I know that ITC stands for Infantry Training Centre but can anyone tell me where it was and it's connection, if any, with the Northamptonshire Regiment.

    Regards,
    Chris.
     
  2. idler

    idler GeneralList

    64 Primary Training Wing ought to be the PTW attached to 14 ITC - the PTWs were numbered 50 higher than their parent ITCs (though there were bound to be exceptions). The reference I have to 14 ITC has it at Dorchester, serving the Devons, Dorsets and the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. The transfer from 64 PTW (basic training) to 14 ITC (proper infantry training) and his subsequent attachment to the Devons is therefore quite logical, but I can't really explain why he was officially transferred to the Northamptonshires.

    Whatever CRS turns out to be , it looks like a medical facility as he is 'admitted' then 'discharged'. Hereford being some way friom Dorchester, I can only assume they were up there for training, being two months into basic training at that time.
     
  3. chrisy49

    chrisy49 Member

    Many thanks Idler.

    Things are becoming a little clearer. As for CRS I came across an article written by a soldier who was underweight for his height and was sent to Hereford, Bradbury Lines Physical Development Centre (PDC). He writes that everything was done at the double, they were really well fed and he put on stone whilst there. Ron was only just over 8 stone when he joined up so I suspect the same may have happened to him. His wife sent me a photograph on which Ron has written Bradbury Lines 1944 and Who Dares Wins. He certainly didn't join the SAS. In the centre of a group of men is a PTI which I think give credence to him being at the PDC.

    I have put this picture up in another topic. I don't know how to add a link to another post but I think what I added below you should see the picture. I'd be very pleased to hear your thoughts.

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=133934

    Regards,
    Chris.
     
  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Dug a bit deeper and found references to some changes in regimental affiliations to ITCs. In a nutshell, by 1943 No.14 ITC handled Devons, Hampshires and the Northamptonshires (Dorsets and DCLI had gone their separate ways). 6 Devons was the affiliated reserve battalion where the trained soldiers were parked until they were needed.

    It's odd that the service record doesn't mention the PDC as that is likely to have been an attachment for a reasonable period of time. However, primary training was supposed to be a standard six weeks so the PDC probably accounts for the greater-than-six-week period between joining the PTW and then the ITC. Good photo, though.
     
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  5. chrisy49

    chrisy49 Member

    Idler,

    Very many thanks for your last post. I'm certain I can now write up Ron's early Service career with accuracy.

    You have probably seen my other post regarding Pte Payne war service. His last write-up before demob states he was a 'pay clerk' so it amazes me that he did so much infantry training. I have been told that a pay clerk attached to an infantry regiment would still need to know how to use a rife. Although Ron worked in a Grocer/butchers shop before joining and was used to dealing with accounts I'm surprised that there is no mention of him training as a pay clerk.

    Kind regards,
    Chris.
     

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