Service Records

Discussion in 'General' started by Kieron Hill, Feb 11, 2009.

  1. ken griffin

    ken griffin Senior Member

    Tom,
    The only knowledge of ww1 and ww2, is info i have read or from a vet, like yourself, having seen more of my fathers record than you, i think i would call him a 'Jack the Lad' don't give up your jocular sense of humour because of my misunderstanding please.
    Best regards
    Ken.
     
    Clive Wiley likes this.
  2. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Ken -
    Exactly - now we are on the same page - i.e. "Jack the Lad" = "Old Soldier"

    there was no condemning them as their whole attitude was to avoid all regulations without anyone noticing - the movie with Terry Thomas - " Private's Progress" highlighted their actions - it was a hoot to all...

    we had one with us when we landed in Algiers - the food was appalling - he sorted it all out with a fabulous meal - we wondered why he made such a fuss of burying every morsel of evidence - the answer came swiftly - he had nicked the Officers' dinner !

    Finally caught up with him though - we were guarding some ships in Algiers harbour - he went walkabout - and "found " some new uniforms....

    next morning he dressed in the gloom of the guardhouse in one of his new uniforms - however in the bright sunlight on parade outside - he stood out like a sore thumb - he was dressed in the Green Khaki of the Canadian Army instead of the British all Khaki - the Sergeant Major thought this was very interesting and invited him to a chat in the office - we never saw him again....he had been a commando and badly wounded at the Lofoten Islands raid - so he didn't care much !

    he was a real " Jack the lad "

    Cheers
     
  3. ken griffin

    ken griffin Senior Member

    Tom,
    I was station at HQAFCE (RAF), 68 to 70, Zuid Limburg, Holland, MY Mum & Dad came out on hols, he insisted that I took him a place called Mechelen in Belgium, Just me and him, Can't remember where we when but we eventually found the place, it had been a bakery during the war, to my surprise the daughter still lived there (but it was no longer a bakery} she was about my Dads age, didn't ask questions if you know what i meant, she had loads of photo's of my Dad, later she invited my Mum and my young family over for lunch, all went well, but my Mum never said a lot, which I think is understandable, I was totally embarrassed , by the whole situation, the subject was never mentioned again, so my quote 'Jack the lad', I suppose he was the one who could supply his mates with bread, etc etc, have wondered of late if the is still around.
    Ken.
     
  4. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Ken -
    some things are best left alone - we had one or two like that in our mob - they could find a woman in the middle of the Sahara - Italy was even worse !
    Cheers
     
  5. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Ken,
    Glad you received your fathers records so quickly and have had them translated.

    I have sent off for my fathers last week and hope that the waiting list is not too long!
    We shall wait and see.

    Regards
    Tom


    I have just receieved a standard reply letter from the Records office stating that the waiting time is longer than they like, followed by a complaints proceedure!

    However no hint of how long the wait will take!

    Regards
    Tom
     
  6. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    I have just receieved a standard reply letter from the Records office stating that the waiting time is longer than they like, followed by a complaints proceedure!

    However no hint of how long the wait will take!

    Regards
    Tom


    How disappointing Tom, especially after the loss in the post of your father's original records.

    I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that it won't be too much longer.
     
  7. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Diane,

    Thanks for your kind words.
    I am a little dissappointed, but it is worth waiting for. Not too long I hope!.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  8. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    YCS -
    On the waiting period for the service records -you have probably run into the same problem as my old friend from Calgary who was chief of the Land Titles Office in that City... one day they had an edict from Ottawa stating that it was now forbidden for any member of staff to look out of the office windows before noon !

    This was of course queried and a few months later came the reply - which was quite succinct - " they will have nothing to do in the afternoon " !

    Cheers
     
  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    TTC,

    I think it is either a feast or a famine and I just hit the feast time!

    Regards
    Tom
     
  10. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Tom

    It could well be that the BBC documentaries in the Xmas period and the latest Who do you think you are programs have sparked a surge in the amount of enquiries people are making.

    These genealogy shows have made research into WW1 & WW2 as well as all other avenues so popular now.

    Robert
     
  11. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Robert,

    I think you are absolutely correct with your assumption.
    Thats the power of the media for you. Bad timing on my part!

    Regards
    Tom
     
  12. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Got a letter today advising me that there are long
    delays due to the high volume of urgent welfare
    requests on behalf of former soldiers. So just have
    to be patienant :)
     
  13. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Kieron,
    It looks like we are both in the same club.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  14. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Hi Tom, have you got your service records through yet?
    I am estimating getting mine around about the same time as
    you. I sent my request on the 10th February, got a letter
    on the 16th February advising the delay, when did you send
    for yours? Paul posted up some telephone numbers of which
    you can call and chase up, but I can't find the thread.
    Its a bit like watching paint dry, but guess they're a bit snowed
    under.

    Cheers
    Kieron
     
  15. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Kieren,

    When my sister cleared out my late fathers belongings she came upon his army paybooks and records and due to one thing and anothe forgot to inform me.

    Last March we were talking on the phone and she mentoned the find.

    You can imagine my excitement as my father had never talked about his records being in the house.

    I immediately asked her to get them scanned or copied and to send me the copies.
    She replied that due to the concertina books it was not possible and so posted everything to me by secure post, insured, signed for and with tracking (All Supposedly).

    The worst case scenario happened and between Royal mail and Deutsche Post the packet was lost and we had to wait months before both organisations admitted the item was lost and that there was nothing further we could do.

    I then had to apply for my fathers death certificate before I could apply for his records in Scotland, which I duly did last month.

    Still waiting and it is now almost 12 months since my sisters packet was lost.
    I suppose a few more months will not matter, but is very frustrating.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  16. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Tom just got off the phone to the disclosures
    office after speaking to a helpful Scottish
    lady and she told me I am looking at a couple
    more months before I get them back :mellow:,
    Its like watching paint dry.

    Regards
    Kieron
     
  17. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Kieron,
    Thanks for the update on the timescale.

    I will let you know if I hear anything in the meantime.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  18. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Kieron,

    My Fathers Army records arrived this morning safe and sound!

    No real surprises, confirmation that he was 4th Recce then RAC.

    His last month before demob was spent in Germany, ( B.A.O.R.) Regimental Police, that was a surprise.

    Hopefully your records should be arriving soon.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  19. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Tom,

    Nice one ref your fathers records and dare I say it-Now you know where your career came from :D

    Happy reading !
    Andy
     
  20. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Andy,

    It's great to get the written confirmation even if the details are very thin.

    His injuries whilst on overseas manoeuvres were written as Splash burns to face (Phosphorus).
    For which he was in the RAF hospital for 16 days, a very lucky fellow as his friend sitting beside him in the truck was killed by the same grenade.

    The records also come with a large A4 booklet of abbreviations which I think is a smart move on the Records Department.

    Regards
    Tom
     

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