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
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.
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
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.
Maybe contact - 1st Air Troop RE | ParaData 9 Parachute Squadron RE - Wikipedia - to give an idea There might be some useful links in here - marketgarden.com - statistics - 1st Airborne Division and supporting units TD