Codebreaking my Dad's service record

I'm new to this forum and have been recommended by Richard Payne who has already done sterling work in helping me understand my Father's WW2 service record.
My search started least year after a trip to Bletchley promted a BSA M20 purchase and knowing precious little about my Dad's wartime, I thought I'd try and piece it together with the aim of marking my M20 in a similar manner to the one he may have ridden all those years ago as well as finding out some family history. The only info I had previously was my Mum telling me that he rode & instructed on DR bikes and Dad mentioning a knee injury that occured when he collided with a lorry whilst on convoy duty.
Richard has suggested coming here as someone may be able to confirm which Arm of Service serial 701 Army Transport Company used and when it was applied - could this be that tank marking that I'm looking for?

If you can shed any light on his record, no matter how small, I'd be grateful as the abbreviations and handwriting can make it a difficult task when you're new to it all.

I've attached the scanned documents but if higher res items make it easier they can be found with this Photobucket link:

Pictures by ktm_nut - Photobucket

Thanks, Lee.

 

Just spotted the Service Record sub-forum and have re-posted this in the proper place. Oops.

 

Re: driving offences, Road vehicle regulations 1924 - this was the year the highway code first came in? can't find any online references to it though, and Pt. 2 of 1930 road traffic act section 36:

PART II.
PROVISION AGAINST THIRD-PARTY RISKS ARISING
OUT OF THE USE OF MOTOR VEHICLES.
35. Users of motor vehicles to be insured against
third party risks.
36. Requirements in respect of policies.
37. Requirements in respect of securities.

 

Welcome to the forum Lee.

It's well worth having a look at the 'Trux' section of the forum which details 21st Army Group organisation. It is complicated but if you're able to plough through it then it will give you a good idea of how things were organised and why.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/rasc/28508-royal-army-service-corps-introduction.html

Each Division within 21st Army Group appears to have been served by an Army Transport Company. Unless someone here has researched 701 Army Transport Company, you may have to look at the war diaries to see who they were allocated to and presumably therefore, who they were supplying prior to embarkation when your father was injured.

Rich

 

I can help with one small part of your dad's service history. On the first page of the history sheet it shows he was posted to 148 Training Brigade in November 1942.

After 148 Brigade was destroyed at the battle of Tretten, Norway in April 1940, the few survivers were posted to N Ireland where the Brigade was reconstituted as 148 Independent Brigade Group and retrained for future deployment as a first line Infantry Brigade.

However in November 1942 it was re-rolled as an OCTU Training Brigade and moved to Wrotham, Kent. That is where your dad would have joined the Brigade and where it remained for the rest of the war. The Brigade did not see further action after Norway.

I hope that helps a little.

Steve

 

RemeDesertRat, I've also been trying to find out what he did and Rich suggested that part of it could involve using a vehicle without petrol coupons or insurance. I'd love to know what the other offences relate to.

Rik, thanks again. I'll have a good look at that document and follow-up what I can to see what 701's movements were just prior to D-Day. I recieved an email from the NA about the estimate which suggests that my Father isn't named specifically in the diary but I'll see if Drew can help in securing a copy.

Steve, ta for the info. I googled 148 OCTU Wrotham and read a fascinating account from someone who was trained in Despatch Riding. Sadly, no names were mentioned but, who knows, my Dad may well have played a part. Is there a way of finding out how many DR instructors would have been at 148 OCTU?

Thanks Chaps

 

ps. Thanks Owen.

 

It would be most unusual to find an 'Other Rank' mentioned by name in a war diary but what it will show is what the unit was doing and where and with a bit of luck, which infantry division they were allocated to.

You might even find a vehicle roll - perhaps you'll have to sell the Beeza and buy a Matchless !

I don't know if you'll find a diary for 148 Inf. Training Bde. However, there would probably have been a number of motorcycle instructors as all officers were required to be able to ride one (not all of them were the 'right stuff' for powered two wheelers).

 

I can find Workshops, Sigs etc to 148 Bde but no HQ.

 

WO 166/10784 148 Bde HQ for Dec 1943


The home forces register is proper messed up - I'm guessing its under another name like OCTU etc.

 

Just joined this forum but if you need info re the 148th I've done a fair bit of research.
It was a pre-OCTU which did the basic training for all potential officers in the British Army from mid 1942 to 1946. One of the sections of training was done at the D & M wing which included m/c training.
If you need any info re this camp I'm always happy to share my info.
Paul.

 

Also meant to add that the Brigades records for the period can be found in the War Diary [at Kew] of the 1/5 Btn Sherwoods who were the record keepers for the 148th. Unusual for a non-combat unit to keep a War Diary?
Paul.