RASC - Capel, Lewis, Yugor? and Stone

[TonyJames]

The attached photo is of my mother in laws father Sidney Capel and three friends. It is believed to have been taken in 1939 - 40. Can anyone confirm the uniforms are the RASC or comment on the badges? He was apparently in France in May 1940 and his unit returned to England after Dunkirk, but we have not got to the bottom of that yet.

Names and addresses of the others are written on the back of the photo - hope they may be of interest to someone - G W Stone, Brighton (sitting RH side), G G Lewis, Swansea (sitting LH side) and John Yugor (difficult to read), Jesmond, Newcastle (standing RH side). Welcome any comments or queries.

[ScouseBoy]

They probably got out of France through St. Nazaire, Brest  or Cherbourg.

Many RASC  and RAF technical  as well as civilians got  ou through those ports  up to the 17th June 1940 or the day after.

[ScouseBoy]

They havent got  RASC  badges at the top of their arms have they.   
I wonder whether this photograph was taken  in June or July 1940, shortly after they had returned from France.

My dad was in RASC/ EFI    and he was evacuated from St Nazaire on 17th June 1940.

I spoke last year  to  an ex RASC  gentleman who had been in St Nazaire in June 1940,  one of the  tasks they had to perform  was smashing up Motorcycles with sledgehammers on the dock side.  If you read the book Dunkirk, you will see that the last couple of chapters deal with those troops still in France after Dunkirk evacuation.

Also look at the HMT  Lancastria  thread  either on this page or page two  of this WW2   forum.

[Pete Keane]

Your mans badge isnt clear, but it could well be RASC, on his left forearm is the circular MT drivers badge - although this in itself doesnt mean he was RASC.

The other three....not at all convinced they are RASC, the badge appears hollow with an emblem in the middle (horse?), a disinct crown and scroll underneath.

Its possible he was an RASC man attached as a driver to a completely differnt unit, and these were his 'crew-mates'.

His service history may help.

Pete

[ScouseBoy]

Tony James, Do you know the date of birth of your relative   or do you know his date of marriage?

Lines of Communication  soldiers  (such as RASC)  made up a large proportion of those servicemen who were evacuated from France  via the ports such as Brest, Cherbourg and St. Nazaire.      My father  told me that they travelled in Cattle Trucks on  the railway to St Nazaire.     The british Army was in adminstrative chaos after the evacuations.   The parents of many men got   "Missing"   letters in June  1940  even when the troops had already returned back home.

[ScouseBoy]

There are a number of RASC  and RCT and RLC   Forums if   you google  you  will see some of those, I reccommend Bristol Branch  of RASC association.   Ask on there.

[Pete Keane]

I'm thinking RAOC for the other three - which could make him a driver for one of the ammunition park companies or similar.

Hmmm. Or possibly Royal Corps of Signals.   Certainly the central figure, surround and crown would work, but not sure about the bit at the bottom, the scroll.

Pete

[TonyJames]

Dear all,
Many thanks for your comments - too fast for me to keep up with them.
I know he was a driver but have not yet got his service record - requested it a few months back but they wrote saying it could be a while. Later he was in Iceland then back into Europe after D day.

I know his birth & marriage dates - how do they help?

Cheers

James

[ScouseBoy]

As regards the date of marriage,   My dad was in St Nazaire on 17th June 1940,   his marriage date was 23rd June 1940.   The wedding date may  give a clue  as to when he was back in the  UK.