Service Records help please - What does this mean !!

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by Rea, Oct 3, 2022.

  1. sjw8

    sjw8 Well-Known Member

    Rea

    I have had a good look at the records you posted above. After a bit of manipulation I have deciphered these as follows -

    19/10/39 - enlisted into 4th Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (the Monmouthshire Regiment was a pure Territorial Army unit with no Regular equivalent) in the rank of Private. (Note - 4th Monmouthshire Regiment were formed on 01/06/39 but were later re-designated to 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers on 12/12/42, following that unit's disbandment after its capture in North Africa - this probably accounts for the S.W.B. stamp on the enlistment papers.)

    12/01/40 – transferred to 17th (Home Defence) Battalion, The Welch Regiment (based in Milford Haven).

    12/04/40 to 25/04/40 – served a period of 14 days detention for leaving his post.

    05/10/40 to 08/08/41 – several periods of leave recorded.

    09/08/41 – recorded as getting married on 02/08/41.

    Between 08/08/41 and 17/11/41 – transferred to 31st Battalion, The Welch Regiment (Milford Haven, later Pembroke). Possibly a re-designation from 17th to 31st Battalion?

    19/08/42 – attended a course at Llanberis (cannot decipher exact wording).

    26/11/42 – transferred to the R.A.S.C., in the rank of Driver and posted to C Company, 9th Training Battalion (D) (? Driving/er), RASC (based in Ripley, Derbyshire). His regimental number is prefixed with “T” to reflect his transfer and new rank.

    25/01/43 – posted to 518 D.W. (? Driving/er Wing) Company, RASC (Alfreton, Derbyshire). Also passes his Driving Test.

    15/05/43 – reclassified to Class 1A rate (of pay).

    16/05/43 – left unit to proceed for embarkation on Draft RTFHZ.

    17/05/43 – embarks transport and leaves UK.

    21/05/43 – arrives North Africa. On arrival he is posted to the X(4) list – i.e. a list of un-posted reinforcements - and attached to 1 G.R.T.D. (ie. No.1, General Reinforcement and Training Depot).

    23/07/43 - posted to 487 Gen. Tpt. Coy (General Transport Company) from 1 G.T.R.D.

    21/01/46 – posted to X(4) list B.R.D. (Base Reinforcement Depot) from 487 Gen. Tpt. Coy.

    13/02/46 – posted to X(8A) list, Assembly Centre - i.e. list of personnel awaiting release from service.

    17/02/46 – SOS CMF (Struck Off Strength, Central Mediterranean Forces), prior to Class A release.

    20/02/46 – proceeded on release leave.

    19/03/46 – arrived UK on release leave

    21/05/46 – released to Class Z (T) Royal Army Reserve.

    14/07/51 – driving test confirmed by RASC Records.

    30/06/59 – released from further service.

    Hope this helps,
    Steve
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2022
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  2. Rea

    Rea Member


    Amazing detective work there. Thank you.
    We still have a few questions unanswered and 11 pages of redacted records. He didn't speak much about the war but did tell us he was a POW in Sicil. Trying to put this together for my Dad's 70th Birthday at the end of the month so any help is greatly appreciated. Medals have been ordered and we will have to wait until 2033 for anymore records to be released x
     
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  3. sjw8

    sjw8 Well-Known Member

    Rea

    Well there is that unexplained gap in his records between 1943 and 1946, and if he was a POW this may account for the lack of information for that period. I note that he was still part of Central Mediterranean Forces during this period.

    I understand that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hold POW records and these can be requested. However, I believe that there are only short periods of time that these are available.

    If you search the forum, you should find references to the process of obtaining access to ICRC records.

    Steve

    ETA - link to POW sub forum here - https://ww2talk.com/index.php?forums/prisoners-of-war.26/ - see 1st "pinned" post.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2022
  4. Rea

    Rea Member


    Steve you are a star
    Thank you !!
     
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  5. Staffsyeoman

    Staffsyeoman Member

    There are times when I wish to help from 40 years plus experience but when I offer something to be told "that means nothing to me " in an era of Google, I wonder why I bother to offer.
     
  6. Rea

    Rea Member


    Didn't mean to offend and have been very grateful for all the help that has been given to me. Just because I said it means nothing to me does not mean that I won't go and look it up or pass it on to my dad for him to do so. Please understand that I am completely new to this and have no understanding of any terms. I much appreciate your 40 years experience as mine are 0 years. You have all been so kind
     
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  7. sjw8

    sjw8 Well-Known Member

    Hi Rea

    I was intrigued about the above entry and further to my reply above, on further looking it looks like "Attached W C A F School Llanberis".

    Although I have been unable to work out an exact translation of this abbreviation, I have discovered that during the war there was a Commando Advanced Handling and Fieldcraft School based at Llanberis specialising in Sniper training. It is therefore possible that the above abbreviation is "Welsh Commando Advanced Fieldcraft School" (to distinguish it from the main Commando training school in Scotland) or "War Office Advanced Fieldcraft School". There is the possibility that his unit - a Home Defence Battalion of the Welch Regiment - was temporarily attached to this school to act as an "enemy force".

    Steve


    ETA - clarification of the School's purpose
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2022

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