RASC Service Records - Can Anyone Help?

[gemmaallen1977]

Hi

I've recently received my grandfather's Army Service Records and I would like to be able to make more sense of them - is there anyone that could HELP me please?  His name was Thomas Patrick Lynch and he joined the Army on 18th May 1937 at the age of 16.  He joined the Welsh Regiment and then I think the RASC from June 1941 until July 1946.  In 1946 he married my grandmother who he met whilst stationed in Guernsey at the end of the war.  He re-enlisted into the Royal Green Jackets, we think, in 1954 until his sudden death in 1958 whilst on duty.  He was a driver in the Army both times.  It says on the Service Records something like "30 July 1941 - Posted to No 1 mob Cen RASC for 67 detail..." then on 15 August 141 he embarked for the Middle East.   He disembarked Egypt on 27 October 1941.  From that point he seems to have lots of TOS, SOS and WOAF in his records - I have no idea what these mean?  It mentions him being awarded African Star medal on 18 October 1943 and then SOS to various COYs - Again a bit ignorant here I'm afraid? I'd really love to know more about his experiences during the war and any help at all would be appreciated.  I understand that there are war diaries and records but I don't know which ones would apply - if he seems to be moving to different COYs would he still part of the same unit/regiment?  and does anybody know what records/diaries would be applicable to his service?  I am trying to do this for my mum as she was only 6 when she lost her father in 1958 and knows very little about him...

He joined The Welsh Regiment 4th Btn on 18 May 1937 - I think he joined the Territorial Army first at it said 17 years and 3 months, but he was actually on 16 - he lied. Accompanying these records was a Statement of the Services of No. 3961274 Name Thomas Lynch - says the The Welsh Regt 4th btn from 18 May 1937 attested PTE and is signed by an Officer.

Unfortunately the Army Records Centre have informed us that his papers for when he re-enlisted in 1954 - 19548 are unable to be located and are destroyed.  But we do have a re-enlistment number of 22998273.  He died whilst on duty in the Brecon area suddenly of natural causes. 

If anyone can help me with these records I'd be very grateful, thanks, Gemma.

[bleckie]

Hi Gemma

TOS  =   Taken on Strength  usually when posted to a unit
SOS  =   Struck of Strength   usually when posted to another unit

When you received your Grandfather's service record did you supply both service number's it may be that someone thinks that they are 2 different people.

Yours Aye
BruceL

[gemmaallen1977]

Hi Bruce

Thanks for the information and your post! Yes I did give them both service numbers and wrote to them but they replied saying that his 1954-1958 records were sent to the pensions department as he died suddenly in service and they destroyed them apparently?  All I have relating to that time for his army service is the form when he re-enlisted which my nan had kept and it states he re-enlisted for the Royal Green Jackets as a driver.  There are a couple of letters from The Queen's Victoria Rifles to my nan when he died - don't know if they are/were part of the same regiment? 

So if TOS and SOS mean taken/struck off strength would this mean that he was still part of the same regiment?  As there are quite a few of these in his records.. He does seem to get into trouble a few times in his record, perhaps that would be why he kept moving?  Another thing I'm a bit confused about is when it says TOS to another company - I'm a bit confused about what company, unit or are the same thing?  (Please excuse my ignorance here!)  I'd be very grateful if anybody could clarify this for me as it might make more sense when trying to analyse his records - As I know he was in Egypt during 1942/43  I'd like to be able to read the relevant war diary and see what was happening at those times in that area, but if he kept transferring units/company I'm not sure if there is one regimental diary that would cover or if there were diaries kept for each company?  Again I'd be very grateful to hear from anyone who might be able to answer these questions!  Many thanks, Gemma

[bleckie]

Hi Gemma

RASC was the forerunner of the Royal Corps of Transport now the Royal Logistic Corps you could try contacting the archives at their museum.

http://www.rlcmuseum.co.uk/index.html

Yours Aye
BruceL

[gemmaallen1977]

Thanks, I will definitely do that