Royal Army Service Corps - Normandy Landings

[Certacito]

In my day SOS meant struck off strength?

[scrimnet]

In my day SOS meant struck off strength?

Indeed...

I was going to say that...

It did then, and still does now...

[Pete Keane]

He was in North Africa, he left there (embarked probably 27th Jan, although this was the day he was signed off from the BNAF) and returned to UK.

He returned on 9th Feb - arriving Worthing.

It should say TOS and then a name or initials - this shows which command he was posted to on arrival.

For his embarkation on 9th June - in theory it would be possible to find ships departing that day....but...there will be hundreds! 

His unit - 5AB - he was in the RASC so he was transporting something - this is probably an abbreviation for No.5 Company, Ammunition ....(cant think what the B is for )

He was admitted to No.84 British general Hospital.....now, i recall someone posting a list of these a couple of months back? That would give you a location.

Cheers

Pete

[toekneebee]

Pete

Thanks for this. When I look further into his Army Service record there is a sheet 'Military History Sheet' which gives more info,
Looking specifically for 1944 around D-Day I see:-

N Africa 28.8.43 to 8.2.44  165 days
Home 9.2.44 to 3.6.44  115 days
N.W.E. 4.6.44 to 5.1.45  216 days.

This then appears to indicate that he was indeed in Normandy on D-Day as it conflicts with the info on earlier postings giving his embarkation date as 9 Jun i.e. D-Day plus 3

[vblease]

I know it's a year since you posted, but have you seen the website:
www.ddaycasualties.com.

They have a lot of information and I found my father (who was in the 172nd Divisional Company RASC) attached to the 3rd Division who landed on Sword beach.   There were 4 companies of RASC who were in the 3rd Division - the 23rd, 47th, 48th and 172nd.

Had a quick look at all the over Divisions, but couldn't find anything about the '3 AB'.

Good luck with your search.
Val

[toekneebee]

Val

Thanks for this, I will check this website out. I am still struggling with this part of my research.


Tony

[pshambrook]

I know it's a year since you posted, but have you seen the website:
www.ddaycasualties.com.

They have a lot of information and I found my father (who was in the 172nd Divisional Company RASC) attached to the 3rd Division who landed on Sword beach.   There were 4 companies of RASC who were in the 3rd Division - the 23rd, 47th, 48th and 172nd.

Had a quick look at all the over Divisions, but couldn't find anything about the '3 AB'.

Good luck with your search.
Val

Val,

My grandfather was in 172 Company RASC, here his account from D-Day he gave to a local newspaper... http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/local-news/convoy-leaves-unaware-of-final-destination-1-604111

Best regards,
Paul

[vblease]

Hi Paul
Thanks for the link.  Really interesting.  I suppose my Dad and your grandfather must have been in the same unit - they probably even knew one another.  My Dad was hit by shrapnel (which killed the guy next to him, so he was very lucky) on the 17 June and was sent back to England.

When I went to Kew I looked at the War Diaries for the 172nd. I have got the field returns for May, June, July Aug & Sept 1944 and the war diaries from Jan to Sept 1944. If you would like to see them then contact me off-line. 

Regards
Val

[pshambrook]

Hi Val,

Thanks for the offer to see the field returns and war diares for the 172nd. I would love to see them, I'm not sure how to contact you off-line... could you PM me and we can take it from there?

Thanks,
Paul