Seeking Info on RASC BNAF Mentions in Despatches – Driver B. Jones (Convoy Under Fire / Sea Rescue)

Hello all,

I’m researching the WWII service of my grandfather, Driver B. Jones, who served in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) under the British North Africa Force (BNAF).
He received two Mentions in Despatches during BNAF service, listed in his Service Book as:
10 April 1944 – GRO 13/1/44, BNAF Serial B D.D.15/2/44
16 May 1944 – GRO 31/4/44, BNAF Serial B D.D.15/4/44, RASC Pt II 257/44
While the London Gazette lists his name and number, there’s no detail on the acts themselves.

Family lore (and annotations in his belongings) suggest the commendations may be for:
1. Leading a convoy of supply vehicles under heavy artillery fire, possibly in late 1943 or early 1944
2. Rescuing Red Cross personnel adrift at sea, potentially involving a DUKW or amphibious craft near the coast
He was known to operate DUKW 1179 (WD 70577) and later trained on the M29 Weasel. He also served in Italy later in the war, including possible actions at or after Salerno and crossings like the Strait of Messina.
---
Questions:
Do any war diaries, memoirs, or veteran accounts describe these kinds of events involving RASC personnel in early 1944?
Does anyone have access to Part II Orders or G.R.O. appendices with more detail?
Has anyone come across similar MiD stories involving sea rescues or convoy leadership under BNAF?
Any help identifying his unit, company, or events tied to those commendations would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge.
—
Happy to share photos, vehicle numbers, and further details if helpful.

 

Bruten,

Welcome aboard. You have posted x3 on: War Diary - 14 Company RASC with photos and part of his service record (you are awaiting the full record).

Please add the basic information on him if known: Date of Birth, location of home, Service Number and what unit he was with.

Some experts here can identify MiD Commendations in the National Archives and if digitised provide a copy.

I am puzzled that both MiD refer to him with the BNAF. If he had been posted to the Italian campaign his posting would have been CMF (Central Mediterranean Forces), not BNAF. It is possible his role with amphibious vehicles meant his unit - after the landings - returned to North Africa.

The North African campaign ended in Tunisia when the Axis surrendered on 13/5/1943. From: Tunisian campaign - Wikipedia I wonder if the first MiD is for that campaign.

The Straits of Messina were crossed by the Allies on 3/9/1943. From: The battle for Italy | National Army Museum

The landings at Salerno started on 9/9/1943. From: Operation Avalanche - Wikipedia Alas the Order of Battle there excludes the RASC.

Somehow I doubt there were:

More likely Allied medical staff. The ICRC being very different and not part of the combatants.Caveat (after a little research): Red Cross staff were aboard hospital ships etc.

Perhaps this will help: List of hospital ships sunk in World War II - Wikipedia

 

Thanks for the Welcome David.

Initially I believed my grandfather might have been part of 14th company but now I'm unsure, I'll refrain from posting on others threads from now on untill I'm certain that it coincides with his history.
Yesterday I found out that his records can take 10 to 12 months to arrive so I'll continue to piece together what I can.

Taken from his service book

Army Number: T/193702

Full Name: Brindley Jones (real name Brinley might have been corrected at a later date)

Date of Birth: 16 October 1919

Trade on Enlistment: Farmer Tractor Driver

Enlisted: 6 June 1940

Enlistment Type: Territorial Army (TA), for 2 years with the Colours

Age/Service Group: 30 ??unsure what this means??

Unit Noted: RASC (Royal Army Service Corps)

Physical Description:

Height: 5 ft 6½ in
Weight: 144 lbs
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Brown
Chest: 35½ in
Medical Classification (1944/45): A.1. (Fully fit for general service)

Home town: Abergavenny, South Wales

I'm unsure of his RASC unit but his service book included an attached Note
(26 Feb 1945): 619 A.F.V. Wksp Coy. REME

I've found the specific gazette records but they only include name and service number.

Yes this is kinda throwing off my research also I have personal photos of him in the po valley and Messina straights which would suggest time spent in Italy and this photo of Salerno from the national archives.

Shows a dukw that has similar markings to this picture with my grandfather sat in the middle

Thanks for this I'll look deeper into it

 

Hello Bruten.

Thanks for updating your thread, from David's prompt, has helped reduce needle in haystack side of things.

Should you not have seen it before, medal application card (courtesy of TNA Kew via one of it's subscription commercial partners Fold3).





Have narrowed the field very very slightly on your grandfather's two MID's.

Little details, no great update, post up for you shortly.

Kind regards, good luck with your searching, always,

Jim.

 

Thank you Jim I've added this to my pile of photos

Another price of the puzzle,
According to this list HMHS St David sunk 40km off Anzio within the timeframe and there was a large amphibious force in that area so It might be a small price of the puzzle thanks David

 

MID small details (searching through pages of London Gazette to try and narrow things down Bruten)

First MID of your grandfather gazetted 13th January 1944 (your grandfather's name listed on page 268 of same):

Back through the pages to page 258 (pertinent words in second image "gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East").





Second MID of your grandfather gazetted 23rd March 1944 (your grandfather's name listed on page 1371 of same).

Back through the pages to page 1367 (pertinent words in second image "gallant and distinguished services in Sicily").





Still needle in haystack stuff Bruten, and not much further on, but at least you can now concentrate on the vastness of The Middle East, and perhaps (more importantly?) Sicily.

Gazetted dates show how much of a delay there was between actions taking place and gazetting, which just adds to the difficulty of finding when the individual actions actually took place, and where.

Again, good luck with all, at least Sicily has (maybe!) taken mainland Italy out of the equation.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Thankyou once again Jim
I'm very new to this and had no idea about looking at earlier on in the gazette for what theater the dispatches were accredited too.

This might be the story of when he lead a transport columb through artillery fire.

The 2nd one i thought would have been something to do with rescuing people at sea but Sicily wouldn't be considered Anzio so maybe my timeline is off.

Still thankyou for the information seems I'm 1 step forward 3 steps back.

Thanks
Bruten

 

Hello Bruten.

"Questions:
Do any war diaries, memoirs, or veteran accounts describe these kinds of events involving RASC personnel in early 1944?"

On the off chance my MID ramblings above haven't made it clear (understandably!) the period you need to be looking at most intensely is 1942 - 1943.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

HMHS Talamba sank near Sicily but that was around 10months before the MID

 

So 10 months before is a better timeframe thanks again Jim sorry I live in Asia now things happen in days not years I'm forgetting to think in British timeframes

 

Hi Bruten

The 11 January 1944 MID was awarded for service in Middle East.

Page 268 | Issue 36327, 11 January 1944 | London Ga...

The 21 March 1944 MID was awarded for service in Sicily.

Page 1371 | Supplement 36436, 21 March 1944 | Londo...

Only his service records from the MOD will clear up which unit he was with at the time of both awards. My dad was in 5 units between 1939 and 1945 (RAOC, REME).

And as MID recommendations found at the national archives are very rare, due to most being destroyed by fire during the blitz, the chances of understanding exactly how he got them are also going to be challenging.

According to Google, approximately 10,386 "Mentioned in Despatches" awards were given out during World War II.

You may be very lucky to find a secondary source, eg book , newspapers, etc.

This would be a good a start as any.

STORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS, 1939-1945 - Naval & Military Press

Hope this helps

Gus

 

Understood completely Bruten, no criticism intended or implied on my part. You are doing a good job of which your grandfather would be without doubt pleased about.

Hopefully the more knowledgeable (much more knowledgeable!) folks than me will pitch in, as I am extremely limited on matters Royal Army Service Corps wise.

Good luck with all.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Thanks Gus I'll look at grabbing a copy of the book while I'm in the UK.

I'm fairly confident that my grandfather got the MID for the accounts I've mentioned as that's what he told me when he was alive.

He didn't speak of his time in the war much I think due to shame as he enjoyed it so much, he always had a smile when recounting things but would never explain much.
I'm just trying to piece together his story as a project to do while I'm home and maybe put together some personal books for my family.

No offence taken Jim I'm fairly thick skinned, it's nice to have you folks helping.

Here's a bunch of photos you all might enjoy.

(No note)

(No note)

(Flooded valley between Venice and Foggia, one buffalo tracked amphibious)

(Mina)

(No note)

(No note)

(Italy side of Messina straights)

(R.E at work, South of El-Alamein)

 

Super photos Bruten, thanks for sharing them.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Interesting to a LVT in Italy a rare photo of their use there.

Cheers

Kevin

 

So I transcribed his service book there's some stuff I don't understand and some errors mainly his name can anyone see any details I might be missing or something that jumps out at you I may not have noticed.


Identity & Enlistment

Army Number: T/193702
Full Name: Brindley Jones
Date of Birth: 16 October 1919
Trade on Enlistment: Farmer Tractor Driver
Enlisted: 6 June 1940
Enlistment Type: Territorial Army (TA), for 2 years with the Colours
Age/Service Group: 30
Unit Noted: RASC (Royal Army Service Corps)

Physical Description:
Height: 5 ft 6½ in
Weight: 144 lbs
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Brown
Chest: 35½ in

Medical Classification (1944/45): A.1. (Fully fit for general service)


Training & Qualifications
Trained: Capable of driving and operating “Amph. Trac. R. M29” (Weasel) — dated 1 March 1944
Entitled to Wear: Three service chevrons — dated 13 December 1944
Mentions in Despatches:
10 April 1944 – BNAF (British North Africa Force), serial BD/152/244 (GRO ref.)
16 May 1944 – RASC, BNAF, GRO 259/44 (also listed in M.S. List No. 1)

Awards:
Africa Star (16 March 1944)
8th Army Clasp (30 November 1944)


Vaccinations
Inoculations (Protective):
T.A.B. – 29 May 1945
T.Y. – 29 May 1945
T.T. – 13 June 1945


Record of Employment( need to study this page further)

Trade: Driver I.C. (Internal Combustion)

Groups/Classes:
A = 2nd Class Army Trade Test Pass
B = Upgraded later

Dates and Notes:
Entries noted for trade employment and remastering
Possibly includes verification for proficiency with vehicles


Next of Kin

Father: David James Jones
Address: Ysgubor Fawr, Hardwick, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Date Recorded: 6 June 1940


Leave Entries

22/4/1941- Agricultural Leave (dates seem odd on this one)
4/6/1941- Privilege Leave
17/4/1942- 8 Day Leave
24/2/1944- 7 Day Priv Leave
27/8/1945- 30 Days Disembark Leave
4/12/1945- 28 Days Agriculture Leave
23/2/1946- Priv Leave 10 days
17/4/46- 72 hrs Easter Leave


Additional Notes
Attached Note (26 Feb 1945): 619 A.F.V. Servicing Coy REME

Sorry if I seem to be impatient but 10 - 12 months is a long time to wait for service records and my grandmother is currently 98 (Brinley's wife)so who knows what can happen in the time I'm waiting.

 

Photo 1 in Post 13: Is that a street sign on the building corner? One man is wearing a Fez (which suggests Egypt).

Post 16 - where are you puzzled? You could go back into the Post and add Help plse??

The RASC service numbers had a letter prefix, IIRC T/ was for transport. He joined in June 1940 as the British Army evacuated France, Dunkirk and other western France ports. For some weeks much was chaotic.

As a pre-war 'Farmer Tractor Driver' the agricultural leave makes sense, although at Xmas is odd; Priv is either Private or Privileged Leave, which could be for a wedding, birth of children or a family death. The disembarkation leave I expect is after his return to the UK and as the Army demobilised rapidly - especially after VJ-day - the need for soldiers dropped.

See explanations online for Operation Python: try: Leave - Python and Lilop

For LIAP:

I am surprised as a farmer he was not released quicker, but the priority to demob went to those who had served the longest abroad, e.g. far East.

I suggest you create a timeline document, to note the: date and information. The original documents on a record have long since gone. save it regularly, so Version 1 and as more is found V2.

 

Hi,

Your “2 years with the Colours ” is actually D of E = Duration of Emergency ie until the end of the war.

Steve

 

Also some more pictures of service men amount his collection

(No note)

(Tommy Fillingham)

(Dick Evans-Romford)

(W.Looke-Smudge Smith)

(No Note)

(No note)

(Bill Briggs)

(LH- Walter Loke, Centre- Wilkinson, Front- ?)

(No note)

(No note)

(No note)

(L to R standing- D. Allen, D.Herson, T.Lapcombe, J.Turner, Waterson, Kirkride, Winter, Robe, Catt, B.Briggs, Leader, R.Evans, Lambley,Owens
Kneeling L to R- J.Mcleod, B.Musgrove, Goode, Avey, Oliver.Barnes, A.Wright, Williams, Smith, H.Wilson, Lf.Town, Bowker, Callum.Lansdown,King, Wilkinson, Rogers, Eaton, Munns, Wilson, Miller, Williams, Laughton)
Edited this list slightly I initially believed catt was captain and leader was a prefix not a name.

 

davidbfpo

“As a pre-war 'Farmer Tractor Driver' the agricultural leave makes sense, although at Xmas is odd;”

Not so odd. Think of all the winter vegetables that you see on your plate on Xmas Day - Brussel Sprouts etc. They come out of the ground in the lead up to Xmas from early December onwards .

“I am surprised as a farmer he was not released quicker, but the priority to demob went to those who had served the longest abroad, e.g. far East.”

Not so. Location of service did not matter. Class A demobilisation was an equitable system based on Age & Service Group order only. Men who had home service only were released at the same time under Class A as men who had served overseas.

Early release could be applied for under Class B. Not all eligible men applied and were content to “soldier on” until their A&S Group number became eligible for demobilisation under Class A.

Steve