Hello, Quick background as a family we were under the impression that my grandfathers army records have been missing However recently I have moved into my Grandparents house and whist sorting out their belongings (of which there was a lot) I came across a Cunard trunk and low and behold whats in there a copy of my grandfathers army records ... My Grandfather was a Coldstream Guard from his records i have made out that he was based in NWE ( North West Europe) from 10/10/44 - 5/12/46 however what i am finding difficult is finding out where he was and the history ( Unit and operational history). The other query i have is regarding thee column in his records where it says unit there is some abbreviations i do not understand . They include; RD , T.BN, X21, X.BAOR . One other question so sorry ! Apart from NWE what does R.A.R and AGR(GD.P.) stand for ? Many Thanks in advance and i will try and upload a photo of his service record
If you have trouble uploading the photo email it to the forum admin email address & I'll add it to this thread. Best to see a photo of the document before we go any further.
Hi and welcome As Owen said showing the document may help. All I can help with is BAOR = British Army of the Rhine - Wikipedia War diaries in this lot- Search results: Coldstream AND Guard | The National Archives You will need to know which battalion he was in to get the right ones. None online but there are chaps on here who copy them for a reasonable price. regards Robert
Hi, Welcome to the forum. Here is a link to the online 1920/46 Regimental History. The Coldstream Guards, 1920-1946, by Michael Howard and John ... - Full View | HathiTrust Digital Library | HathiTrust Digital Library Steve
Hi, Sorry to contradict part of your post but forum member Diane (dbf) has posted various transcriptions of Coldstream Guards (and others) War Diaries in the Brigade of Guards sub forum - for example - War Diary: 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1944 Steve
Please do you have the email for the forum admin in order for me to be able to upload the pictures. Many thanks Tara
Hopefully you can see these pictures of my Grandfathers Army records. Thank you all for you help it is truly appreciated Tara x
Hi, I’m afraid all of the records are too blurred for me to read on my 12 inch iPad Pro - except item 5. Can you try again please - perhaps wait until other members comment on the quality. Having said that I can offer an opinion on the abbreviations in your first post. T. Bn is likely Training Battalion RAR is Royal Army Reserve - where all discharged personnel were posted until attaining 45 years of age. Steve EDIT TO ADD He appears to have enlisted using a Regular Army Attestation Form so I assume it was for 4 years with the colours and 8 on the reserve. He was posted to RAR on expiration of his 4 year colour service (actually served additional 6 months presumably as post war age & service demobilisation rules applied) until his 12 year Enlistment period expired 16th Feb 1955.
@ tullybrone and others RAR is Regular Army Reserve; there were others; RARO springs to mind - Regular Army Reserve of Officers. Chris
It gets mentioned here post #16 X lists (Service Records) As there is X21 & XBAOR I assume X21 is the X List for 21st Army Group & XBAOR is the X list for the BAOR.
Thanks for posting legible copies of your grandfathers service papers. It looks like his medals were issued to him in 1948. The RAR and AGR (GD P) abbreviations you mentioned in your first post are abbreviations of stamps on his papers. As highlighted by Chris RAR = Regular Army Reserve which he entered when he completed his colour service in 1947. The other one is Army General Reserve Group P (in the rank of Guardsman) which he entered when he completed his 12 year Enlistment period in 1955. It was a catch all Reserve classification to enable to speedy recall of an ex serviceman if there was any need during the Cold War period (liability ceased on attaining 45 years). Interesting to see that he sought permission to immigrate to Canada in 1951 whilst on his Reserve service. Likely due to the possibility of recall to duty as Korean War was ongoing at the time. I think it might’ve also facilitated the continuation of his Reserve allowances. Steve
Returned to the UK in 1959 UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 Name: Roy Paddick Arrival Age: 34 Birth Date: 14 May 1925 Port of Departure: Montréal, Québec, Canada Arrival date: 4 Sep 1959 Port of Arrival: Southampton, England Ports of Voyage: Montreal; Quebec and Le Havre Ship Name: Ivernia Shipping line: Cunard Steamship Company Ltd Official Number: 4640/01 TD
Thank you for this document . My grandfather and grandmother emigrated to Canada (York, Toronto) for approximately 10 years whilst there my grandmother gave birth to my Auntie however my grandmother missed the UK too much and came back to England. Many thanks Tara x
There are on Ancestry, a few documents for him, thought this was the most apt, you probably have the details of his birth, marriage and death [if not just ask] TD