Well, after EXACTLY 11 months my Grandfather's Service Records arrived today. Some of the info is straight forward, other stuff I may (will) need some help deciphering. I am posting them here for perusal and for reference on my (certain to happen) questions. Cheers, Wayne
Okay, my first questions. What is Y list E? From what I've found means he's available for posting to any unit now he's repatriated POW (same if he was sick/injured I'm guessing). On Soldier Posting Card. 1) What is the PA 6 Northampton? On the Casualty Sheet it shows PA 6 Northampton 2/8/45 and on the Soldier Posting Card it shows P/A 6th N'hants? 2/5/45 (What does P/A mean, Permanently Attached? Posted Active?) 2) Pstd to C.O.D. Teltham on Soldier Posting Card (I think Teltham anyway, maybe Deltham or Feltham on Casualty Sheet). The posted bit I get, what is C.O.D.? Is Teltham correct? 3) CTBPA on posting to C.O.D. Feltham? 4) P/A in excess of WE from PA no8 Btn RAOC? 5) Proceeded to no 4 M.C.U. on 11/1/46.......in excess of W.E.? Thanks for any help. Wayne
Hi Wayne Im no expert "Proceeded to no 4 M.C.U. on 11/1/46.......in excess of W.E.?" no 4 Millitary Clearing Unit .........in excess of War Entitlement. this is only a guess. The P.A could be permantly attached ( further down the page 4 lines up. Did you receive "Useful Abbreviations" with you records
That aligns with RAOC posting, doesn't it? The RAOC managed munitions inventory and the like, didn't they? Wayne COD can mean Central Ordnance Depot
Thanks Alan, actually that makes some sense. His attestation papers are a little different, they only say "for 4 years" none of the "until end of Emergency", or "as required by the King" or any of the other clauses I've previously seen (his are militia attestation papers). They also note his "Due for Discharge" date on his statement of services as 14/7/43, exactly 4 years after he enlisted, and that he signed up for "6 months training". Did some digging....found something that says the abbreviation W.E. stands for War Establishment. Wonder if this refers to him only agreeing to 4 years? This however makes less sense to me than War Entitlement. Hi Wayne Im no expert "Proceeded to no 4 M.C.U. on 11/1/46.......in excess of W.E.?" no 4 Millitary Clearing Unit .........in excess of War Entitlement. this is only a guess. The P.A could be permantly attached ( further down the page 4 lines up)
Teltham should be Feltham. It says in the regimental history that when the decision was made to form the REME in the summer of 1942, the RAOC - which assumed responsibility for supplying MT vehicles and spares to the whole army - took over the depot in Feltham which was previously the main MT spares depot for the RASC. 8th Bn RAOC was based in Derby (which corresponds with the service record info.)
COD can mean Central Ordnance Depot Google "Central Ordnance Depot Feltham" and you'll find that's spot on though "RAOC Feltham" throws up more potentially useful matches inc. this visual clue to its appearance... Shipping, R.A.O.C., Feltham ... which could be usefully compared with Google Earth's 1945 aerial imagery. It wasn't shown on OS maps, for easily surmisable security reasons, but there were a likely-looking group of closely-packed, narrow, ridge-roofed structures at the NW end of the old RASC Depot - note Ordnance Close just NW again. I've attached a KMZ pointer to the spot - so you just need to switch to 1945 historical mode. HTH, Steve
Thanks everyone, I've almost got this all deciphered. The Google earth reference was awesome, thanks Steve! A couple minor questions, I have attached a screenshot of the relevant records for reference. 1) my old eyes see the hospital he was sent to as "Harrow Road Mil Hosp." which I am thinking this is Paddington Military Hospital, Harrow Road but I am unsure this is accurate. Does anyone have any other info? 2) P/A 6 Northampton, followed by the hospital entries showing his unit as 6nn. Any ideas what this is? I'm guessing he was posted / Attached to the Northampton Regt, but what does 6nn stand for? Thanks again for all the assistance. Wayne
I believe the nn is an abbreviation for Northamptonshire (Regiment). In the 2 Northamptonshire signal logs I have, they are often referred to as 2NN.
Thanks RosyRedd, thought that might be just a typo and really be 6 Bn as he was posted to the "6th N'Hants 2-5-45", but Bn would be the battalion. Cheers, Wayne I believe the nn is an abbreviation for Northamptonshire (Regiment). In the 2 Northamptonshire signal logs I have, they are often referred to as 2NN.
The Google earth reference was awesome, thanks Steve! I'm so glad you liked that Wayne - please also see my attached OS map scan & marginalia transcript for context. And, FWIW, I think you've got the right hospital - leastways Wikipedia's English list only contains 2 instances of the word "Harrow" both on the same line. Cheers, Steve
Thanks Steve, appreciate all your help. I tried to do the Google Earth thing with his posting at COD Derby but failed. There are buildings there that look right, but Google Earth only goes back to 1999 for the area. I believe the Depot was on Sinfin Lane, Derby? Cheers, Wayne I'm so glad you liked that Wayne - please also see my attached OS map scan & marginalia transcript for context. And, FWIW, I think you've got the right hospital - leastways Wikipedia's English list only contains 2 instances of the word "Harrow" both on the same line. Cheers, Steve
I believe the Depot was on Sinfin Lane, Derby? 170 crow-klicks from me, so perhaps retracing your online steps, but seemingly yes: 1943/4 "I was posted to the Royal Ordnance Depot in Sinfin Lane, Derby" [*]"Loading bays on the old ordnance depot looking from Goodsmoor Road" complemented by Geograph's view along its N side (mispinpointed but in right square) FTR: Old Maps' show this area as fields on the 1938 OS map and the building described as a "Vehicle Depot" in 1951. And its absence from the 1948 New Popular Edition 1" map (relevant km square below) suggests that, like the Feltham depot, its presence was suppressed until well after hostilities finally ceased. Rgds, Steve
