Trying to work out Grandfathers European theatre of war route RASC Field Ambulance Driver 1942-1945

Discussion in 'General' started by ClaireJR, Jan 20, 2022.

  1. ClaireJR

    ClaireJR Member

    I’m trying to piece together my grandfathers route through Northern Europe as an ambulance driver. He died in 1966 the year before I was born and my grandmother didn’t keep much in the way of photos from that period. I do have his service book though and I applied to get his record though that didn’t shed much light on anything other than he was charged with driving with undue care and attention in April 1945 for driving over an UXB and damaging the ambulance wheels!
    My father said he didn’t talk much about his service so other than being told he had been at Tilly and Antwerp and eventually Belsen without any detail that’s all we know. This may not even be correct.

    He joined for basic training at Matlock Bath in December 1942 aged 34. We assume he was conscripted into the territorial army as he was not in a reserve occupation and was a married man with a child of 4. I’m attaching the first two pages of the service book and wonder if anyone could please point me in the right direction to be able to build up a more accurate picture.

    thank you
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Welcome Claire, would recommend that you post his service records so that folks around here can try and interpret them for you.
     
  3. ClaireJR

    ClaireJR Member

    Thank you I’ll do that this weekend
     
    Tony56 likes this.
  4. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    The 34C written on P3 of his AB64 is likely his “age & service group” designation that was used to determine his demobilisation date post war - based on a matrix using age and date of enlistment/conscription.

    Steve
     
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  5. ClaireJR

    ClaireJR Member

    This is the whole book
     

    Attached Files:

  6. ClaireJR

    ClaireJR Member

    Thank you. I’m pretty certain my Dad said he was demobbed in 1946 but I’m not entirely sure. My sister has the service records we received from the army personnel historical disclosures but as I remember it was very limited, just a few pages. Maybe we didn’t apply for the correct records. We are the surviving next of kin now so maybe I should reapply
     
  7. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Hopefully once you post the papers members may be able to advise you if there are any possible omissions.

    If your sister applied many years ago and was provided with a typed “record of service” then you need to reapply as MOD now provide copies of original documents.

    Steve
     
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