Abbreviations in service records.

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by TrueBlueAngel, Mar 22, 2016.

  1. TrueBlueAngel

    TrueBlueAngel Member

    I finally received my grandfathers records in less than two weeks of applying for them! I've worked out most abbreviations, but am struggling with a few.
    There are:
    ENAF
    CSD
    ME
    NA
    EMB.

    I know TOS means taken on strength and SOS means taken off strength, but could someone please explain exactly what they means in terms of posting to different placements. Does SOS relate to any illnesses or injuries?
    Thanks
     
  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Some of those could have multiple meanings. If you could post the sentences or phrase they appear in, people will be able to clarify which one is correct.

    Emb.could well be 'embodied': taken into full-time military service.

    ME could be Middle-East or Mechanical Engineers (or something else) according to context.

    Edit: better still, upload sharp photos of the documents. Two weeks must be approaching a record!
     
  3. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

  4. Waddell

    Waddell Well-Known Member

    Emb could also be embarked.

    As Charley says, images will help.

    Scott
     
  5. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    NA likely North Africa.

    ENAF most likely your misreading of BNAF - British North Africa Forces.

    Hence the suggestion that you post originals so members can see context.

    Steve Y
     
  6. TrueBlueAngel

    TrueBlueAngel Member

    One entry is stamped TOS ENAF. I have other entries that say BNAF. This one is different.
     
  7. BrianM59

    BrianM59 Senior Member

    But 'different' could merely be a spelling mistake or typo, or bad reproduction - do try to get the best quality copies/scans on here and it gives everyone a fighting chance to have an attempt at deciphering the records in question.
     
  8. TrueBlueAngel

    TrueBlueAngel Member

    I've attached the file of the relevant page. You can see it has been stamped on ENAF. Certainly looks like that but may well be BNAF. It would make more sense.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. BrianM59

    BrianM59 Senior Member

    It is indeed BNAF - as Tullybrone said. The context is everything - thanks for posting the picture.
     
  10. TrueBlueAngel

    TrueBlueAngel Member

    Thanks, I thought it was strange I couldn't find anything relating to ENAF. The B must be faded. Thankyou.
     
  11. TrueBlueAngel

    TrueBlueAngel Member

    I wonder if someone could also explain what SOS and TOS means. I know the words for the abbreviations, but would like to understand their meanings. Also Python. That's on some of my grandfathers records.
     
  12. BrianM59

    BrianM59 Senior Member

    Python was a leave scheme for long-serving soldiers http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/ww2/Transport_Home/Python/

    Struck off Strength and Taken on Strength are administrative terms for personnel leaving and joining units - important when deciding who was paying the wages for the man/woman in question and for providing accurate returns to army records.
     
  13. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Thanks for posting the image.

    Did he serve in Sicily/Italy by any chance?

    Entry re embarkation 30th June 1943 (emb U/D) suggests commencement of journey to invade Sicily 10th July 1943.

    Regards

    Steve Y
     
  14. Brian Smith

    Brian Smith Junior Member

    Steve for interest please the emb U/D entry. Any idea what the U/D stands for. Thank you Brian
     
  15. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    The problem with all these records is that they are not written out by the same person nor at the same time and things continually change.
    And the person writing them has to do thousands and as far as he was concerned the records would be filed away and never looked at again.

    So EMB U/D could mean embarked undefined. The person filling it out did not know where they went, so just marked it U/D.

    Column D. we have MEF. ME. ME. NA. NA. CMF.

    Mediterranean expeditionary Force.
    so the next person writing the record sees MEF.
    so just writes Me which = Mediterranean expeditionary Force. or Middle East.
    so doe's the next one.

    NA = North Africa. A shortened version of BNAF. British North African Force.
    CMF = Central Mediterranean Force.
     
    DoD likes this.
  16. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    U/D in combo with Embarked could be Unknown Destination.

    (Destinations were omitted from records for security purposes, particularly at the beginning of campaigns in theatres)
     
  17. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Thanks Diane.

    Steve
     
  18. TrueBlueAngel

    TrueBlueAngel Member

    Yes, he did serve in Sicily, even had day surgery on his thumb while there! He was awarded the Italy Star medal.
     
  19. TrueBlueAngel

    TrueBlueAngel Member

    My grandfather served out in the Middle East, some records show PAIforce and Eygpt. I also remember he had a photo of Bethlehem and Jeruselum rings a bell with me too. He also served out in Sicily and Italy, so ME could mean either, I guess.
     
  20. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Before Tom Canning bites your head off.
    Med Exp Force was WW1.
    I made that mistake before.

    WW2 MEF = Middle East Forces.

    :)
     
    4jonboy likes this.

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