Grandfathers Service Record just received am a bit stuck......

Hello everybody I stumbled upon this forum last night while trying to find out how to use the information on my Grandfathers record to build a picture of his 23 years in the Army.

I do not know what I will be able to find out but I would very much like to know what he was doing in the different countries he was posted to and any battles he may have been in etc.....

I have attached some of the records,I hope you can read some of it,I am having trouble with a lot of it

If anyone can advise me of the best way forward to find more info I would be most greatful!

 

Hi Busta, nice to have you with us. Can I ask where you obtained the record from? Was it the MoD?
To read the record I (and other members) will probably have to download the pages to study in a larger format so it might take a little while to get some responses but I am sure members here will be happy to help.
I might add some records can be difficult to read with so many abbreviations and sometimes dubious Clerk/Adjutant handwriting so I am not surprised you are finding it difficult!

Mike

 

Nice lot of details there - you can immediately spot the BEF (1939/40) and PaiForce (Persia and Iraq - 1942/43) references.

I'm sure that the expert decypherers will be able to decypher a lot more...

best

 

Hi Busta, nice to have you with us. Can I ask where you obtained the record from? Was it the MoD?
To read the record I (and other members) will probably have to download the pages to study in a larger format so it might take a little while to get some responses but I am sure members here will be happy to help.
I might add some records can be difficult to read with so many abbreviations and sometimes dubious Clerk/Adjutant handwriting so I am not surprised you are finding it difficult!

Mike

Thanks Mike,yes it was MoD.
Think I am going to need a magnifying glass to be honest.
Would there have been a better way to upload them you think?

 

Hello busta

Welcome to the forum. As Richard said, they are a lovely set of records there including the B103 army form which completely lists all his movements. I am sure one of the veterans on here will be along to help soon. Tom?!

Lesley

 

Hi busta welcome to the forum

Records are okay. Seem clear enough to me anyway. There are 11 of us looking at them at the moment !

 

Nice lot of details there - you can immediately spot the BEF (1939/40) and PaiForce (Persia and Iraq - 1942/43) references.

I'm sure that the expert decypherers will be able to decypher a lot more...

best

Thanks Bexley,
Not knowing anything about the abbreviations I worked out the British Expeditionary Force but missed the PaiForce

 

Hi busta welcome to the forum

Records are okay. Seem clear enough to me anyway. There are 11 of us looking at them at the moment !

Many tanks

 

Busta

with a quick look at his records - he did well - and served in many areas with time in Kowloon in the far east - then BEF in France - then Palestine (PIAF) - middle East (MEF) - Italy (CMF) - finishing up at Villach in Austria- then on leave to the UK- probably on the same train as I was on.....to end his overseas stint

No real battles as most of his time appears to have been spent with GHQ signals

Cheers

 

Hello busta

Welcome to the forum. As Richard said, they are a lovely set of records there including the B103 army form which completely lists all his movements. I am sure one of the veterans on here will be along to help soon. Tom?!

Lesley

Thanks Lesley

 

Says he was evacuated BEF and then in June 1942 embarked for Iraq. I think that is convoy WS20 which sailed 21 June 1942.

Some info here: WS (Winston Specials) Convoys in WW2 - 1942 Sailings

 

Busta

with a quick look at his records - he did well - and served in many areas with time in Kowloon in the far east - then BEF in France - then Palestine (PIAF) - middle East (MEF) - Italy (CMF) - finishing up at Villach in Austria- then on leave to the UK- probably on the same train as I was on.....to end his overseas stint

No real battles as most of his time appears to have been spent with GHQ signals

Cheers

Same train wow,good job no battles otherwise might not have had the 23 years eh......
Thanks for the quick explanation!

 

Lots to decipher there, did you get a list of abbreviations with the record?
Nice to see things like 'signed on for 12' then 21 years and ended up as CSM.
I noted one 'accidental' injury but did not see any medical history - do you have it?

 

Says he was evacuated BEF and then in June 1942 embarked for Iraq. I think that is convoy WS20 which sailed 21 June 1942.

Some info here: WS (Winston Specials) Convoys in WW2 - 1942 Sailings

Thanks Rosy,fascinating!

 

Lots to decipher there, did you get a list of abbreviations with the record?
Nice to see things like 'signed on for 12' then 21 years and ended up as CSM.
I noted one 'accidental' injury but did not see any medical history - do you have it?

Yes Mike got the list of abbreviations with it.
The 'accidental' injury is a bit of a mystery,no one in the family recalls him mentioning it.
There doesn't seem to be a medical record included either.

 

Sorry, not CSM but SSM (Squadron Sgt Major).
Hope Andy (Drew 5233) sees this, he is ex-Royal Signals and a BEF expert, could add a lot to this thread.
Noted one entry of interest to me (LCTs are my particular interest) on page 2. 19/6/42 embarked for Iraq on craft 466 Serial 1832(?) 466 would be a Mk3 LCT, seems a bit early for a Mk3, will look into it. Early Mk3s were 400 series, later ones 7000 series. Might give some info on convoy etc.

 

If he was GHQ Signals in 1940 sadly his units war diary finishes in April (May was probably burned).

I can't (too slow) download the images due to my crappy internet speed (0.7mb)!

 

Sorry, not CSM but SSM (Squadron Sgt Major).
Hope Andy (Drew 5233) sees this, he is ex-Royal Signals and a BEF expert, could add a lot to this thread.
Noted one entry of interest to me (LCTs are my particular interest) on page 2. 19/6/42 embarked for Iraq on craft 466 Serial 1832(?) 466 would be a Mk3 LCT, seems a bit early for a Mk3, will look into it. Early Mk3s were 400 series, later ones 7000 series. Might give some info on convoy etc.

Glad it is of some interest to you Mike.

Fingers crossed Andy will see the thread and maybe add something

 

If he was GHQ Signals in 1940 sadly his units war diary finishes in April (May was probably burned).

I can't (too slow) download the images due to my crappy internet speed (0.7mb)!

Is that burned on purpose?

One year ago 0.7mb was me and it was no joke!
Very glad to have joined the fibre club

 

Andy, see PM.