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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Bluearmy1875 on Thursday 12 November 20 23:35 GMT (UK)
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Good day to you, i am at the start of what i believe may be a long journey into trying to find out information about my paternal Grandfather who served in WW2.
My understanding is that he served in the RAOC, in North Africa and then back in England in Nottinghamshire.
I have him being called up in May 1940, and being discharged from the Army in December 1945, with the Rank of P/S/CDR which searches on line point to him being a Conductor ? I also have reference to H.Q.9 B.A.D MEF ?
I also have a 7 digit number which i believe was his service number but am not 100% sure - 7630308 There was another number listed in notes left to me which is 30783 ?
Any guidance on a way forward would be much appreciated - even if just to confirm that P/S/CDR does mean Conductor ? And that the 7 digit number is likely to be his service number ?
Many thanks
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His appointment was Paid/Sub Conductor which was the lower of the two Conductor appoitments (Conductor being the higher).
9 Base Ammunition Depot was in the Middle East Force (essentially Egypt and the desert campaign) although MEF covered only part of the time in N Africa, war diaries start in 1940.
The 7 digit service number is in the block allocated post 1920 to the RAOC. 30783 looks like a pre 1920 number, back on that later. can't tie anything to that number at present.
The journey may be long in that his record will be held, with all other WW2 records, by the MoD and must be applied for:
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records Priority is given to people looking for their own records and covid is delaying the whole process which can take months!
MaxD
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Forgot to say welcome to Rootschat! Just chasing the other number - what was Grandfather's name?
MaxD
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Many thanks for your reply and helpful information - his name was Samuel Charles Bellamy, I remember snippets of stories but so wish i'd noted it down at the time, i know he met my Grandmother during the war whilst she was in the WVS and he was based somewhere near worksop at what he described as one of the biggest secret ammo dumps. But whether he finished the war there i don't know. I feel really bad for not taking the time to learn their story, he and his brothers who were all in the army. So anything i can find out now i can ensure i can pass on to my sons.
Thanks again.
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I can't tie the other number to anything.
It was more likely to have been Warsop in Nottinghamshire which was the home of the massive (100 square miles) Central Ammunition Depot.
I may be able to get something on him given his rank from an RAOC expert but as said, the only way to find out about his service is to apply for his records.
MaxD
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My very knowledgeable RAOC expert has found a brief mention of what may be him early in his service at 24 Ammunition Supply Depot (Warsop) in the RAOC Gazette in Nov/Dec 1940. Too big to attach and I can't shrink it. I have sent you a personal message.
MaxD
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Hello, my Gt Uncle was in RAOC in 1940, his military record states he was a Sgt in 9 Base Ammunition Depot. Sadly he was accidentally killed on 5 April 1942. Buried Port Said.
Does anyone have further details about the location of 9 BAD, or war diaries, what exactly they did.
Thank you
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I don't know if this is what you are looking for.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_ep=9%20base%20Ammunition%20Depot&_cr=wo&_dss=range&_sd=1940&_ed=1942&_ro=any&_st=adv
I think a visit to Kew would be your best bet to view.
PS welcome to rootschat!