Help sought with a Tracer record entry

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by clive_t, Jun 25, 2012.

  1. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    Hi,

    I'm hoping someone can shed some light on an entry on my late father's Tracer card, which I recently obtained from Bovington museum:

    [​IMG]

    I am curious about the entry which seems to say something like

    "[posted] draft RWHOG 20/5/42 (52TR122/42)"

    Can anyone enlighten me as to what RWHOG means? Or is it RWHQG?

    Any assistance would be much appreciated

    Thanks,

    Clive
     
  2. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Clive

    That RWHOG - is merely a code number for being drafted overseas and had to be on ALL documents and kit before you were allowed onboard - and as you can see - that period was very busy with reorganizing the Army from 12thRTR -44th RTR - to finish up with 3rd RTR - after a spell in Hospital- all that stuff in parenthesis is merely war office instructions to the clerks in following movements - if he stayed with 3rdRTR- he would have come home with VIII brigade for D day.....

    Cheers
     
    clive_t likes this.
  3. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    Thanks, Tom, very much appreciated.

    From his other documents he enlisted into the 44th RTR in January 1939. My late mother never used to talk about my father's war experiences; partly I imagine because she didn't like talking about it, but probably more fundamental than that he didn't talk about it even to her. One thing I remember as a child being told by her that he was at El Alamein, and D-Day as well. I've not really seen any evidence of either of these events, although given that he was wounded on 1st Sept 1942, whilst with the 3rd RTR, that would suggest he was involved at the Battle of Alam Halfa. There is mention in the 3rd RTR war diaries for that date that there were 5 other ranks wounded that day, so it's entirely possible he was one of those. Thereafter, the entries on the Tracer card seem to refer to Xi and Xii, which I understand refer to postings relating to recovery from wounds received. So for the period before and after 6th June 1944, there doesn't seem to be any indication that he would have been involved in the D-Day landings. Certainly there was no France/Germany Medal in his service medal entitlement. Or have I completely mis-read all this?

    Regards,

    Clive
     
  4. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Clive
    I don't think you are mis -reading anything- but perhaps reading the wrong stuff
    as i have been reading your tracing card from Bovvy and you appear to have the 3rdRTR War Diaries - BUT - do you have his service records as he was - or appears to have been at Wadi El Halfa - wounded - hospital -then GHQ- then - back into a MId East hospital in september of 1944 when the 8th Army was in the North of Italy at....so was he still at GHQ - Cairo until the end when he appears at the Base RAC depot in the UK .....???
    Cheers
     
  5. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    Tom, I have what I believe are his complete service papers, hopefully they are shown here:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I have just ordered, from Bovington, the diary entries for the 12th RTR and the 52nd TR for the relevant periods my father was in those regiments. I'm not sure what it will tell me, but I thought it was worth a punt to find out.

    Thanks again,

    Clive
     
  6. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hi Clive
    Thanks for posting your fathers records. Well the family myth he was at D-Day was wrong I see!

    MEF, Middle East Force (North Africa) with 8th Army
    AAI, Allied Army Italy.

    How many sheets have you posted up there? 2 or 3 ?

    I am sure there should be another couple of sheets. I've also my fathers Service and Casualty Form and his enlistment form. (check out my album's)
    Did you apply for his FULL record?

    Lesley
     
    clive_t likes this.
  7. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    Lesley, thanks for your reply. It's 2 images, each is a 'stitch-up' of 2 scans, you can probably see a bit of a vertical 'line' on each where the halves don't quite match up. I tried editing the post to make it clearer, without success!

    The only other items I received from the Historical Disclosures Unit were his attestation papers. I don't recall specifically asking for his full record, as I assumed that would be the inference anyway - was I wrong in that assumption?

    Thanks again

    Clive
     
  8. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    It is always best to ask for the FULL records. Maybe a phone call to them to clarify if you have ALL the papers.
    It seems to me you are missing the Service and Casualty Form No B103 which lists all the little details! Things like when he was TOS (took on strength) and SOS (struck off strength) and also when he was injured etc.
    Also I have a form A.F.B. 104 S/O Strength on Transfer which is a bit like your tracer card.

    I would certainly ask about the B103 form though. This is the detailed one on my albums.
    Hope this helps

    Lesley
     
  9. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    Now that I think about it, Lesley, I have a gnawing suspicion that there were other sheets, but they were not filled in at all. I can't check this til the weekend though.

    Clive
     
  10. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Let me know how you get on. I am sure Tom Canning will be back to help you with his units movements, as I cannot help in that area.

    Lesley
     
  11. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    Thanks for that advice Lesley, I shall look into that further.

    Regards,

    Clive
     
  12. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Clive -

    Lesley is quite correct there are a couple of small items not shown - like the rest of '42 - most of '43 and '44 - so back to Glasgow for a FULL disclosure of the facts
    Cheers
     
  13. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    Hi Clive and welcome to the forum.

    I see your father's record show he embarked 21 May 1942 and that would suggest he was on the WS 19W convoy to the Middle East. Some info here from
    WS (Winston Specials) Convoys in WW2 - 1942 Sailings :

    WS 19W


    Not strictly a convoy as the single ship was not escorted except for the first 24 hours, nevertheless this convoy code was used; some signals show it also as WS 19A. The single ship was the QUEEN MARY which cleared the Clyde 23.5.42, called at Freetown 30‑31.5, arrived Capetown 6.6 sailing again 10.6 and arrived at Suez 22.6.42. Her return passage was via Capetown and Rio de Janeiro to New York.

    Escort was confined to the Western Approaches and comprised the AA cruiser CAIRO and destroyers BEAGLE, DOUGLAS, KEPPEL and SARDONYX for the day of sailing only.

    Will add something else in a mo...
     
    clive_t likes this.
  14. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    The something else are these couple of pages from "The Winston Specials" by Archie Munro


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Hope they're of interest.
     
  15. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    RosyRedd that's fantastic, thank you so much for that. Another little piece of the jigsaw that is my father's war service is uncovered!

    Thanks to Tom and Lesley once again also, you've been so very helpful - I shall certainly be taking this up with the Historical Disclosures people.

    Clive
     
  16. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    No problem - and sorry - just noticed you've been a member of the forum for a while now :D
     
  17. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    No problem - and sorry - just noticed you've been a member of the forum for a while now :D
    No apology needed, I assure you - it's not like I've been a prolific poster!
     
  18. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Clive/ Rosy

    surprisingly a Tank man from a sea port .....

    what next ..?
    Cheers
     
  19. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  20. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Thanks for that Owen. Lovely picture.
    I does seem that Clive has been short-changed with his fathers records-only 2 pages. There are definitely lots of pages missing. I cannot understand what is going on with the MOD-if you pay your 25 or 30 quid why ask for the full records-why can't they send ALL of them:mad:.

    Lesley
     

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