RE training in 1940

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by ex-boy, Nov 1, 2012.

  1. Mr Bradbury

    Mr Bradbury Junior Member

    Hi Steve,

    As you asked I have been trying to identify some of the REME units between 1942 and 44. I have been trying to decode the posting to the H.Q static unit. Craftsmen of the army states that the REME inherited RAOC, RE and RASC static and base workshops and there were over 100 static workshops in the U.K. Perhaps if we could decipher the acronym IN/S, it would give you a good steer. I think that the location was "southern road" I would be interested if you think that it says this. There are around 5 Southern Roads located in Southern England. Perhaps itcould help narrow the search if we could identify if it is actually Southern road stated in the form.

    Regards

    Colin
     
  2. ex-boy

    ex-boy Member

    I came across the Roll of Honour earlier. A couple on there who were wiith 602 Coy

    http://www.8fsociety.co.uk/002/roll.pdf

    Hi Rosy, I missed this posting earlier (rushing things as usual), so a belated thank you.

    Steve.
     
  3. ex-boy

    ex-boy Member

     
  4. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Steve/Colin
    Have you tried the REME museum or Assoc to see if the can help with the IN/S Abbreviation
     
  5. ex-boy

    ex-boy Member

    Steve/Colin
    Have you tried the REME museum or Assoc to see if the can help with the IN/S Abbreviation

    No. I had intended to ring both RE and REME museums this week but life got in the way. However, IN/S was not one of the questions I would have asked, so probably just as well it got postponed. Thanks for the suggestion and I WILL get in touch with them next week.

    Regards,

    Steve.
     
  6. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    I have had a close look at the original and could make a few different interpretations - southern could even be hawthorn in a certain light! I don't believe a location is likely though, as none of the postings identify places. My best guess is that it actually says Southern Cmd (command), but I wouldn't put my life on it. I also agree that the IN/S needs to be identified and I had assumed it was a badly written W/S. Again, I wouldn't put my life on either option but to me W/S makes sense as workshops but IN/S is an unknown quantity.

    Any thoughts on what looks like Draft RDKoY?

    Regards,

    Steve.

    Hi Steve - I also thought it could be Southern Command.

    The draft RDKOY was an ID code given to the group of soldiers your father was with when drafted to go overseas. You'll see embarkation details follow the draft info.
     
  7. Mr Bradbury

    Mr Bradbury Junior Member

    Although it says he was transferred to REME in 1942, it states he is on T List. As the units after then would appear to still be R.E. units, it could be the T list was a reserves list - someone else may be able to tell you otherwise.

    He is at a holding unit - not found anything for 7 Holding Unit.

    He's posted to 108 Coy for a day then to 6 Coy:

    WO 166/12009 6 Coy 1943 Jan.

    Then to 201 Section. Only file that seems likely as a match is this one that starts from November 1943:

    WO 171/1460 201 Sec 1943 Nov-1944 Dec.

    The only clear REME references I see are in 1944 - LAD 61st A/T Regt R.A and 3 District W/S REME.

    Hi Steve,

    Picking up on RosyRedd's quote above, is it possible that your father was still with the RE until he was actually posted overseas? The only reason I say this is that ARCRE war diary search engine throws up a Southern command for the RE for the 1944 period:

    WO 166/14224R.E.1944 Jan.-Dec.

    Maybe that could correspond to the service history form?

    Cheers

    Colin
     
  8. ex-boy

    ex-boy Member

    Hi Steve - I also thought it could be Southern Command.

    The draft RDKOY was an ID code given to the group of soldiers your father was with when drafted to go overseas. You'll see embarkation details follow the draft info.

    That sounds reasonable, as I couldn't work out what unit could be RDKOY. Thanks for that. I am hoping to have time after tomorrow to contact the museums and with luck get some answers.

    Regards,

    Steve.
     
  9. ex-boy

    ex-boy Member

    Hi Steve,

    Picking up on RosyRedd's quote above, is it possible that your father was still with the RE until he was actually posted overseas? The only reason I say this is that ARCRE war diary search engine throws up a Southern command for the RE for the 1944 period:

    WO 166/14224R.E.1944 Jan.-Dec.

    Maybe that could correspond to the service history form?

    Cheers

    Colin

    I suppose it's possible, although he always gave the impression that he was with REME from the off. Also, he was with wading trials units in North Devon in 1943/44 and said that he was making wading kits for vehicles before D day. I don't know, but I believe that was REME rather than RE work. Why didn't I ask him all this years ago?

    Regards.

    Steve.
     

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