War Records - help with abbreviations & interpretation of service records

Bofors -
Can't get all of that on my screen to make enough sense out of it but it looks like a new stunt - which I didn't sign if memory serves but it looks like a waiver to the effect that he has NOT received a pension for wounds of injuries while on his service in the Mid East and Italy - he sounds like a man who had had enough of them and just wanted to forget all about it - knowing that to get a pension in those days was like pulling teeth and hardly worth the bother !

OR as Descartes might have said "Cogitivia iam me sumpsisse unam nimis multis" -
I've already had one too many....

Cheers

 

Hi all

this is my translation of this page - please correct/answer questions as you can- ? = cant read or understand or guess

52nd AA Driver Training REST ? RA , Posted to 281 LLA Battery RA at Barnard Castle rank Gunner 20/09/41
281 LAA Battery 9 days paid leave with effect from 30/12/41 to 7/1/42 at Rainham (Kent from unit war diary)
Posted to R.A. Depot at Hartlip 30/01/42 Woolwich with effect from 31/1/42

Depot Posted to Draft Serial RFF2H Woolwich ??? signed some Leftenant RA i/c. Docs. "C" LAA Depot
Embarked UK 13 Feb 42
Posted X List (IV) 13 Feb 42 ?
Disembarked ME (Mediterranean?)
12.3.42 XL (IV) Posted to 39th LAA Battery ((14th Reg)) Egypt Gunner 6/5/42
(this is in wrong place) 86 LAA Rgt Granted WPP ?? Gunner 19/12/41
SOS MEF to BNAF Egypt Gunner 10.9.43 - (struck off strength? Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to British North Africa Force
39 LAA Bty SOS ?? BNAF 10/9/43
14 LAA Rgt Appointed (V or O) Lance Bombardier Field 21/11/43
Ditto Appointed Paid Lance Bombardier ditto ditto ditto
Awarded Africa Star & 8th Army Clasp
Posted to 13 LAA Regt RA Returning? to Gunner to Class IA? for pay Filed Gunner 17/2/45
13 LAA Taken On Strength from 14 LAA regt RA dittos
Appointed O/A? and Paid Acting Lance Bombardier 22/2/45

165/43 Admitted (to) II General Hospital? and posted to X(2) List ?
Reverts to Gunner - CLass II (AO 14/43,16(R)) ?? Gunner 8.6.45

So this is the first page of 2. I draw your attention to the last 2 lines which note him going into as hospital. Can anyone give me clues on it and if there are any records from it. Trying to link in with previous post on him being wounded.
Any knowledge on above questions appreciated

regards

Robert

 

Robert
Disembarked ME (Mediterranean?)


Only one obvious "wrong guess", should be Middle East Forces

Not to be confused with CMF (Central Mediterranean Forces)

Ron

 

Hi Ron

thanks for that, I am slowly getting it.
THe different force names are confusing especially when they dont seem to relate to where they are. Why is the BNAF in Italy why not BIF!!
Also what does O/P mean with his rank and can you elaborate on all the abbreviations I have question marks against?

regards

Robert

 

Hi all

For this page

13 LAA to unit ex X(2) ?? Field 10/6/45 O/L/Bdr - again what is O

Reclassified CL 1A 10/7/45 Gunner - presume fit again

(Here you go Tom) LIAP ! LM 190? ditto
Awarded 39/45 & Italy stars
X(8a) TOS (Taken on Strength?) 56 RC (or is it RE) from 13 LAA (Python)
presume Python not a snake! - is it some way to determine who went home first

SOS - (struck off or signed on strength?) CMF to UK

D Bty - can read all but is WE War Establishment? and a rank of Gunner now

What does Reclassified 3 Star Rates of Pay with effect fromm 1/7/46 mean?

thanks again

Robert

 

Robert

13 LAA to unit ex X(2) ?? Field 10/6/45 O/L/Bdr - again what is O

Sorry mate, but it seems as if you need stronger glasses

If you look carefully at your image of this particular record the top line reads U/L/Bdr (Unpaid Lance Bombadier)

Ron

p.s.

This thread is worth looking at: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/13716-abbreviations.html

 

Hi Ron
thanks- couldn't work out if u or o - in some lines looked like o so went with that
Now I understand and makes sense

thanks
Robert

B)

 

Robert

If you can imagine some of the conditions that these unit clerks were working under, it's a miracle that so many records were actually correct

Regards

ron

 

Hi Ron

probably not the greatest and I cant talk, my handwriting is abysmal, too much computer writing now!!!

regards

Robert

 

Hi all

This looks like they posted something to Dad- what would it have been?

regards

Robert

 

Hi all

next one, but too large for me to scan on 1 page, so I split it in 2

Question 7 - apprenticeship - Served time Electrical Engineer- so he did an apprenticeship before he signed up - where? and would anyone know if there is any way to find out or any documents to access for this?

Does it say Platelayer on the bottom rhs? -as in for the rail?

thanks
Robert

 

Here is both sides of this form

Are all the circles around things for to work out when he went home- as in how many points he accumulated?

I notice on paper he was transferred to RE in 53

I still dont understand why at the end he was made an Acting Lance Bombardier- why not give him back the full rank he had before?

thanks

Robert

 

Hi all

here is the last 3 forms

Will post any questions on them later

regards

Robert

 

Bofors -
the circles around various numbers have no meaning - merely scribbles of some clerk checking the numbers -no points were awarded in the Army as I believe the Boy Scouts did this - but not the army - the other three merely establish that he joined up for the durstion of ther emergency ( war) - finally went out in '46 on X(T) reserve which meant he could be recalled until the age of 50 - some of the other sheets refer to his civilian duties with British Rail befire rejoining in '53 - he was also a Paid Acting Lance Corporal - which meant that he had to work on it to be promoted to his previous rank.

cheers

 

Hi Tom

thanks for that
regards

Robert

 

Hi all

Seeing no more comments, I have gone back over all the documents and still have some questions to answer, if anyone can? I have gone through abbreviations, but still can't sort out some of them.
Here they are

form 200d p3
Box with 38 and 2/205 (also on form a) any ideas what it means?
and just below it Attached to this Transit Camp f.a.p.? (First Aid Post was all I could find?)
and is granted leave C.T.B.A. to this camp - what is CTBA?

C & S form page 2
midway down says 24 86LAA Rgt Granted WPP? - what is that if I am reading it right?
and page 3 midway down says TOS (taken on strength) (56 RC) from 13 LAA (Python) - what does (56 RC) mean and again am I reading it right?

S& C page 8 (first of last 3 posted above) says
D Battery P/T (what?) (LAA-? what Coast Wing) Depot RA within the WE (war establishment?) from G Battery (LAA Depot)
SOS (Struck off strength?) on posting to X& list and proceeding to MDU (???) 10/9/46

So if anyone can give guidance on those and any other points I have raised as I have gone through (that already havnt been answered) I would appreciate it

regards

Robert

 

Hi all

Saw Rob's posting on the picture and badges,stripes for his father and that got me wondering.
What shoulder patches and other patches/badges etc would have my Father have worn?
Can you post a picture of them

regards

Robert

 

Hi all

In wrapping all this up I thought I would post a few more things on what Dad did say to me about his war experiences- and its not much unfortunately.

While in Egypt he visited the pyramids and apparently went inside them and one of them has his name written there- along with a lot of others from WW1 and 2 no doubt. It would be great to see a photo of it!
He told me when the Brits started the El-Alamein offensive the night before when all the guns were firing the whole sky just lit up and the noise was unreal. I am glad he wasn't on the receiving end!

will post more as I think of them

regards

Robert

 

Hi all

Continuing on with what Dad told me

As well as the Cassino part before in Italy here is what else I can remember

He visited Rome and the Vatican - I wonder if it was for his LIAP?
He was impressed with the Vatican and what was there, I remember the display at the Expo in Brisbane. He also asked me where I thought people would use a place to meet when they were looking around. He said it was not the Coliseum but the Trevi Fountain. I think he enjoyed looking around all the ancient things there.

Cant think of anything else but will ask my Sister if she knows.
If anyone knows answers to any of the unanswered points I have raised then please reply.
I may post the summary I got for his regiment later

regards

Robert

 

Hi Robert

You say:
As well as the Cassino part before in Italy here is what else I can remember
He visited Rome and the Vatican - I wonder if it was for his LIAP?



To clarify.

LIAP, (Leave in addition to Python) was for Home Leave, of one month's duration and I think would never be taken other than in the UK , certainly not wasted on a trip to Rome which could be done on a simple Day Leave.

Have a look at Page 72 of my Army Album, you will need to scan down & click on "OLDER POSTS:
Ron Goldstein's Actual Army Album

I've added below pics taken from that page and particularly one of the map that was issued to us to whilst in Rome.

Regards and have fun in your research

Ron