This abbreviation appears on a small slip of paper which is headed Ships Daily Run. It belonged to a man from Royal Sussex Rgt who served in India and Burma. Am trying to put it into context of a troopship voyage either out or back home but cannot understand the abbreviation W.E.L.S.O. Any ideas folks? Thanks
W.E. often means War Emergency and refers to the nature of the commission as an officer. L.S.O.,I'm not sure, but 'O' is likely officer. L.S. could be something to do with embarking and disembarking 'landing' safety or security. One entry in a book on the far east has L.S.O. as Liaison Security Officer. Another on Malaya has Local Security Officer. A third on Tobruk has Legal Staff Officer. Can you give us some more about that document for context.
Charley, Thanks for that so far. The ticket was sent to me with a collection of photos and documents by the son of a man who served with 9th RSR in India and Burma. I also believe he was with the 6th Btn early in 1940 and went with Second BEF in April 1940 to France, returning home from Cherbourg on a passenger ship, a short journey so was unlikely to need a daily pass. I think the document must have been issued on a troopship so it could either relate to the voyage out, which was on the Athlone Castle (1942) or the return to UK after end of hostilities,which was by an as yet unknown vessel. It is interesting how men kept items which meant something to them which appear to have very little value even for family collections. Some people are natural magpies though. There is another slip of paper which states Troopdeck H.Table 255. Although 9th RSR took a troopship for Operation Zipper in 1945 from India to Malaya, this particular man appears to have been in hospital recovering from an operation in India and is thought to have missed that trip, thus eliminating this as a source of the ticket.
It rather looks like an entry slip for a competition to guess the distance travelled by the ship in the last 24 hours. Can't work out WELSO but am thinking along the lines of Entertainment, Lottery, Sweepstake etc. Tim Edit: Troopdeck H Table 255 will be his place for mealtimes.
Thanks Tim, I had not thought of that, about the distance traveled. They had to be creative with amusements!
I was toying with Welfare, but do stops after the letter (W.E.L.S.O.) require full words for each letter? Hence, M.E.L.F. but FARELF (middle east land forces & far east land forces).
Hello Charley, Not very logical I agree. The order was "approved by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty " and who would argue with them! Here's the entry- Richard
