Capt TF Smith - Service Record (ROAC/REME/IEME)

All,
Attached is the Service Record copy and my typed summary of my Great Uncle's time in World War 2. I'm just finding my way around this forum and I also attached a copy (same docs) to my Introduction thread. Many Photos to follow.

Kind regards
Stephen

I guess i cant change the typo in the title (Should read RAOC)

 

Hi Stephen,

If you click edit and then click go advanced this will allow you to edit the title. Looking forward to seeing the pictures

Cheers
Andy

 

Hi again, fascinating stuff.

couple of abbreviations:

M.E.F. is Middle East Force
B.O.W. is base ordnance workshops
T.O.S. is Taken on strength
S.O.S. is Struck Off Strength

could T/Captain be temporary captain? On page 4 of the pdf it states: substansive rank Lieut. Acting or temporary rank, Captain.

 

T is Temp rank

 

Hi again, fascinating stuff.

couple of abbreviations:

M.E.F. is Middle East Force
B.O.W. is base ordnance workshops
T.O.S. is Taken on strength
S.O.S. is Struck Off Strength

could T/Captain be temporary captain? On page 4 of the pdf it states: substansive rank Lieut. Acting or temporary rank, Captain.


Thanks for that, I was way of the mark with MEF as I thought it was Mediterrainian Expedition Force but this now makes sense as some of my photos are in the Lebanon (Chekka Pass). I kind of guessed T/Capt was temporary.

Is there anyway of telling from his MSR if he enlisted voluntarily or if he was drafted. I ask because he was aged 45 at WW2 outbreak and had a good job probably under the radar as he lived in Dublin, Ireland. I would like to know this for sure.

 

Pre-war there were new store buildings and workshops being set up. Kinnegar was an additional workshop in Northern Ireland "to replace the out-of-date site at Carrickfergus..."
(source RAOC regimental history)

Google search shows Mill Hill to have been used by the REME from 1943.

It will be interesting to see your photos.

Jules.

 

Stephen,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I wish you well with your research.

Regards
Tom

 

Is there anyway of telling from his MSR if he enlisted voluntarily or if he was drafted.


Thats a good question, I don't know the answer, but page 2 of the pdf states: nature of commission - W.E.

If you could find the answer to what W.E. means it may help.
Ask on the General forum, someone should know.

Just thought of something, any chance he served in ww1?

 

It will be interesting to see your photos.

I have attached some photos (6 in all) that I already had on my computer. They all feature my great uncle in various locations. I have another 200 or so, taken by him which will be much more interesting to the forum as it is journalistic by nature. This may take a week or so to scan and prioritise as to what makes sense to put up on the forum.

Kind regards
Stephen

 

More abbreviations :

IEME Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
RIASC Royal Indian Army Service Corps

 

It will be interesting to see your photos.

I have attached some photos


Terrific stuff!!

 

Thats a good question, I don't know the answer, but page 2 of the pdf states: nature of commission - W.E.

If you could find the answer to what W.E. means it may help.
Ask on the General forum, someone should know.

Just thought of something, any chance he served in ww1?


Thanks,
Ref WE

In WW1 he enlisted with the Royal Irish Rifles (10th Battalion, South Belfast). He served at the Somme campaign with the 107th in the 36th Ulster Division, He tranfered to the Royal Engineers (1916) where he remained until Dmob. I have attached his medal records for anyone interested.

 

Aha!! just noticed on page 10 of the pdf it states in paragraph 3: "as an officer holding an emergency commission"

it seems these commission were published in the London Gazzette.

if this link works it should show you him in the gazzette, 2nd column, 1st one down

 

Nice photo's Stephen.

 

He's here too, 1st column near bottom

 

Aha!! just noticed on page 10 of the pdf it states in paragraph 3: "as an officer holding an emergency commission"

it seems these commission were published in the London Gazzette.

if this link works it should show you him in the gazzette, 2nd column, 1st one down

Nice detective work, links worked just fine. So If i was to hazard a guess, he may have been called upon for his specialist skills, rather than volunteering.

 

Nice detective work, links worked just fine. So If i was to hazard a guess, he may have been called upon for his specialist skills, rather than volunteering.

Yeah possibly, I typed his name and service No. (Smith 173942) into the Gazzette search page and a number of results came up, might be worth looking at them all and seeing what comes up?

 

Thank you for posting the pictures.

Just a suggestion, but if you scan the service records someone else may be able to help with the ??? sections of it

In the line 3/3/41 Trained on ADER could that be AOER? This abbreviation means Army Officers Emergency Reserve.

There was a mobilization centre formed at Arnold (near Nottingham).

 

Thank you for posting the pictures.

Just a suggestion, but if you scan the service records someone else may be able to help with the ??? sections of it

In the line 3/3/41 Trained on ADER could that be AOER? This abbreviation means Army Officers Emergency Reserve.

There was a mobilization centre formed at Arnold (near Nottingham).


Thanks, I thought I had uploaded the scanned copy and would love help with the ???. Your corrections make sense as he was at Arnold. I have attached the PDF with this note

 

Where your summary says: "Demerara, Province of ???, Canada, "

I read it as "???? province of Quebec, Canada.

The ???? looks like Demerara, which is in South America.

It could also read as ???? IN Quebec, canada or ????? & Quebec, Canada.