Help Reading Royal Engineers Tracer Card

I’m posting in hope that the experienced researchers in this community might be able to help me glean some information from an RE tracer card. I’ve been researching the military service of my great grandfather in WWII. From family stories I know that he served in the Royal Engineers and spent time in East Africa and the Mediterranean during the war. I’ve also been told he worked in bomb disposal at some point, but I am unsure if he was part of a specific bomb disposal company.

I don't think I can request his full service record as I am not next of kin (he has living grandchildren, including my mother). I’m hoping someone with more experience reading tracer cards can help me decipher what units/companies he served in, what his role(s) may have been (if indicated), and where he served on the different date entries. Also, any suggestions or recommendations for finding other sources to continue my research are welcome! Thank you!

 

Welcome to the forum
Other members will try to assist further
Read this link it explains how to apply for his service records
Get a copy of military records of service

 

As CL1 states the best bet is to obtain a copy of his Service Records for a definite answer.

With regard to the Tracer Card, I will endeavour to decipher as best as possible. in 2 posts.

First page -
Left hand side - Appears to show enlistment on 08/5/34, in the rank of Sapper (R.E. equivalent to Private).
Right hand side - Initially assigned to 52 (Lowland) Division (a First Line TA Division)
Appears to have been transferred to 280 Field Company - this was attached to 15 (Scottish) Division, a 2nd Line TA Division (i.e. a duplicate of 52 (Lowland) Division), based in Rutherglen.
7/11/40 - transferred to 170 ???
14/11/40 - embarked for East Africa
29/5/41 - transferred to G.R. Nairobi (? General Reinforcement camp)
16/7/41 - transferred to the Depot Commando Specialist Pool (? Middle East Forces)
25/7/41 - transferred to G (R) B Pool (? part of Middle East Forces)
14/3/42 - proceeds to Syr (Syria) to join ME (Middle East) Cmdo (Commando)
12/8/42 - now at Middle East Training Centre.

Bottom line - transferred from ME (Forces) to Central Mediterranean Forces on 22/1/44 (bulk transfer of troops).

2nd page to follow.

 

2nd Page -
22/1/44 - On the un-posted reinforcement list (xi) with C.M.T.C. (Central Mediterranean Training Centre?)
14/4/45 - x Spec(ial) Reception Camp - prior to return to UK under the PYTHON scheme - i.e. priority
23/4/45 - at 3 Transit Camp (belated entry)
7/5/45 - Embarks for UK and posted to 4 (Receiving) Depot Battalion (UK based) - a "notional" posting for in transit personnel.
7/5/45 - Disembarks UK
12/8/45 - posted to "Y" list pending release.

Hope this helps.

sjw8

 

If you use the site's search option with CMTC a couple of posts appear, this thread locates it in Italy: CMTC Benevento Others indicate a variety of training courses were available.

If you repeat the search for Benevento nearly all the threads id'd refer to it being an Italian-run POW Camp. A few indicate artillery training ranges and used for R&R e.g. after Cassino.

An online search for Middle East Commando reveals a plethora of web links and an online search using: "Middle East Commando" site:ww2talk.com will find more here.

Note there was a very recent thread for a RE being assigned to another special forces unit who died in Greece when dismantling German mines. See: 1877605 Lance-Corporal John Dorman CHISIM, RE attached HQ RSR: 19/11/1944