RASC help with granddads service record please

hi all, been a while since I posted, but I have now received my granddads service record, and am really proud and excited , I don't understand it all but it was 30 quid well spent! from the info on there he was in the rasc in various units , 556, 838, 156, 543, and 1 rasc companies. he did go overseas not to sure where but M.E.L.F , N.W.F are noted, if anyone knows anything about any of the rasc companies I have stated, It would be greatly appreciated.

 

I don't know if you received the abbreviations list with the records, but here they are anyway

NWE North West Europe
BLA British Liberation Army
MELF Middle East Land Force
BAOR British Army of the Rhine

Sorry I cannot help with RASC units, but perhaps other members can.

Lesley

 

thanks very much owen, didn't think of that myself, and thanks Lesley, I did find the abbr. list, the writing is so small on the records themselves it takes a while to decipher, I want to find a bit more about the rasc units and what my granddad was doing,made us all chuckle at home where he got severely reprimanded for having a dirty piece of kit.

 

Coolchris

The "dirty piece of kit " was in fact the whole of the rear of his vehicle was in a dirty condition - and as we all know - Food was carried in the rear of most RASC vehicles - so he was

very lucky to only have a severe reprimand as being a driver he should have known better...

Cheers

 

hi, Tom thanks for that, I thought it was perhaps the vehicle, any idea what the severe reprimand might have been. luckily for my granddad his notification of impending release stated his conduct as exemplary(phew) I didn't get to get many stories from my granddad about the war unfortunately, but think he was also a convoy leader on a motorbike as well.

 

My Dad was also in the RASC from Normandy to Hamburg. Their nickname was Run Away Somebody's Coming! I managed to get a book with that very title written by Robert Houghton who was with the corp from 1943. I can thoroughly recommend it as it has a mine of information on uniform, equipment, vehicles and logistics giving you an insight into everyday life. You can order direct from the author - find him on the internet. I have read my Dad's unit's war diary and cross referenced it with the Royal Engineer's diary that he was attached to with the result that I am going to follow his route through, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany next year. Since staring this research I have become a WW2 geek. So beware - it sucks you in unawares!

 

Just to say I have also recently acquired a copy of the book "Run Away Somebody's Coming" direct from Robert. I explained my interest and he put a dedication inside the book for me (to my Dad). Well worth the money.

I have also just been given (in exchange for sharing a few war diaries) a copy of "The Story of the Royal Army Service Corps 1939-1945". Provides the story of the RASC during the war. I have seen copies for sale on the internet.

Coolchris - good luck with your search.

Toki2 My Dad was also with the RASC from Normandy (just a bit after D Day) and after reaching Germany ended up with the BAOR. I envy you your trip and maybe once I have deciphered the relevant war diaries will try a similar trip. And yes this involvement with WW2 can take over your life - every time I learn something new I realise how much there is still to find out.

Brian

 

toki2 and Brian, thanks very much for suggesting these books, I will try and obtain a copy of both of these books, Brian , I think my granddad also was with the BAOR, im still not quite sure where he toured overseas, but like toki2 says , it really does suck you in, I hope you enjoy your trip!

 

Coolcris
A severe reprimand ussuslly involves a takingto by the Colonel and involves words such as "stupid" and " should know better " etc - don;t get too carried away by the "Exemplary" as three million of us got the same B.S.

Cheers

 

Tom sounds more like marriage than the military - I get similar talks almost daily from my better half!

Brian

 

Brian -


Always been the case with the exception that they couldn't give you a baby - now they can - BUT - they can't make you love it

eers