RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: tulipwindmill on Monday 26 August 13 12:47 BST (UK)
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Hi,
my grampa was in India during the war.He was a LAC in the RAF.Thing is,I find it very hard to find info about this area during the war.I am thinking about getting his service records,just the cost puts me off lol.Are there any sites or anything that could give me more info on what went on there?
Thanks Angela
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Hi,
You might find this earlier Rootschat posting useful:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=401839.0
Nanny Jan
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Although it is costly and there is a long wait, you might be wise to apply for his service records so you can find out more accurately what he did during his time there, otherwise it would be just guesswork on the part of rootschatters.
I googled raf ww2 india and got lots of results including this previous rootschat thread which may be of interest:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=401839.0 (I see NJ has beat me to it)
and this:
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/36676-raf-india-wwii/
and some squadrons that served there:
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/18490-raf-units-in-india/
Others should be able to help you further. Would you be willing to give his name and any other details of his service?
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Thanks Nanny and Ruskie,
Yeah,I have found some stuff in the past and been on WW2talk before.Thing is,an LAC was more driving and maintanance,so you don't really get much about that part of things.He told us stories about driving big names around and we know he was based in New Delhi and I think Calcutta too.His name was Andrew White.We have some air graphs he sent to my gran and on those he has his rank LAC,which we found to be Leading Aircraftman.However,I do also have a newspaper cutting which has him ranked as Corporal.He was also involved in the concert parties.I have a programme dated Dec 8th 1942 in which he appears as a baritone. This tells me that the Station Commander at the time was Wing Commander H Stanton.There are also loads of pictures which sadly have no writing on the back!
As you can see,I do have bits and pieces including a National Service card and a letter from SD NIGAM station master at Manpur.I guess,his service records would be the next step.
Angela
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You do have quite a lot of treasures Angela. :)
With the details you provided, someone may be able to help you, but I think biting the bullet and applying for his service record might be the best idea.
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A clue that may help is that W/C Harley Stanton was CO of No 81 Repair and Salvage Unit when it was based in Kluang (Malaya) in Dec 1941.
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Thanks for that Spikey68,I will investigate that one!
Angela
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My late father was also stationed in India at the end of WW2 although I have no idea where. From his stories he seemed to have spent quite a bit of time travelling on trains to get from A to B to C, etc. He was involved with engines and airframes so wasn't airborne most of the time. I remember one of the stories he used to tell was of when the train stopped at a station and they all jumped off to buy food from the local vendors. On their way back to the train with their food, they were swooped on by kites (the birds, that is) which stole all their sandwiches!
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Greensleeves,that sounds like the stories I used to be told.There were train stories,stories about being on a boat.My grampa had a pet monkey called Jacko.He also told us about lying in bed and watching a lizard in his jacket pocket.Talked about char wallahs,and driving big wigs,but never said what exactly he did sadly!
Angela
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Greensleeves,that sounds like the stories I used to be told.There were train stories,stories about being on a boat.My grampa had a pet monkey called Jacko.He also told us about lying in bed and watching a lizard in his jacket pocket.Talked about char wallahs,and driving big wigs,but never said what exactly he did sadly!
Angela
My father in law had a pet monkey called Jacko too (but he wasn't in the RAF) - possibly just a common monkey name. Some of the things you and GS mention must be common to all servicemen as my father in law mentioned very similar things.
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My father in law had a pet monkey called Jacko too (but he wasn't in the RAF) - possibly just a common monkey name.
Jacko was a character (yes, a moneky) in a comic strip called the Bruin Boys, that appeared in a series of magazines and comics pre-war. It's most probable that a very large number of personnel grew up reading these comics.
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Interesting. I have a good idea of what life would have been like in India at an RAF station, though I never quite got that far. I served in the RAF from August 1951 to August 1954 with two whole years in Aden, so our KD uniform was the same, but we had our own shirts and shorts made up by the Arab tailor. The only time that sent a Warrant Officer into a fit of apoplexy was on a Pay Parade when one bod wore a yellow shirt. None of us got paid that day.
Aden at one time had been considered as part of the Bombay province and even had Indian currency. In fact postage stamps were still shown as being of Rupees and Annas value though they were overprinted in East African Shillings which was the currency that had just replaced the old.
As for ranks, one enters the RAF as an Aircraftsman Second Class - AC2, then when you pass your trade training you become an AC1 - unless a Drill Instructor or RAF Police when they get Acting Corporal. My first promotion in Aden was to LAC, and some months later to SAC - Senior Aircraftsman, a rank which didn't exist during the War. 4077257 SAC Hutton