Changing regiments etc

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by jemm, Mar 21, 2021.

  1. jemm

    jemm Junior Member

    Hi all :)

    I have a guy who in 1942 is serving in the R.A.S.C he is captured at Tobruk but escaped when his captors are under shellfire. In 1943 he is still in the R.A.S.C. but by Arnhem, he is with 1st Airborne Division R.E.M.E Workshop parachuting into Arnhem.

    Would this be unusual or common? :)

    Thanks in advance
     
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  2. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    First, changing regiments was very common. Units formed, amalgamated, disbanded, and changed roles throughout the war, and personnel were frequently shifted from one regiment to another to fill gaps. A 1944 infantry battalion might have men its ranks who had been culled from a dozen or more different regiments. That said, your case may be slightly different. The REME was formed in October 1942 from elements of the RAOC, RASC, and RE. Tobruk fell four months before the REME was formed. Depending on your man's specialty or assignment in the RASC, it may have been deemed proper to shift him to the newer corps if the REME had taken over his role.
     
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  3. jemm

    jemm Junior Member

    Great thank you :)
     
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  4. jemm

    jemm Junior Member

    Sorry I should have said in my original post-THH he was only a prisoner for 3 days before he got away and was picked up by in his words " a well known armoured division" so its highly probable he would have joined REME after his escape :)
     
  5. idler

    idler GeneralList

    The key to it may be his trade. The RASC had their own MT workshops before REME and kept them afterwards. However, when he 'went airborne', the equivalent RASC role may not have been available (they weren't dropping fleets of lorries). He may have been transferred, or simply attached, to the REME Workshop as the only place where his skills could be used.
     
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  6. jemm

    jemm Junior Member

    Thank you so much for your help :)
     
  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  9. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Out of interest what was the gents name?
     

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