Abbreviations - here we go again!

Hi Margaret

Yes that seems to be correct. RABD if it pops up is Base Depot.

Gus

 

Thanks Gus. You are a star

 

OK nearly there Aug 1945. What does PRI mean used in:
"PRI situation, NAFFI supplies, and changeover of areas of responsibilty" sentence at 14th Aug.

Thanks
Margaret

Gus do you know why the war diary stops at Sept 1945 when I am sure dad did not come back from Greece until much later in the year, and there is no mention of troop movements from Greece it just stops dead.

 

President of the Regimental Institute - basically a unit's social fund, these days typically raised by selling regimental gifts etc. I suspect they offered more practical stock during the war.

 

OK Thank you Idler, that's interesting little snippet. I shall use the explanation you give as well in my book, makes it so much more intersting reading.

Margaret

 

I hope I got it right, then! It seems right in the context...

 

Hi Margaret

I am guessing but the diaries probably ended at the disbandment of 64 LAA regiment in Sep 45. If it doesn't specifically say it in the diaries (it really should be there) look for big hints like loads of entries of officers and troops posted out (on LIAP or PYTHON) and an ever shrinking list of officers/troops at the end of each months returns.

If 64 LAA Regt were indeed disbanded, it is most likely that he was posted onto another unit still active in Greece. His service records should state this.

Have you got his service records?

Gus

 

The PRI is the Regimental Charity, which has a slightly wider scope than "social fund" as it is the CO who decides what constittutes a charitable activity - aided by KRs . For example if the CO decided that everyone in the regiment should wear a special cloth badge or some non standard clothing, the PRI will sell it. It may purchase sports or games equipment. I suspect in the transition from war to peace it may have provided opportunities a range of entrepreneurial activities a la MM in catch 22....

The words "PRI situation" is the kind of phrase which might either mask an area of uncertainty such as whether the SLiJO assigned as PRI has not accounted for the stock or packing up and cooking the books for some vast black market enterprise sustaining the Greek economy

 

Wow. That's interesting. Especially as in the August diary there are notes about officer off to swimming and cricket contests. So perhaps they are buying sports equipment.

I notice you are a Gunner Sheldrake. My son was in the first Gulf War with 39 Hy and they had a 'T' shirt printed with "Sunshine Tours" on the front and where they went on the back.

Nearly finished now but still more abbreviations cropping up. What does DISC stand for > "655 Service Station REME (att for Ops & DISC")

Thanks
Margaret B)

 

OK Sheldrake you have got me >> found out what KRs stand for but SLiJO? Can you let me know because I have trawled abbreviations in google, on this site, and Royal Lincs site without luck.

 

Just one last abbreviation folks besides Sheldrake's SLiJO > "Brig. Cheyne (BDMS)" what does BDMS stand for please?

The September 1945 comes to an abrupt halt on the 26th without any indication of where the Regiment (64 LAA Regt.) goes, stays, transfers.

Just gives locations for Batteries, with RHQ + 191 + 193 + 285 at Infantry Barracks Patras, and Rear Ech at Infantry Barracks Athens. It does talk in diary August 5th about over wintering in Megara so perhaps that is where they all went before returning to UK in January 1946.

Will come back later for your answers, but in the meantime a big thank you to everyone that has helped me with info, abbreviations, shared their knowledge. I really could not have completed this journey without you.

Margaret

 

BDMS... ADMS is usually "Assistant Director, Medical Services" so could it be "Base...."

There was a Brigadier Douglas Gordon Cheyne, late Royal Army Medical Corps awarded a US Legion of Merit in March 1947; CBE for Tunisia in 1943.... in 1945 he was Deputy Director, Medical Services, Greece. Strong candidate?

 

S****y Little Jobs Officer a junior officer deemed sufficiently under employed to be tasked/ lemoned/ pinged/ rubbered with one of the plethora of minor administrative responsibilities within any military unit. OIC << Insert sport here>> OIC <<Insert regimental charity account here>> OIC Train

 

Yes Staffsyeoman he is the one because in diary it says Brig. D.G. Cheyne. Thanks.

Thanks Sheldrake, love the humour of ORs, you made me smile with explanation (which I shall put in the book because it lends some humour to a serious story.

Margaret
:P

 

Just the last abbreviation waiting for now - DISC from sentence in above post concerning REME? Then I am all finished guys

Margaret

 

SLJO is a modern term. I think I heard is from a naval officer. Nicholas Monserrat wrote about something similar when he described the division of responsibilities among the officers of HMS Compass Rose. George MacDonald Fraser wrote about this world in "The General Danced at Dawn" from the point of view of a young infantry officer in the immediate post war Middle East.

 

Okey Cokey, so no one answered re DISC. So not one for giving up I have stumbled onto a Gov. website and DISC = Defence Intelligence & Security Centre.

Anyone know how I can attach the pdf to upload to this Forum? or I could send email with attachment to someone who is more savvy with the IT of this site.

Margaret

So my journey is complete and dad's story is told.

 

Margaret

Could not spot the sentence containing DISC in the context of REME

 

What does DISC stand for > "655 Service Station REME (att for Ops & DISC")

Does this help? Attached for Operations and DISC?

Intelligence Corps - Have trained since 1997 at the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (DISC) in Chicksands in Bedfordshire. The DISC is responsible for training all personnel in intelligence, security and information support. In June 2003, command of the Defence School of Languages transferred to DISC, although the school remained at Beaconsfield.
http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0139.html

 

Margaret

My apologies just spotted the sentence in question

I believe this was a small unit, possibly a Subaltern's command. It was therefore placed under command a neighbouring larger unit for Operations and Discipline. The major responsibility of OC the Servicing Unit would have been Technical Matters, local administration (food, pay etc) and local defence of the unit perimeter.