Hello All, I don't know if this will end up as four separate (sticky?) threads or not but here goes: What is the Rank of Driver i/c and is there a Driver i/b? What is the Trade of Driver Mechanic DII and is there a Driver Mechanic DI? Occupational (Sub?)Class of a Driver appears to be 194.8 with and Industry Group of RM but why? Sorry if I appear to be leaping around over four differennt subjects but they're all mentioned on my Grandfathers Service record. I guess I'm asking what variations in different Ranks, Trades, Occupational Classes, and Grades existed? (Trust the Army to take a Civvy Taxi Driver and classify him 6 ways from Christmas! ) Thanks, Andrew.
fixit9660 as REME points out the classification Driver i/c means that he is trained to drive a vehicle with wheels and an internal combustion engine - in the Army way none of this civilian nonsense Driver Mech is trained to drive a tracked vehicle - grade III & II only Similarly a wireless op was trained to operate a wireless to grade III and II only Industrial classifications were merely a guide and in the example of the Taxi driver - he would probably end up on the cook house ...peeling spuds Cheers Cheers
Andrew I will throw in my two penny's worth just to add to the general knowledge. After 6 weeks basic training in Oct '42 I was posted to an RA Signals Training Rgt and after a twelve week course found myself designated D/Op Class II, meaning I was qualified to drive & maintain a vehicle and operate various wireless sets. When in Dec '44 my unit was disbanded, I was posted to an RAC Training Rgt where I subsequently passed out as a Loader/Op although I was never to find official confirmation in my records. This now meant I was trained to drive tracked vehicles, fire the various armaments on a Sherman tank and operate the same wireless set (The 19 set) that I had used in the RA. After the war had ended in Italy I volunteered to be re-trained as a Tech-Storeman and finished my service as Cpl/Tech Storeman Class II. If you think it's worth the effort, go to my Profile and you will find an album that holds all my Army Records so that you can trace the evolution Ron
Gents that is wonderful, thank you. I assume there were various classes of Driver Mechanic, DII being just one of them. Presumably a CI or A1 would be better and best classes? Cheers Andrew.
Search: army trades pay (Hansard) 1940s Mr. Shinwell There are no unskilled Army trades. Army trades are arranged in three groups, A, B and C, in a descending order of difficulty and time required in attaining proficiency. There are three degrees of skill, Classes III, II and I, in each Army trade which correspond with the grades of learner, journeyman and master craftsman where there is an equivalent trade in industry. The several rates of pay reflect the time required and difficulty in attaining proficiency in each class of each trade
Tom, see posting 9? ...and I can't see the logic in having a III and II without having a I.... Wills, Army trades are arranged in three groups, A, B and C, ...so what is D then please? See my attachement posting 1. Andy.
Fixit No attachment to your initial posting - but any grade of 1 was not usually in normal ranks but specialists mainly such as REME - with real engineers - Signals- where we had many ex Post office people teaching morse code etc.... The classification method took a while to get right as I recall a Private on Kitchen duties answering a General in Greek - he was an Oxbridge don teaching Latin and Greek- he soon became an Officer - finished the war as Brig .Gen in Intelligence - his name - Enoch Powell M.P. - he of the prophetic Birmingham speech of 1968 Cheers
Very remiss of the late: Emanuel "Manny" Shinwell, Baron Shinwell CH, PC (18 October 1884 – 8 May 1986), familiarly known as Manny, was a British trade union official, Labour politician, Not to put D in the grades!
Hi Tom, The posting attachment should be there but I think you answered the post faster than I could attach it; too fast for me . Ah I see, a sort of "expert" grade. A bit difficult to have an "expert" driver, I will grant you. Morse Code, hmm I remember that --. .---- -.- -... -.. . --- --. -.- .- Prophetic indeed! Cheers Andy
1942: The Joint Under-Secretary of State for War (Mr. Arthur Henderson) The pay of Army tradesmen varies according to their 1563 service and their trade classification. The daily rate of pay of a private tradesman clerk is from 3s. 9d. to 5s. 9d.; a private tradesman fitter from 4s. 3d. to 6s. 9d. A gunner who belongs to the crew of an armoured fighting vehicle is normally expected to qualify as either a gunner mechanic or a gunner operator. The former is paid from 3s. 9d. to 5s. 0d. and the latter from 3s. 9d. to 5s. 6d. a day. A gunner not so qualified would be paid from 3s. 0d. to 4s. 9d. according to his service and proficiency. I will try and hunt down the D classification.
The classification method took a while to get right as I recall a Private on Kitchen duties answering a General in Greek - he was an Oxbridge don teaching Latin and Greek- he soon became an Officer - finished the war as Brig .Gen in Intelligence - his name - Enoch Powell M.P. - he of the prophetic Birmingham speech of 1968 Cheers Interesting, I didn't know that - but I remember the speech.
I do here in the most solemn and bitter manner curse the Prime Minister of England [sic] for having cumulated all his other betrayals of the national interest and honour, by his last terrible exhibition of dishonour, weakness and gullibility. The depths of infamy to which our accurst "love of peace" can lower us are unfathomable Extract of letter to the PM, pre war - guess which one! Private Royal Warwickshire Regt to Brigadier!
Gents, Can anyone shed any light on the meaning of the manually added/stamped panel in the bottom right hand corner please? Thanks Andy.
