Fiona, sorry to see that you haven't had any replies, hopefully this will draw your post to the attention of others who will chip in, meanwhile here is my go. Firstly this is a pretty good site for abbreviations: Second World War Abbreviations and Acronyms - Researching WW2 5.12.39 Royal Engineers Signal Training Centre, Passed trade test and mustered draughtsman A3 (Topographical), Fort Southwick, rank sapper 15.6.40 Posted 517th Corps Field Army Survey Company ? Caergwrle A/U/L/Cpl - Acting unpaid lance corporal 5.1.41 Embarked for overseas service (Home i.e. in UK) 9.3.41 Disembarked MEF (Middle East Force) 10.4.41 Embarked for Greece 24.4.41 Disembarked Egypt 28.5.41 Posted Army Interpretation Unit, relinquishes lance corporal and reverts to sapper on joining 6.9.41 Posted Army Air Photo Interpretation Unit 24.7.41 Promoted Acting unpaid corporal, granted pay acting corporal 22.10.41 Confirmed war substantive rank of corporal having held paid acting rank for 90 days 20.2.42 Promoted Acting unpaid sergeant, then paid for rank same day 28.7.42 Reverts to corporal (158 days to count to war substantive sergeant 30.7.42 Discharged hospital to xi Auxiliary Air Photographic Intelligence Unit 28.7.42 Reinstated acting sergeant 19.8.42 Appointed war substantive sergeant 29.9.42 Proceeded to PAIFORCE (Persia & Iraq force) 19.3.43 Proceeded to ? Command Headquarters and SOS (struck off strength) of this command Candidate for RE Commission, Inform all casualties 15.7.43 Posted to X5c from X4a (remain at ? awaiting officer cadet training unit X lists see here X lists (Service Records) Reference Part 1a 479/2 (?) of 6.8.43 Delete all reference 3.6.43 TOS MEF taken on strength Middle East Force from PAIC (? not sure presume Paiforce) and posted X4a 3.11.43 SOS struck off strength Command to India, Embarked Suez 21.11.43 Disembarked Bombay, posted OYS (not sure) 12.4.44 SOS posted OTS (Officer training school) Bangalore 4.6.44 Admitted hospital TOS X2 [note that he doesn't appear in the casualty lists as a battle injury so would presume this is illness or disease] 9.6.44 Discharged hospital SOS X2 13.10.44 Discharged as Officer cadet 14.10.44 Emergency commission Second Lieutenant London Gazette entry Page 621 | Supplement 36912, 26 January 1945 | London Gazette | The Gazette Also found his RE card that can be read in conjunction.
Thanks a lot - that is a great help. I don't understand all the rank ups and downs. Was that typical at the time ?
Not too many downs - he started as a sapper which is the REs equivalent of private, next rank up is lance corporal, then corporal, then sergeant, he followed this route. On promotion it was usual to start as acting/unpaid, then acting/paid before being confirmed. The only time his rank went down was when he was in hospital from 28/7 to 30/7/42 when he went from Acting Sergeant to Corporal. When soldiers were incapacitated they reverted to their substantive rank. However, in this case looks like his recovery overtook the paperwork and he was reinstated immediately.
I did find this on line, if it is of any interest; https://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/ww2/HMSO_chapter05.pdf WWII Topographic Map Series | McMaster University Library
One or two sources of period maps are available, also this resource on this site: New Resource - Topographic & Town/City Maps | WW2Talk