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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: hols92 on Friday 12 November 21 20:26 GMT (UK)

Title: Grandfather WW2 HELP
Post by: hols92 on Friday 12 November 21 20:26 GMT (UK)
I found out that my Grandfather served in ww2 - this was due to finding an extra note on his ww1 RMF admission and discharge entry.

This is what it reads:

Re Enl : RA (H.A.A) 16 4/42
No. 11416849 205 Hy. A.A.T Rgt
(Mof ref: 11/M437060 af 20.1.44)

Can anyone help me decifer this please?

My understanding is some of it is dates and his service number and that he served in the Royal Artillery - Heavy Anti Aircraft but I'm not certain and I'd love to find out more and hopefully with a clearer idea of these details, I will know where to look next for furthering my research on his life.

Super thanks in advance to anyone who can assist me at all!
Title: Re: Grandfather WW2 HELP
Post by: Ashtone on Friday 12 November 21 20:35 GMT (UK)
Have you searched for him in Ancestry's UK, World War II Royal Artillery Tracer Cards, 1939-1948 collection? I think free access to Ancestry's military records ends today?
Title: Re: Grandfather WW2 HELP
Post by: hols92 on Friday 12 November 21 20:36 GMT (UK)
I have and I can't understand why he isnt there, any ideas?
Title: Re: Grandfather WW2 HELP
Post by: Ashtone on Friday 12 November 21 20:38 GMT (UK)
What's his name?
Title: Re: Grandfather WW2 HELP
Post by: hols92 on Friday 12 November 21 20:38 GMT (UK)
John O'Donnell
Title: Re: Grandfather WW2 HELP
Post by: Ashtone on Friday 12 November 21 20:54 GMT (UK)
Hmm...I can see two other men who also enlisted on 16 April 1942.
Military Unit: 205 Trg Regt RA (Hvy Anti-Aircraft) -- for one of the men.
Their service numbers: 11416840 and 11416847 (close to your grandfather's number).

Not sure why your grandfather's card isn't amongst the set.  ???
Title: Re: Grandfather WW2 HELP
Post by: hols92 on Friday 12 November 21 21:00 GMT (UK)
Thats really strange isn't it! Thank you so much for looking for me!
Can you suggest anything that would make this any clearer?
I have ordered the official documents from the MoD but they are massively delayed due to covid and I was hoping to find something in the meantime as i have already been waiting months and they still aren't anywhere closer to completely my search order yet.
Title: Re: Grandfather WW2 HELP
Post by: Ashtone on Friday 12 November 21 21:28 GMT (UK)
From what I gather, not every member of the RA will have a corresponding Tracer Card.
Are his WW1 records on Ancestry? What's his DoB?
Title: Re: Grandfather WW2 HELP
Post by: hols92 on Sunday 14 November 21 16:23 GMT (UK)
So sorry for the delay in reply, His date of birth is 31st May 1902, Yes his ww1 records are on ancestry. Is there anything you need in particular? He was in the Royal Munster Fusiliers from 1919 until 1922!

Thank you so much for your help so far!