Hi, new to this site, and happened on it entirely by accident. I am still finding my way around, so forgive me if I have posted on the wrong forum etc. I have my fathers army records and have been trying to decipher some of the codes. He was in Burma and in the Gloucester Regiment. He has regular SOS & TOS which I understand to be 'struck of strength 'and 'taken on strength'. He did have re occurring Malaria so I assume this is what it refers to. Also it states 'Posted to X(ii) List' but I can't find any reference to this in the abbreviations list. Would anyone know what this means and be kind enough to let me know. Thankyou.
Welcome to the forum. I've moved your thread to the section on Service Records. You are correct regards TOS & SOS . Not sure on X(ii) List but someone else will explain. This thread may help. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/service-records/19949-x-lists-service-records.html
SOS in this context must surely mean "struck off strength". "Struck of strength" sounds like an antiquarian way of describing the victim of a debilitating illness. That may well have been the condition of Winmayrider's father, but would not have been used in 20C army terminology.
He has regular SOS & TOS which I understand to be 'struck of strength 'and 'taken on strength'. He did have re occurring Malaria so I assume this is what it refers to. Also it states 'Posted to X(ii) List' but I can't find any reference to this in the abbreviations list. Would anyone know what this means and be kind enough to let me know. SOS and TOS are as you say. The X(ii) List is for personnel who are away from their unit for medical reasons, e.g. wounded, and are no longer on the effective strength. They will be SOS their unit and TOS X(ii) (or X2 or variations), and then if they are later returned to their unit you'll see SOS X(ii) and TOS their unit. You'll also see TOS and SOS when personnel are moved between operational theatres. For example if someone was serving in Italy and their unit was withdrawn to Egypt you might see 'SOS CMF to MEF' and 'TOS MEF ex CMF' or something like that. There are other X lists that you might come across. X(iv) or X4 is for reinforcements awaiting posting to a unit. Sometimes you will see men SOS/TOS from their unit to X(ii) when wounded, but when they recovered they weren't returned to their units and instead they went on to the X(iv) list to await posting to a new unit. X(iii) is for those who are POWs, deserters, missing, or imprisoned. G.
Welcome to the forum. I've moved your thread to the section on Service Records. You are correct regards TOS & SOS . Not sure on X(ii) List but someone else will explain. This thread may help. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/service-records/19949-x-lists-service-records.html Thanks Owen, your assistance is much appreciated.
SOS and TOS are as you say. The X(ii) List is for personnel who are away from their unit for medical reasons, e.g. wounded, and are no longer on the effective strength. They will be SOS their unit and TOS X(ii) (or X2 or variations), and then if they are later returned to their unit you'll see SOS X(ii) and TOS their unit. You'll also see TOS and SOS when personnel are moved between operational theatres. For example if someone was serving in Italy and their unit was withdrawn to Egypt you might see 'SOS CMF to MEF' and 'TOS MEF ex CMF' or something like that. There are other X lists that you might come across. X(iv) or X4 is for reinforcements awaiting posting to a unit. Sometimes you will see men SOS/TOS from their unit to X(ii) when wounded, but when they recovered they weren't returned to their units and instead they went on to the X(iv) list to await posting to a new unit. X(iii) is for those who are POWs, deserters, missing, or imprisoned. G. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Oh well.....there's me thinking he may have gone on some special ops mission! Don't know of him being wounded so it must have been the Malaria.
In the list of abbreviations it definately says 'struck OF strength', maybe this is an error on their point. Or I take it, it means struck of his strength.
hi and welcome , i read you posting with interest as i have not long joined .my father also went to Burma see post what regiment did father go to India with. to get to the point father was injured and the x 11 and x 6 list helped a lot . good luck with your search ww2 mike
Hi ww2 Mike, my (lovely) dad joined up in in 1940, he was inthe 50th Gloucester Regiment at Ludlow, in 1942 he was posted to 118 L.A.A. and sent to Bridlington., then Leeds. In 1942 was posted to India and was there untill 1946. As I mentioned before I am not aware of my dad being injured but did have Malaria even when he returned to civilian life, so I am assuming this is the reason for Xii. Julia.
in 1942 he was posted to 118 L.A.A. and sent to Bridlington., then Leeds. In 1942 was posted to India and was there untill 1946. Julia, given your mention of 118 L.A.A. this thread may be of intrest http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/burma-india/24679-118-light-anti-aircraft-laa.html regards Jason.
Would anyone happen to know if a soldier was wounded and therefore on the Xii list, which hospital they would be taken to? My grandfather was injured just before Operation Torch in Tunisia.
Fazhunter74 Where - exactly was your G'Father injured.....as Operation Torch landed at Algeria and Morocco - took a while to get to Tunisia- hospitals invariably landed shortly after the main landings- two British General Hospitals were set up at or near Algiers - then moved forward with the troop movements Cheers
Hi I'm also new to this site but it came up in a search for SOS and TOS so I hope someone picks it up again. My father also served in India and Burma with the 66 Regt R.A. He broke his ankle in Nov 1944 and was recorded as S.O.S. Unit T.O.S. xlist(ii) R.A. so now I know what it means - thanks. However on landing in India he was attached as follows; Att fap 53rd HAA Reg +RA. He was then CTBA and then Att 14/5 Ind HAA Bty fap All I can find for "fap" is first aid post. Does anyone know if this is correct or is there another meaning? Thanks
