Eighth Army abbreviations

[seaweed]

Yes I would agree with you insomuch that Army War Diaries may give the name as HMT M4 or whatever. The problem is fitting a name to the code number, especially as it was changed after every voyage Do you know if there is any type of index which will give that information?
regards
SW

[cpercival]

I dont know of any index that will give that information but my point was that the reference to SS Aronda was also included in the war diary.  The entire piece is a direct quotation.  I didn't add the reference to SS Aronda as an aside.

C

[seaweed]

OK. Thanks any way.
regards
SW

[J from Canada]

Gosh. MANY heartfelt thanks to all of you who have provided this information. I've gone over it twice and have a few questions. As requested, I'm attaching the last page to this post.

J from Canada

[MaxD]

For further clarification .  I should have consulted the definitive works on the ORBATs earlier.

It is now clear, looking at Josien's Orders of Battle and the summary in Nafziger, that 53 LAA Regiment which was the unit he went overseas with went to Egypt.  This accords with the entry on "first half" 25 July 1942.  So we have the beginning of his time overseas fixed.

The next embarkation (ie move on water!) was in August 1943 when his theatre changes from MEF to BNAF and later CMF which I submit m'Lud relates to the move of his unit to Italy.  Thus we have the second part.

Seen the last page, think there is something missing entirely, it doesn't deal with discharge in UK.

I apologise for the bit by bit approach.

Caveat - as said before, I would really like to have seen the units in an ORBAT but so far have not worked through each of the formations in Italy although unfortunately, ORBATS tend not to show minor units such as transport companies.

[RRTB]

Struck off Strength of RASC unit to X (ii) list on admission to 19 Casualty Clearing(Clearance?) Station.

"And examined AF W3149" is Army Form W3149 which is headed "Report of Medical Examination" and is for 'Officers and other ranks of the military forces, nursing and auxiliary services who are relegated to unemployment or or transferred to the Army Reserve, or or retired or discharged for any reason other than invaliding".

This form was sent to the Officer in command RASC Records.

Disch is Discharged.

TOS ex X (ii) means he was sent back to his own unit from the X (2) list.

X ( 8 ) is the list of men heading back to the UK or who are already in the UK and are to be demobbed. Class A release meant that although the men were in the process of being demobbed (or had been already demobbed?) they could still be recalled to the colours should the need arise. It was feared that Germany and Japan might not honour their relevant surrender, so men were liable to recall should this be required.

RRTB

[MaxD]

My work here is done (subject to further questions) 

[J from Canada]

Many thanks for your patience and perseverance, MaxD, RRTB, seaweed, cpercival and ScouseBoy.

A few questions:

1. It seems the consensus is that he left the UK for the Middle East on the convoy WS 19P- is that right?

2. I know he was in Egypt. Because another specific ME location is not mentioned in his record ( that I am able to discern), does this mean that all his ME service was spent in Egypt?

3. His record suggests that he arrived in ME on July 25 1942 and he left on August 2, 1943. This August 2 date suggests this is when he left for Italy- is that correct?

4. Could you tell me which regiment he was with in Italy and for how long he was in Italy?

Many thanks once again!
J from Canada

[ScouseBoy]

The next area on the North Africa coast in 1942 was called Cyrenaica, I think it is highly likely that he took part in the. Pursuit of the Axis forces westwards across the Western Desert in November and December 1942