Help with abbreviations please.

[kiwi]

Hi,

I hope someone with patience can help.

I have some army war service records, that seem to be written almost in a diffrent language unless you are in the Army  . The Records Office were so overwhelmed with work that they just photocopied them instead of a transcription, which I gather is what they used to do.  No complaints about that though it is interesting to see the real thing. 

However starting with the "Notification of Release" ( 1946) it states under Rank he was a S/CDR (WS) and the Unit.Regt or Corps was 15 ADV. B.O.D.  R.A O.C  What does all that stand for ?

As well, I wondered about the numbering system for the Army, his Army number was 7648675.  Does that mean when he joined he was the 7648675th person to join the Army, or the whole Armed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force) or the 7648675th who joined the 8th Battalion?

Now, having shown my complete ignorance I will go and find something that I can do on this beautiful sunny day

Regards,
kiwi

[AMBLY]

Hi Kiwi

This site may assist:
Military Acronyms, Initialisms, and Abbreviations
http://www.fas.org/news/reference/lexicon/acronym.htm

and this:
How to determine Army Serial Numbers
http://members.tripod.com/33rdscb/id49.htm

Weather's not bad in Palmie, but Rootchat is better fun than the rampant spring garden 

cheers
AMBLY

[kiwi]

Hi Ambly,

Thanks for the reply, and the interesting websites.  Unfortunately the Army serial numbers seem to pertain to the US Services, and I don't seem to find anything on the other site either that fits the other abbreviations I have 

Looks like I'm back to mowing the lawns
Regards,
kiwi

[AMBLY]

Hi Kiwi

That wasn't a lot of help was it 

2nd time lucky!

I believe he was Rank: Sub Conductor (S/cdr) and WS maybe for Wireless:
http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Second_World_War_Diaries_Abbreviations

his unit: 15th  - Advanced  - Base ordnance depot  - Royal Army Ordnance Corps

http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/FriendsReunited.asp?wci=selectforces&country_key=3&forces_key=2&px=3

http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/corps/RAOC.htm
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65241

This fellow had the same basic rank:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/18/a5183318.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/62/a2125162.shtml

This one in same unit?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/user/43/u743043.shtml

Cheers
AMBLY

[kiwi]

Hi Ambly,

Thats terrific     I shall now set to and decipher the lot.

You are quite right Rootschat sure beats mowing the lawns 'puff, puff'

Many thanks
Regards,
kiwi

[Conductor Mike]

The term 'Conductor' is a an appointment in the British and some colonial Armies.  its the most senior non-commissioned officer appointment in the British Army.  This guy was a very senior sort!  You can get more from:  www.rlc-conductor.info.

The 'WS' you refer to is likely to be Workshops. He was likely a senior ordnance technician or even in charge of the stores of Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers workshops

Very best of luck.  Mike

[kiwi]

Hi Conductor Mike,

An excellent site, thank you very much for posting it.  I must admit I find a lot of the papers really hard to follow, not being of a military background myself.  I know he spent about 2 years in BOAR(as a sub conductor) before being released in 1946.

Many thanks,

Best regards,
kiwi