Hi all, Just managed to get a few more pictures for my website related to the Eighth Army, but would like a little help with trying to find out what this regiment would be R.A.O.C.T.U. I know the first bit would be: Royal Artillery = R.A. The next I am not to sure from the pictures it looks like he started off as a private, but later on in his service he is an officer, is it something to do with Officer training? I also have a menu that came with these photos that has printed on the front "3rd New Intake R.A.O.C.T.U. May 2nd - July 25th 1942" maybe a clue. A group photo with this lot also has on the reverse signed names from people in the following regiments: Essex Regiment Royal Horse Artillery N.Z.E.F. = New Zealand Expeditionary Force A.I.F. = Australian Infantry Force Royal Tank Regiment 7th Hussars Kings Royal Rifle Corps Royal Artillery see the group photo below. Cheers for looking Kieron
Here is another group photo, by the way they are all dressed it look as if they could have been out in North Africa. Also on their hats they have a white band around them, this could also be a clue as to what R.A.O.C.T.U. means
That would make sense I guess Angie, as in the menu I have it's got Toasts and one of the toasts is to the instructors. Thanks for looking Angie Kieron
My guess is that we are looking at something antipodean - slouch hats. etc. Certainly the OCTU stands for 'Officer Cadet Traning Unit' whose members were usually distinguished by a white hat band. Could it be the Royal Austrailian OCTU? Regards
Originally posted by Chris Basey@Mar 13 2005, 07:47 AM My guess is that we are looking at something antipodean - slouch hats. etc. [post=32150]Quoted post[/post] Don't count on it. My dad came home from service in East Africa with an issued slough hat, brim turned up and all. Plus if you look in the photos only a minority are wearing slouch hats, although white bands on caps and hats seem plentiful.
Don't count on it. My dad came home from service in East Africa with an issued slough hat, brim turned up and all. those slouch hats were standard issue for hot and humid countries for many years. In addition, due to lack of money, a Glasgow burgh bought a job lot for their police! There is question about NZEF could that be New Zealand expeditionary Force?
I came across this unit mentioned on this page http://riv.co.nz/rnza/folk/wait.htm I emailed the site owner and will let you know when he replies what this particular unit is. It is New Zealand anyway. Tom.
Hereis the reply; Tom. OCTU is always Officer Cadet Training Unit. In NZ it has always been plain OCTU, never NZOCTU so my first guess is probably the correct one. First guess Royal Artillery Officer Cadet Training Unit Second Royal Australian Officer Cadet Training Unit Third Royal Army Ordnance Corps Training Unit Graeme Black Hamilton New Zealand
Cheers Tom, Looking at the reply you got I am certain this stands for Royal Artillery Officer Cadet Training Unit. I have got the menu for final dinner which was held at Almaza in Egypt and a lot of the senior officers named in there are Royal Artillery. So another question, would this have been common practice for the likes of the Royal Artillery to train men from other regiments even commonwealth regiments to become officers? Cheers all for your help Regards Kieron