Great Grandad's Service Records RASC / EFI

Hi,
Looking for some help trying to decipher my great grandads army records - he was posted to Western Europe on 28th June 1944 as part of RASC / EFI
He didn’t speak much about where he was posted after being injured and subsequently discharged in October 1944.
I’m trying to find out the last place he was posted to from his war records but I can’t decipher the handwriting - all I know is that it’s somewhere in Western Europe shortly after D Day. Family members mentioned he may have been injured at Arnhem - any help interpreting would be much appreciated!
TIA

 

Hi,

welcome to the forum.

I read the blurry extract as Embarked for or from NWEF 28/6/44.

NWEF = North West Europe Expeditionary Force often referred to as BLA = British Liberation Army.

Members could help you more if you post the whole document (or file).

Good Luck

Steve

 

Much appreciated!
I’ve managed to piece together most of the acronyms - it’s this one word that I can’t seem to figure out, before the N/HWEF
Would love to know if it was a location

 

It looks like “for”.

It looks like it’s an extract from a B102 Index form?

B103 forms usually give more detail than the B102 shorthand entries but not usually on ports of embarkation to Normandy. The unit war diary may contain that detail.

Troops were setting off for France from various south coast and Thames estuary ports.


Steve

 

I think it says embarked for rlwef? which is a draft code (maybe)
See here:
Draft recognition codes.

Lesley

Edit Tullybrone had the correct answer at #post 2.
(I'll get my coat )

 

Much appreciated - thank you all for the quick replies! I don’t suppose anyone knows how to access the war diaries (I’m very new to this!)

 

Members Gary Tankard and Drew5233 can copy war diaries for you, much cheaper than the National Archives.
You need to make 5 posts on the forum before you can send a private message (start a conversation) with them.

Lesley

 

Nothing for what BCD did on: WW2 Abbreviations and Acronyms | Researching the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers

However it does give an explanation for EFI: Expeditionary Forces Institutes Lots of web links on them and it appears:

From: NAAFI

There was a RASC unit post-1945 105 Transport Column RASC. See: British Army units from 1945 on - 105 Transport Column RASC (TA)

 

I agree.


Veteran account on

• BBC - WW2 People's War - War Time Experiences

"In 1942, I was sent from Ireland back to the NAAFI depot in Norwood, South London, put back into uniform and promoted to Sergeant in the RASC/EFI, which was the Expeditionary Forces Institute - the NAAFI part of the RASC."

 

The 105 BCD may refer to a Base Canteen Depot based on the following information:

“6 June 1944 - 25 July 1944 (Navy, Army and Air Force Institute/Expeditionary Force Institutes)
The first EFI personnel were landed on D+17 and on the following day they established the first Base Canteen Depot (BCD) under canvas at SULLY.
Within six days the BCD was being supplied direct from MULBERRY and arrangements made with RASC for the handling of EFI stores. On 13 July eight Bulk Issue Stores were opened and a further eighteen mobile canteens were on the road. In late July the first draft of ATS/EFI arrived.
27 September 1944—8 May 1945 as the armies moved forward towards BELGIUM, ATS/EFI reinforcements were being drafted over from time to time. During September 11, HQ EFI moved from SULLY to BRUSSELS.”
Back to Normandy https://www.backtonormandy.org/support-troops/3614-naafi-efi.html

It also appears that the BCD was used to supply the BIS (Bulk Issue Stores) based on the following information:

“18th August 1944. Capt JD Naylor with Staff Capt 'Q' Div HQ visited AA&QMG 5 L of C, arrangements made for NAAFI Mobile Canteen to visit Div. NAAFI stocks to be drawn from 103 BIS.
19th August 1944. Capt JD NAYLOR with Gp reps visited 103 BIS to order weeks' supply of NAAFI. No Beer, No Whisky, No Gin. Arrangements made for drawing bulk for following week. Tentage issue to cover 100% acquired.” National Archives catalogue reference WO 171/399, HQ Royal Army Service Corps, https://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/war_shqrasc.htm

Jim

 

Thanks in the absence of the B103 with more detail - which war diary would I need to request? Unfortunately I don't live close to the National Archives and I'm struggling to understand all the different divisions. The 'embarked' posting seems to be under BCD105 but it looks like he was in 21 AG when he was injured. I can't seem to locate a specific division for the previous one - any thoughts?

 

21 AG is shorthand for 21st Army Group - the higher formation for the British & Canadian armies invading NW Europe.
See: 21st Army Group - Wikipedia After August 1945 it became BAOR.

I expect the RASC unit came under their control as a support unit in the rear, a long way - normally - from the front line.

 

I searched TNA for "Base Canteen Depot" and there was only one result for NWE theatre (which was 103 Base Canteen Depot). Also tried other combinations for search terms (incl. 105, abbreviations, etc) but didn't have any luck. Maybe someone else will be more successful.


I've really no understanding of these units so can't tell if there's been any error at some point in the unit designation, or if both 105 and 103 are viable.



Posting this War Diary link just in case it proves to be useful to someone.
103 Base Canteen Depot | The National Archives
Reference: WO 171/2219
Description: 103 Base Canteen Depot
Date: 1944 May- July

103 BCD is also mentioned in Trux's 21st AG listings
Headquarters Introduction & Contents

another post by Trux describes NAAFI/EFI/BCD
Non transport units rasc

 

Hi,
There were five BCD units listed in 21st Army ORBAT.

Page 25 of WO 212/498, Royal Army Service Corps, Extracts From Orders Of Battle, might have some basic information on the unit you are interested in.

I do not have a copy of this page but have attached a sample of another page showing the type of information in this document.

As DBF said it looks like the only War Diary at Kew is for 103 BCD.

Regards

Danny

 

Danny, Cheers for the confirmation of all BCD units in NWE.

Looks like GaryT could also find only one WD.
Anyone require War Diaries or other files from the National Archives?

 

Finally organising the trip to Kew for later in the year! Will need to do a bit more planning but it looks like I will need to request
WO423/264087 which is the individual record then
WO171/2219 for 103 BCD
And WO212/498 for RASC extracts
If there’s any other suggestions for a newbie please let me know! TIA