Morning, this is the first time I've used a forum, so hopefully I'm doing this right? I've uploaded my Grandpa's service records and there are one or two bits that's beaten me, so I'm looking for a bit of help with them. 1 - On the first page it says 'Posted to Hela strength'. Am I right in thinking this is an Army name for getting all the troops together for posting, as the next entry is a posting order? 2 - Where he embarks for overseas, on 13/12/43, it looks like the journey took about 20 days, to 1/1/44. does that sound about right? Any other comments welcome. Thanks.
Hi, Welcome to the forum. The “hela” acronym has me stumped. I’ve never come across it on a service record previously. Wonder if it is actually “hera” = Home Establishment Royal Artillery? I’m fairly confident that in any ‘interpretation’ that “he” will mean home establishment. EDIT TO ADD - Perhaps even Home Establishment Light Artillery? The measurement of the duration of convoys to North Africa based on entries on the service records can sometimes be imprecise. The start date is usually recorded as the date the draft leaves barracks en route to the port of embarkation. There can then be 24 hours+ on the ship in port before it sails - quite often to go to another U.K. port to meet up with the rest of the convoy (troops often joined ship in Liverpool and sailed up to Gourock or Greenock to join the rest of the convoy) before setting off on the actual voyage on a date perhaps 7 days after the draft left barracks. None of those intermediary steps are shown in the service record but a 20 days “journey” does seem about right for a trip from U.K. via the Mediterranean to North Africa. Steve
Many thanks for that info, Grandpa used to turn green just looking at the sea, so 20 days at sea must have been quite an experience for him!
You’re welcome. It could’ve been alot worse! If he’d been on a draft to India he’d be looking at 10 weeks at sea. It took that long to get to Egypt pre 1943 when convoys went down the west coast of Africa and then up the other side to Suez as the Mediteranean was unsafe fir troop convoys. Some of the ships even went as far away as Brazil en route to Egypt to avoid German U boats! Steve
I would say it is "held strength". Look at the "d" in the word "interposted", it seems very much like the letter "a". Richard
Charlotte. From his Service Record, he was with 14 AT Regt RA from 10 Feb 44 to 26 Jun 45. Regards Frank
Charlotte. At Cassino during the Fourth Battle in May 44, 14 AT Regt RA provided the troops to deploy and operate the rafts on the River Rapido/Gari in support of 28 Infantry Brigade and 10 Infantry Brigade who were to cross first and secure the far bank. Getting lots of infantry across quickly and safely was key to building up sufficient force to clear the Germans away from the riverbank. If successful, engineers could then come forward and build bridges for the armour to cross. Regards Frank
