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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: wecanbeheroes on Saturday 19 September 15 16:25 BST (UK)
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Yesterday I received my Uncle's WW 2 army service record.
Some of the handwriting is hard to decipher.
Is it best to post scans here or in the armed forces section?
Thanks
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I would have said. World War Two category
But, seeing s you. Have started here why not try here now?
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I
I would have said. World War Two category
But, seeing s you. Have started here why not try here now?
Thanks ScouseBoy, maybe I will, I'm sure it'll get moved by a mod if this isn't the best place to post it. Thanks again.
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Post it now if you can, while I m still on line
They love their abbreviations in the armed forces and mod
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I need to scan them first, but shouldn't take me too long :)
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Here are some of the documents I received. I haven't yet had the chance to figure out some of the abbreviations, but if anyone wishes to enlighten me on those, then feel free.
The first page is quite legible until the bottom handwritten paragraph which I'm struggling with. Nice handwriting but really hard to read.
I've had to greatly reduce the image size due to the filesize restrictions on RC - maybe I should upload to an external host site?
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Here's a cropped section of that hard to read section - at a higher resolution
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RTU Return to Unit
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Thanks, I now have the Army Personnel Centre's full list of abbreviations, and CTBA is 'ceased to be attached' - so really it's the written info within that paragraph (now I have the abbreviations explained) that I'm trying to decipher.
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Here's page 2 of the same document - I've hosted it on an external site to allow for a larger size, hope this works! (http://i60.tinypic.com/2eyxe87.jpg)
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Embarked on his majesty's troopship (sic) B10
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Embarked on his majesty's troopship (sic) B10
B10. This was the secure number designated to a troopship for each particular individual voyage. There is no known way of relating this number to a particular troopship. For security reasons, regimental war diaries, rarely mention the troopship by name. Ships logbooks do not give details of the units embarked. So unless you have another source, personal recollections, personal diaries etc finding which vessel your man was on from official documents is difficult to say the least.
A quick search of the website convoy.web and my own records, gives three possibles DURBAN CASTLE. MONARCH OF BERMUDA, ARUNDEL CASTLE. All were part of convoy KMF 41 leaving the UK from various ports. sailing 10/11 March 1945 arriving Bombay 31/March 1945.
Of course the vessel he sailed on may have sailed independently so this is still a difficult scenario to research.
Others may know which vessel was designated B10 for this particular voyage.
I would post on the WW2 board for maximum response.
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Thanks for that Seaweed.
Does anyone know which ship B10 was for this voyage?
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I believe my grandfather was on the Durban Castle to Bombay but I am trying to find out the purpose of the voyage. 1945/6. Any pointers.
Thanks
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India had been under threat from the Japanese and the war with Japan was still on until 2 September 1945. There was also unrest in India as many wanted independence from UK which happened in 1947.
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Just as a by-the-by, "HMT" can also mean 'Hired Military Transport'. Don't forget that many of the troopships used by the military were often commercial liners and mailboats which were converted to be troopships.
Trying to find out what ship the B10 was, but not meeting with much success so far.
As far as the handwritten section on page one is concerned, much of it seems to be about the training courses Ronald went on. I'm assuming Weldr and similar grouping of Weld all mean "Welder".
"Joined for Subs. Welder Acetylene Course. Passed Subs. Welder Acetylene course, reclassified Welder Acetylene B III.
Proceeds No2 Birmingham Technical Training Group for basic Electrical Welder course on.....
"Passed Welder Electrical basic (???) on 25/10/44. Classified Welder Electrical Group D with effect from 25/10/44.
(I think the next bit is) Remain attached for Sub basic (??)
Passed Welder Electrical Sub Course on 8/11/44
(something) to Mobilisation and Holding Centre REME with effect from same date.
Classified Welder Electrical Group B Class III with effect from same [date].
Returned to Unit on9/11/44, Ceased To Be Attached this group with effect from 10/11/44.
RRTB
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We had a discussion about troopships some months ago.
At the time of the Falklands war there was a phrase: "Ships Taken Up From Trade" or STUFT
Atlantic Conveyor; Canberra; and many others were obtained under that method. I recall seeing all the ships photographs outside their admin office in Empress State Building many years ago.
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Purely as a For Your Interest, have a read at this: http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/royal-electrical-and-mechanical-engineers-introduction.23790/
RRTB