fathers army records ww2

[alan w jones]

Hello,
The caps look very similar to my late fathers General Sevice Corps, in which he trained prior to Royal Glosters  and going to Burma with them.
Regards
Alan

[diamond lady]

Re dads group photo, I have tried to get a better image of the cap badge but have not been very successful. When I was doing this I came across this face which I thought looked familiar, have a look and see what you think. Heres a clue, think older character in Eastenders

[diamond lady]

I thought someone else may have seen the resemblance of this photo but maybe I was seeing something no-one else was.
I would like to say thanks for your help with my queries about my fathers service record. Although I still do not know which regiment he served in, I have received a pack from the MOD to apply for his service record. I will let you know what I find out, although it may be a while, as I was warned there was a six month backlog.

[diamond lady]

Just received my dads service records today, some of it difficult to read. He was in several regiments, starting with the 1.KOSB when he enlisted on the 15th of March 1940 aged 24. In 1943 after being moved around a few different places he was transferred to the 2nd  Middlesex Regiment, I don't know if that means the 2nd battalion. Then in march 1944 he was transferred to the South Lancashire Regiment, until July 1944 when he was transferred to the RASC. His rank was always down as private until he joined the RASC when it was written down as driver. I think it says he was posted to 51 rhu, then 712 coy, then 1614 arty. I think it says T O S this unit ------ S O S to 51 G.T.coy, SOS this unit to 378GT coy, not sure what this means. That was in 1945, then from November that year until his release in 1946 it says EMBARKED and SOS B A O R, Class "A" Release. Does anyone know what that means. That was on his service and casualty form but on his record of service paper it says he was released to Class 'Z' (T) Royal Army Reserve. It looks like he was finally released on 30/4/46.

[atom12]

Hi 

I'm thinking the photo is shows him in the Royal Army Service Corps.

He served with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, then the 2nd Battalion The Middlesex Regiment.

His status as Driver with the RASC is the equivalent of a Private.  Not sure if he went to 51 Highland Division!!!, maybe someone can explain what RHU means    as well as the G.T. Coy?

  Then 1614 Artillery.  Then the TOS would mean "Taken Off Strength" and the SOS would mean "Struck Off Strength" of the British Army of The Rhine (BAOR) and he was released as being class 'A', meaning he was "Fit" upon release from army.

[willow154]

HI,
I came across your post as I was looking up the Kings Own Scottish Borderers.
My father, a derbyshire lad, ended up in this regiment in 1945 (went to India). He also spent some time in the RASC, after being in the Sherwood Foresters and Royal Artillery. They certainly seemed to move them around!
I've just been trying to work my way through his service record, and also came across thie term RHU, and I think it stands for Reinforcement Holding Unit. Does it give a date for when he was there? If it does it might explain what was happening, and why he was there.
If you do a search on National Archives putting in 51 reinforcement holding unit you will find some information. Also if you seach for RASC, and the company he was in, you will find war diaries. I've just asked the National Archives for an estimate on copying the one relevant to my dad's period with the Allied Expeditionary Force, to see if it's cheaper than visiting myself.
Anyway, hope this has been helpful - good luck.
Kind regards,
Paulene

[englandphil]

Just received my dads service records today, some of it difficult to read. He was in several regiments, starting with the 1.KOSB when he enlisted on the 15th of March 1940 aged 24. In 1943 after being moved around a few different places he was transferred to the 2nd  Middlesex Regiment, I don't know if that means the 2nd battalion. Then in march 1944 he was transferred to the South Lancashire Regiment, until July 1944 when he was transferred to the RASC. His rank was always down as private until he joined the RASC when it was written down as driver. I think it says he was posted to 51 rhu, then 712 coy, then 1614 arty. I think it says T O S this unit ------ S O S to 51 G.T.coy, SOS this unit to 378GT coy, not sure what this means. That was in 1945, then from November that year until his release in 1946 it says EMBARKED and SOS B A O R, Class "A" Release. Does anyone know what that means. That was on his service and casualty form but on his record of service paper it says he was released to Class 'Z' (T) Royal Army Reserve. It looks like he was finally released on 30/4/46.

Diamond Lady, I know this is an 'oldish' thread and you may well have some of the answers by now.  All of the Battalions of Regiments that you have listed upto 51 RHU were members of the British 3rd Infantry Division.

Given his date of enlistement, I dont think he would have seen service at Dunkirk but would have joined uo withthe Battalion in full on there return to the UK.  Uoto 1943 he would have been involved in Home Defence dutues and training. 

As plans for D-day were being made he transffered with the 2nd Bn Middlesex regt, whi were the 3rd Divisons Manchine Gun Battalion, but just prior to D-Day he transfrred again to the 1st South Lancs.

The 1st South Lancs were part of the Assualt Division and some of the first troops to land on Sword Beach.

Does his service record mention being wounded during Normandy, as it is surprising to see that he moved to the RASC at a time when renforcemengts were scarce.  Assuming that he went to 51 RHU prior to the RASC this suggest that he was wounded, and was posted to RASC when fit.

Phil

[Bryant]

Hello diamond lady

Just for the record
I can see the likeness of the eastenders character you refer, spitting image I would say! however, the eastenders character would have to be a minimum of 86/87 if he was in at the start of the second world war

*I would like it noted that I wouldn't have a clue as to there cast names or profess to know any story line of any soap......but even I pick up faces and the odd line when passing or in a comatose state 

Bryant

[TommyH]

Hello Diamond Lady,
I may be very late to this post, but I also have been researching my father's miltary records and it appears that he too was in the 51 RHU (Reinforcement Holding Unit) in 1944. And might well be in your photo.
I have scrutinised the photo that you have uploaded but in a higher resolution the picture does not show identifieable features.
Do you know the names behind the faces?
Regards
TommyH