Hello there, I was wondering if anybody could help me please ? I am in possession of my Grandfather's service records and wondered if anybody could shed some light on them for me please, as I'm not to good at reading old writing and I'm unsure of what some of the numbers for the sections mean. I have a service and casualty form and what looks like a record card. Just trying to upload the pictures. If anybody could help that would be great thanks. Thanks Claire
Claire Suggest you upload good quality readable scans to this thread for members to help you understand his service records - in the bottom right hand corner of each post there is the option to 'Upload a File' - just make sure each file is less than 2Mb in size otherwise it will be rejected TD
Hay there TD, Thanks for the advice, I'm unable to upload on this thread, however I have added them to my albums. Claire x
You mean these - to members these may not be in chronological order - I have copied them in the order they appear in the album - My Grandad | WW2Talk TD
Those are the ones thank you so much! I'm struggling to work out the numbers/characters on most of it apart from the obvious ones. In particular I'm struggling with XList 18a (not sure that this means) and What the E standard for on the Y list. Claire
08.01.1942 Enlists in 14th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regement (RWR) 01.11.1942 Transhered to 52 Recce - who he stays with until demob 01.09.1944 Leaves UK for NWE (North West Europe) 06.09.1944 Lands in NWE I think it might read X/8 A - I dont have details of that but I do know that the X Lists recorded personnel who were absent from their regular units for one reason or another. For the 'Y' list all I can find is The Y List is composed of non-effectives 1 to 8, sick, detention, leave pending, awaiting discharge, on other duty, etc. It’s possible that some units used letters to donate the category of those on the list hence the (e). Lots of soldiers are on the Y list at some time or other, but it is only registered on their records when they are about to be discharged. Other times it is recorded what they are actually doing, leave, hospital etc. [Thanks to another member for the details above] TD
Claire If you use the search function on the site [top right hand corner] and search for 52 Recce then you will find the War Diaries for them as transcribed from the originals by member Recce Mitch and to get you going .......... 52 Recce Regt War Diary Jan - May 1943 TD http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/3354245/&q=52+Recce+Regt+War+Diary&o=relevance&c[user][0]=7031
Hay TD, That's great thanks for all your help, u have no remaining family members so trying to get information is difficult. I recall Grandad being removed early due to being a Carpenter and he was wounded during the war, never speaking about it much. One of his close friends got KIA and he took a piece of shrapnel to his lower leg from it and it stayed in his leg till 1996 when he had to have it removed! He didn't claim his medals till 1996, and he was missing the Italian star, and the war records office said he wasn't entitled to it as the whole regiment didn't go only his unit I don't know whether that's right or not. Once I have read the war diaries would you mind if I contacted you in the future if I needed any other information as I'm kind of blind on my own. Thanks again Claire x
He would not have earnt an Italy Star as his records show he never went to Italy - he only went to North West Europe (France/Belgium/Holland/Germany) - if you read his records it only shows UK and NWE Just put your questions on here as others (members like Recce_Mitch) are much better versed in the Regiment than I ever will be TD
Hay Paul, Many thanks for this information, that makes more sense now. I don't suppose you know what the the /8a means? After the X on my grandad records of the (e) on the Y list? I have searched high and low and don't seem to be able to find any information. Thanks so much for all your help I really.do appreciate it. Kind regards Claire x
I dont know what it means but looking at the date and position on the record [22/10/1945] I would assume i would be something to do with his release from the Army, because effectively the next day he is posted to the 'Y' list [2/11/1945] which I think has something to do with going into 'Reserve' i.e he could be recalled at anytime within the next 'x' years if required TD