Royal Corps of Signals Service Record

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by YW01, Jun 11, 2022.

  1. YW01

    YW01 New Member

    Good evening,

    I have started to try to figure out more of my grandfathers service record. He served as a Machine Mechanic as an Acting Lance Corporal during WW2. Details of what he actually did are scant from family stories, other than he arrived in France on DDay+1, that he trained with the men that landed on DDay itself and that he sometimes worked as a cook. I have recently been given his Service book and discharge papers and I am hoping someone can help me start deciphering some of it.

    I have attached two pages here regarding his employment, much of which makes little sense to me. I am particularly interested in the meaning of his specialist employment on 29th May 1944, just a few days before DDay. But any help trying to work out what it all means and any inferences we can make from the entries would be very much appreciated.

    I am planning on going to the royal signals museum in a few weeks to find out more about what they did in WW2.

    With best wishe,

    Vonni
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Welcome t the forum. I am just the first of many who will be hoping to help you so lets see what we can find out with your first posting.
    This is of interest to many I believe but more info is really required:

    1. If you have it you need to post his Form B103 Service and Casualty form and if possible his Form B200 Statement of Service.
    I say this as my uncle was Royal Signals initially trained in Huddersfield.
    Members will be able to transcribe these papers into meaningful events.
    If you don't have these they are available at a price from the MOD who are currently transferring these papers the the National Archives at Kew.

    2. You say he was a Machine Mechanic, this is an odd title, are you sure he wasn't an Instrument Mechanic IM AII
    (like I was during my apprenticeship). They repair instrumentation like that used to measure electricity, temperature, signal strength etc. Some of these would be apparent on their signalling equipment. (The man who trained me had been a Flight Engineer in the RAF on Halifax Bombers so had to be able to fix instruments during flight).

    Because we cant see his B103 we cant see any evidence of his going overseas, even to Normandy.
    So don't know what he might have been doing there or what trade he actually was.

    Please respond as we would very much like to assist you.
    Goodbye for now and good luck.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2022
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  3. YW01

    YW01 New Member

    Hi, not sure about the papers your mean but I have another book, it’s his release papers.
    Ahh yes he was an instrument mechanic..

    I will share an image of his release certificate. It says he was in the 3rd ind adm coy. Not sure what that is could not find anything online

    I also have a record of his training too. I will add that.

    thank your for your very helpful reply.
     
  4. YW01

    YW01 New Member

    So Training record and X202/A attached here

    I will see if I can order the other papers you mention as I don’t think they are here with these two books.

    many thanks for any help.

    Vonni
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Thanks for sharing the material.

    Apart from his discharge certificate the pages show various training courses he attended after his enlistment.

    As mentioned above you really need to obtain his service record from UK MOD to discover where he served during his service.

    His discharge certificate was completed when he was serving in BAOR - which was the occupation force in Germany after the war ended (British Army Of The Rhine) but you will need his service record to confirm whether he served overseas during hostilities.

    Get a copy of military service records

    Steve
     
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  6. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Those above seem to be from his Army Records Book not his Army Service Record which you obtain from the MOD still but it is changing and takes some time.
    Get a copy of military service records

    Below is a part of a B103 and part of a B 200d These provide dates and places where he was posted for training including any postings to other units but not the battles he fought in.
    (My copies were chopped up by Army Records to get them on their photocopier).
    It is in Army Jargon and not easy to understand. That's where we come in if you want.

    B200d is part of his enlistment and discharge papers and B103 his training and postings during his service. The one I have posted is one of three as he was in North Africa then Italy for over four years with lots of courses, spells in Hospital and some trade changes.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jun 11, 2022
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  7. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Thanks Tullybrone that answers a lot of questions re the discharge sheet reference number.
     
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  8. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    There is a clue regarding Independent Administration Company here:
    Link: ROYAL SIGNALS - Introduction

    Not the author has closed the thread. I have no idea what the reference refers to, nor does Google find anything that helps,
     
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  9. YW01

    YW01 New Member

    Thank you all so much,

    I hadn’t picked up the BAOR abbreviation, so that’s really interesting.

    I note his discharge papers mention he was a good instrument mechanic but does not mention active service. Knowing my grandad as a quiet introverted thinker Who loved inventing, improvising and improving everything this makes sense. I can never imagine he would have made one of the best frontline fighters but he would have been good at keeping the equipment working and in good order to enable others to do that. I will order his papers and see what we find though, Also, as I write, I do seem to remember him trying to teach me some morse code as a youngster.

    thank you for the link to the old Royal Signals thread. I will take a look

    Vonni
     
  10. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Regarding: It says he was in the 3rd ind adm coy
    I personally think that you are assuming this to be posting but I am of the opinion that it is merely a stamp of the Administration Unit
    to say that they have received the notification.

    Good luck with your further research
     
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