Finally got my Grandfathers Royal Engineers service record

SOS is struck off strength.

The name should be a unit or barracks or hospital. I am not sure it says Alfred as the last letter does not look like the other letter ds in the entry.

Alfred was a RN barracks.

Mike

 

SOS is struck off strength.

The name should be a unit or barracks or hospital. I am not sure it says Alfred as the last letter does not look like the other letter ds in the entry.

Alfred was a RN barracks.

Mike

Thanks Mike
so what does Struck Off Strength mean?
Keith

 

Hi Keith
I've no experience of WW2 records, only a few from WW1. Basically SOS & TOS are all about moving between units. For example, say a soldier was in the Xshires 5th Battalion and he was being transfered his record might look like

Date S(truck) O(f) S(trength) to 7th Bn Date
Date T(aken) O(n) S(trength) from 5th Bn Date

Q. Looking back through your GF's record is there any mention of other SOS or TOS?

 

Thanks RJL

Keith

 

Hello Keith,

The last letter looks like an 'a'; being similar to an 'a' in the line above.

The orders reference in the left hand column include 'ALF' in the title and he was in SEAC - South East Asia Command?

Could the name be an amalgamation of ALF and SEAC i.e. 'Alfsea'?

Best,

Steve.

 

I think Steve has it right. I woke up this morning knowing the answer. Almost certainly it is ALFSEA for Allied Land Forces South East Asia. This did exist. It is also logical that if he was going home he would be struck off the strength.

Mike

 

Many Thanks Steve and Mike

Keith

 

I sent the forms off about two weeks ago but haven't yet had acknowledgment they have recieved what I sent.

I phoned them up in Glasgow and they said it's been posted today - I asked how long the actual records would take to arrive, and she said what was posted WERE the actual records!

If I get them back tomorrow, that'll be within two weeks of sending the application.

Apparently they have to get them back to you within 30 days because of Freedom of Information?

 

Kivo,

Good luck! I hope that they are the records that you are asking for; although, I'm not convinced. I think - happy to be proved wrong - that personal details are exempt from FOI. I sent off for my grandfather's Service Records in Oct; I received confirmation that the request was being processed in early Nov - with indication that I should expect to wait 6 - 8 months - and, after enquiring about them last week, was informed that they had been 'hastened' as a result of my e-mail and should be with me in 4 -6 weeks.

As I said, I hope that you get yours tomorrow; please let us know. Them I can put someone on a 'fizzer'!

Roxy

 

I sent the forms off about two weeks ago but haven't yet had acknowledgment they have recieved what I sent.

I phoned them up in Glasgow and they said it's been posted today - I asked how long the actual records would take to arrive, and she said what was posted WERE the actual records!

If I get them back tomorrow, that'll be within two weeks of sending the application.

Apparently they have to get them back to you within 30 days because of Freedom of Information?

Kivo,

That's a new one to me, but I hope it is correct and you receive the records you wish.

Regards
Tom

 

Thanks guys.

Hopefully I'll be one of the lucky ones!