Hello I'm searching for this book as a gift for my dad. He thinks this is what it is called and it's supposed to be a history of my Grandfathers regiment in WWII. I believe he was in the REME and he has been searching for this book for years to no avail. If anyone can help, point me in the right direction or just flat out tell me I'm wrong and there's no such book that'd be great Thanks in advance
Hi and welcome. REME were a corps and were attached to various regiments in the army - do you have any more details? ie what theatre was your Grandfather in? what dates was he in the army? PS done lots of research re: REME but never heard of this book.
I reckon it could be Recce and this book, and if so your Grandad, was attached to 5th Recce. 5th Reconnaissance Regiment, RAC Literature A.R. Prince (ed.)Wheeled odyssey : the story of the Fifth Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps-68 p. Reconnaissance Regiments RAC [1939-1945]
Found out some more info He was in the RASC from 05/09/1940 until the 30/09/42 He then moved to the REME from 01/10/1942 until 16/10/1946 Attained the rank of CFN(?) I found the "Soldiers release book Class "A" which has an address in Leicester and a stamp saying "Military dispersal Unit NO.2, 5 JULY 1946 York" I've also found his Service number so do you think I should just bypass all this and go ahead and get his service record instead, then ask you lovely chaps for a bit of help decoding it?
Attained the rank of CFN(?) CFN = craftsman. getting his service record will tell you more about his service, but can take up to 9 months I believe.
Damn, 9 months, I didn't expect it to take that long! What do you reccomend then, any ideas? Also, Craftsman you say, so what would his job have been then? From what I understand, he was in every theatre of war at one point or another! There's a family rumour that he was part of the LRDG at one point as well. It seems like he had quite an interesting career to be honest.
Murray, despite the possible long wait the service record is essential to your research. Be sure to ask for the FULL record or you might just get a few photocopied pages. Please keep us informed of your findings. Best of luck, Mike
LRDG? That would be interesting. Definitely send off for service records, as Mike L said, ask for full service history. Still stumped as to the book in question though, good luck wih your research.
And my post 3 above would appear to be scotch mist! Sorry my misunderstanding, I thought you were ruling out your initial thoughts with post 8!! I have heard the term Scotch mist used as to mean wrong as in he's scotch mist = he's wrong I've also heard it used in other contexts, but we won't go there!
Sorry my misunderstanding, I thought you were ruling out your initial thoughts with post 8!! I have heard the term Scotch mist used as to mean wrong as in he's scotch mist = he's wrong I've also heard it used in other contexts, but we won't go there! The phrase 'Scotch mist' is used humorously to refer to something that is hard to find or doesn't exist - something imagined........RDR, I was more than serious in my post and having moved the words about it seems to fit, but you all ignored it hence my rather sarcatic post on the other hand having read other posts by you, do you think the book Craftsman of the army may be of help in this case
, do you think the book Craftsman of the army may be of help in this case Impossible to say without seeing the service record. Although a large book (400+ pages) It does cover an extremely large organisation. REME had units from as far apart as the Falklands, Burma, North Africa and thats before it mentions the Australian, Indian engineers etc. It would be of help if he served at a base depot, but not if and when he was attached to another unit. REME is not a widely covered subject, so getting service records and seeing which units the man in question served with would be the only way to go from here. BTW where did 5th recce serve?
Impossible to say without seeing the service record. Although a large book (400+ pages) It does cover an extremely large organisation. REME had units from as far apart as the Falklands, Burma, North Africa and thats before it mentions the Australian, Indian engineers etc. It would be of help if he served at a base depot, but not if and when he was attached to another unit. REME is not a widely covered subject, so getting service records and seeing which units the man in question served with would be the only way to go from here. BTW where did 5th recce serve? Of the top of my head Sicily, Italy and Germany but im no Recce expert maybe one of the Recce guys could fill any gaps.
Of the top of my head Sicily, Italy and Germany but im no Recce expert maybe one of the Recce guys could fill any gaps. Interesting, LRDG, Sicily, Italy and Germany, the man in question could have been 8th Army? Hope the OP sends for service record.
If he was indeed attached to 5th Reconnaissance Regt., perhaps as part of a REME Light Aid Detachment then that would explain the well-travelled idea. 5 Recce Regt RAC (1/44 - 8/45) followed 5th Bn. Recce Corps (1/41 - 6/42) and 5th Regt. Recce Corps (6/42 - 12/43) as the reconnaissance unit atached to 5th Division who perhaps covered more miles in their postings than any other. Service records are really the only way of being sure and researching further, otherwise it's all based on guesswork. There is a 5th Division official history which will give a better idea of the division's travels and actions than a book about REME alone but don't expect to find many references to the support services in it.
I reckon it could be Recce and this book, and if so your Grandad, was attached to 5th Recce. 5th Reconnaissance Regiment, RAC Literature A.R. Prince (ed.)Wheeled odyssey : the story of the Fifth Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps-68 p. I have a sound copy of this book for sale @ £10 plus p&p if you wish to buy it. Very scarce - unable to locate it on any of the Bookfinder sites. Inscribed in biro on front endpaper - W.(or D.) W. Taylor Ex. 5 Recce Can send scan if you wish. For your security can put it on eBay as "Buy it Now" if you prefer. Regards
This thread appears to be a typical case of guesswork which has led to some confusion and stubborn resistence to gaining the facts - which are easy to follow - the man appears to have served in the REME which came into being in 1942 from the RAOC - as a craftsman - more than likely a Motor Mechanic - at the same time the RECCE was a part of the RAC but they were NOT all TanK LAD members.... So the 5th RECCE was attached to 5th INFANTRY Division or as we knew them- " The Globe Trotters" as they saw service - NOT action in many theatres such as BEF - Madagascar - India - Middle East - formed up in Sicily for the invasion of Italy alongside the 1st Cdn Division - made their way towards the relief of Salerno - over to the Sangro River area then back to the 5th US Army for Anzio - untimely to Belgium alongside the Cdns thorough the south of France ending thhe war in Germany....the contact with the LRDG appears to be a case of "Scotch Mist" as their main area of action was the desert and all this from my memory which has recently been called into question but a swire shufti of the War Diaries of 5th Div might reveal the truth in weeks and NOT months Cheers
