Any info on 1561 LT AA REGT PLATOON RASC?

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by cmc39v, Feb 16, 2011.

  1. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    My grandfather was in 1561 Lt AA Regt Platoon RASC from 1943 to 1945. Any info on this unit would be great.
    I have his service records and there are some things that mean nothing to me. For instance: 725 Coy Posted to 791 Coy RASC PR CAR & SOS this unit wef Does anyone know what some of these abbreviations are.
    I have some old photos and would be very interested in finding out what his unit did? I know from his service records that they left for BLA on 17/7/1944 and I have photos of Belsen and some of him in areas of Germany (near Munster and Hanover).
     

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  2. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    RASC units were attached to Royal Artillery LAA units, but LAA units only went as high as the mid 100's, so 1561 LAA sounds wrong. Can you check the service record again for me please.

    Regards - Rob
     
  3. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    There was a 1561 Platoon, RASC. War diaries are listed at the National Archives for 1943 in the UK and 1944/45 in North Westy Europe.
     
  4. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    RASC units are always difficult but I think that 1561 is the number of the RASC platoon attached to a Light Anti Aircraft regiment. Non divisional artillery of all kinds had an RASC platoon to carry ammunition, fuel and supplies. It normally accompanied the LAA regiment when it was attached to other formations.

    791 was a Public Relations Car Company formed in 1945 to transport War Correspondents, photographers etc. They were not allowed to wander about but had a car and a conducting officer to show them things. A war establishment table can be found on the Trux website.

    SOS - struck off strength. wef - with effect from

    Mike
     
  5. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    I have attached a copy of one of the pages of his service history. Looks like 1561. Does this mean anything to you?
     

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  6. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Mike you are correct. I just found an article about 113 LAA at Belsen with 1575 RASC Artillery Platoon attached.
     
  7. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I have attached a copy of one of the pages of his service history. Looks like 1561. Does this mean anything to you?

    It mentions 109 LAA Regt above 1561. I bet that's the Regt RASC Platoon 1561 were attached to.
     
  8. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    Another photo
     

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  9. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Looks like a TAC sign on the truck with the number 503.
     
  10. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    Another pic
     

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  11. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    Can you link the TRUX website you were talking about? Also what is TAC? Thanks for the replies. Is there any easy way of finding out the war diaries?
     
  12. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    another pic. Going slow which is why it is one at a time.
     

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  13. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    So do you think the unit he was in was '1561 RASC Artillery Platoon' which was attached to '109 LAA Regiment Royal Artillery'? If so any info on what the 109 LAA regt did? I am particularly interested in the photos I have of Belsen.
    Thanks very much,
    Chris
     
  14. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    The entries in the service record are specific about 109 LAA. 1561 Platoon RASC is I would say an almost definite possibility.

    It would mean going to the National Archives at Kew to view the war diaries of both 109 LAA and 1561 RASC Platoon. If you are looking for the names of anyone below an officer in the diaries, then you are almost certain not to see them.

    I've only ever seen in personnel returns of LAA Units for 1944 & 45, no's of RASC men attached, no unit name though. The 1561 Pl diary may be more specific about 109 LAA.

    Would like to help solve this for you, but I'm not going to Kew anytime soon.
     
  15. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    Would just be interesting to find out what the unit he was in did. I wouldnt have thought that he would be mentioned in the diaries since he was only a corporal. How do you search the National Archives for the specific units? I know the diaries are not available online but would be good to see if they have the records for these units.
    Thanks.
     
  16. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    The search engine for the NA can be difficult to navigate. The diary numbers are as follows:-

    1561 Platoon, RASC.

    Jan to Dec 1943 - WO166/13229 - (UK)
    Jan to June & Sep to Dec 1944 - WO171/2573 (UK then NWE)
    Jan to Oct 1945 - WO171/6401 - NWE (Probably disbanded Oct 1945)

    109 LAA Regt

    Jan to Dec 1944 - WO171/1128 (UK then NWE)
    JAn to Dec 1945 - WO171/4954

    Regards - Rob
     
  17. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    The following might be useful or interesting.

    The truck with four corporals is a fairly rare bird. A Dennis Max 6 ton 4 X 2. This is often found with RASC administrative units but not as a task vehicle in GT platoons.

    Arm of Service sign with 503 is for a GT Company operating directly under 21 Army Group.

    The pens in the top pocket suggest an administrative role. Side caps suggest old hands who wore them instead of the official issue general service cap (floppy beret)

    Trux site can be accessed from this site using search or go to Trux 21st Army Group | WW2Talk

    Mike
     
  18. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    Thanks very much for all the info. So many small details in the photos that I never noticed or would have thought anything of! Out of curiosity are the war diaries typically quite long? I was wondering whether it would be worth ordering some of them from national archives, maybe a months worth?
     
  19. cmc39v

    cmc39v Junior Member

    I have a lapel badge of his from the British 2nd army as well.
     
  20. mprior1

    mprior1 Junior Member

    Hi, I know this thread finished a little while ago but I was wondering whether anybody had some more information. I have seen the group picture that was posted by cmc39v and my great grandad is Leonard Prior just poking his head out from behind the person on the far right second row up. It would be great to see some more photos of 1561 unit (are these all you have cmc39v?) and learn anything else that they did during or after the war. The service record that is posted here has much of the same information as the one we have for my great grandad including getting the heavy goods licence on the same date and leaving for BLA together so they may have been friends!

    Any information would be greatly appreciated!
     

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