I'm helping to put a booklet together for a lady who's husband served with several regiments. I have copies of his Service documents but desperately need help in understanding some of the terms. After the war he was in Austria with the 4th Devonshire Regiment. On 20th Jan 47 the 4th were ordered into suspended animation and those that remained in the Army were divided between the 1st Bn The Devonshire Regiment and the Royal Hampshire Regiment. Ron was one of those that were posted into the 2nd Bn Royal Hampshire Regiment. I have attached a copy of Ron's documents that cover his time in The Devonshire and Royal Hampshire Regiments. Could I ask you more leaned members to help me some of the terms and comments. For example what is PRIVLEAVE and what reasons would be given for it? What is the meaning of Classified/Reclassified and the 1, 2, and 3 stars after the word. What does SOS CMF and TDS BTA mean? I also notice he was Dish hosp would I be able to find out why he was in hospital? My only input is that Ron was with The Royal Scots during the Rhine crossing and I assume he was an Infantryman. However his senior office wrote on his testimonial dated 1 Oct 1947 (Austria) (Notification of Impending Release); "A useful pay clerk of above average intelligence." Could this be anything to do with Reclassification? Many thanks in advance for your help, Chris.
Chris ALL leave was a "privilege" and could be taken away - we had NO RIGHTS to anything after the war they started classifying troops into 1 - 2 and Three stars- God knows why ….. SOS means struck OFF Strength - TOS mean Taken ON strength He must have been a Pay clerk - period … you will seldom find out why anyone went to Hospital seems to come under the Official Secrets Act… Cheers
As Tom states, SOS Struck off Strength (of the Unit) - CMF Central Mediterranean Force TOS Taken on Strength (of the Unit) -BTA British Troops Austria Lesley
Previous threads here - http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/56504-help-with-various-units/?fromsearch=1 http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/56698-help-with-various-units-2/?fromsearch=1
Tom, Many thanks for your reply and expertise. You say that Ron must have been a Pay Clerk - period. Please forgive my ignorance but if he was a Pay Clerk would he still fight alongside his comrades at the front? I ask this because his papers from when he joined up until he joined The Royal Scots show him Infantry Training at Hereford and then Tx to the Northamptonshire Regiment (14 Infantry Training Centre). His wife has recently sent me a photograph of Ron with lots of other men and a PT instructor on which he has written; 1944 Bradbury Lines Hereford and below it SAS who dares wins. I can't imagine for one minute that he was in the SAS but if he was indeed a Pay Clerk why would he do all of this Infantry training. I really appreciate the help you provide, Regards, Chris.
Chris IF he was a pay clerk in an Infantry unit - THEN he had to be trained as an Infantryman just in case he was called upon to fight as an Infantryman - similarly a pay clerk in a Tank regiment had to know which end of the Tank did whatever only when and IF was in the PAY CORPS was there no chance of fighting as they were so far back you couldn't see them … Cheers
