RASC Drivers North Africa/Italy/Greece

Hi

According to their war diaries for Jan 45, 2 SLI had Troop Carrying Vehicles (TCVs), 3-tonners and 15 CWTs.

Gus

 

Hello I’m hoping gus is still around as I’m looking for anybody who has information regarding 239 coy RASC. I am researching my grandfather and his wife, she was an Italian lady who I’m assuming he married during the Italian campaign

 

239 General Transport Company RASC were are Salerno and Anzio.

F

 

Thank you, do you know where is best to read about that?

 

Hugh Pond - Salerno

Carlo D'este - The Fatal Decision. The Battle of Anzio.

Regards

Frank

 

It looks like 239 Coy RASC operated DUKWs.

Some interesting information about their operations here - ww11 dukw 3.pdf (windows.net)

 

Gary.

Great find.

Regards

Frank

 

Hello, I’m trying to find my father’s service history in the RASC between 1939 and 1946. I know he was based at Northampton at some time and also that he was evacuated from Dunkirk during the conflict losing a lot of his comrades in the sea! He also served in Greece as I have a photo of him at the Acropolis in Athens. He was also based at a depot in Morpeth, Northumberland. His name was Arthur Stanley Moore, Lance Corporal RASC. He died in 1961 aged 43.
Regards, Victor Moore.

 

Hi Victor

Do you know if your father was in Greece in 1941 during the German invasion? or sometime after it's liberation in Oct 44?

Do you have his service records yet?

Gus

 

Hi Gus, I think it must be some time after the liberation as I have a beautiful drawing of a horse that my father drew and in the bottom right hand corner it states:
DRV. A S MOORE. RASC
While Stationed at
Northampton
11/2/41
No, I don’t have his service records. I applied for them at the MOD and was told they were held by the National Archives but they wrote back and said the MOD must have them!
Regards, Victor.

 

Hi Victor

That discounts any chance of him serving in Greece in 1941,

The RASC/RIASC units in Greece in 1944-45, that I am aware of, were

5 Indian Field Bakery, RASC
13 Port Detachment, IASC
26 Field Butchery and Cold Storage Depot
38 Indian Field Butchery
236 Petrol Depot. RASC
2 Mobile Petrol Filling Centre, RASC
1595 Workshop Platoon
5 Greek General Transport Company
6 Greek General Transport Company
177 Indian General Transport Company
18 Company, RIASC (MAS)
B Platoon, 64 Bulk Petrol Company RASC
690 Company (Corps HQ Car), RASC
331 Company RASC
520 Company Royal Army Service Corps (Inf Bde)
HQ 4 Indian Infantry Division RIASC
4 Indian Divisional Troops Transport Coy
4 Indian Divisional Troops Transport Section
11th Indian Infantry Brigade Transport Coy
5th Indian Infantry Brigade Transport Coy
7th Indian Infantry Brigade Transport Coy
220 Detailed Issue Depot (DID)
HQ 4 Div RASC
473 Coy RASC (Inf Div Tps)
21 Coy RASC (Inf Bde)
44 Coy RASC (Inf Bde)
509 Coy RASC (Inf Bde)
561 Company RASC (Infantry Brigade)
1595 Independent Workshop Platoon RASC

Without your fathers Service Record it's going to be very difficult to establish what unit your father was in.

I would recommend you go back to the MOD and as them to clarify who exactly has your fathers service records and how to get it (online form, FOI request, etc)

The RLC museum may be able to point you in the right direction.

The RLC Museum - The Royal Logistic Corps

Or post your query here

Service Records application - MOD response timescale

If you do find out what unit your father served with in Greece let me know and I will see what I can do.

Good luck with your research

Gus

 

Hi Gus, I’ve been digging in our old collection of records and just found my father’s Soldier’s Release Book and it states his Army No : T / 138931.
There is a card inside saying Record of Service and states Regt./Corps : RASC from 2.1.40 to 8.5.46.
The Record Office Stamp states : RASC RECORDS, ORE PLACE, HASTINGS
Regards again, Victor.

 

Hi Victor

According to the website below, the RASC RECORDS, ORE PLACE, HASTINGS closed in about 1976.

Ore Place - Historical Hastings

You need to contact the MOD

Requests for personal data and service records: a detailed guide

Please quote his service number T / 138931

For info the T prefix denotes those who joined the RASC in a technical role.

Hope this helps

Gus

 

Hi Gus, silly me , no stupid me, I was looking at my father’s Soldier’s Release Book again and found that the back cover was actually folded over and would you believe it, there was more info!
Once again it states his Army No -T/138931
Present Rank- Driver
Unit, Regt, or Corps - 769 COY, ( GT) RASC.
Date of enlistment- 2.1.1.1940
It also states Military Conduct - Exemplary !!!
It also states - GREECE( CMF) 14 Feb 46

 

Hi Victor

This means that your father was somewhere in Greece with the 769th General Transport Company RASC until Feb 1946 when he was returned to uk for demob.

However it gives no indication as to when he arrived, where he was based and from which unit he came from.

I can only find the War Diaries for 1945 and 1946 which suggests it was probably formed in 1945.

Companies: 769 Coy. | The National Archives

Companies: 769 Coy | The National Archives

The documents you currently have will only give you a tiny fraction of his travels in ww2. You really need to get his service records to get the full picture. Please enter T/138931 into the service number box

Requests for personal data and service records: a detailed guide

CMF stands for Command Mediterranean Forces.

Hope this helps

Gus

 

Thank youGus!