Eighth Army abbreviations

[MaxD]

Working one's way down WS19P until it became WS19PA   on http://www.naval-history.net/xAH-WSConvoys05-1942A.htm I end up with Chateau Thierry, NZ Star, Poelau R..., Talisse and C H plus Laconia joining later as the final package of vessels sailing independently to Suez after passing Aden.  Arrival of all given as 23 July 42.  (War diary says 25th).  I pass on choosing which one!

Please can we keep off the escorts in this thread.  While it may be of general interest, the aim here is to link the arrival in Suez of the vessel carrying 53 LAA Regt and the precious RASC man known to his friends as Frank the driver to his service record. 

maxD

[cpercival]

My source is http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ws/index.html?ws_sitemap.htm~wsmain

Sorry maxD about straying into the convoy escort.  A little self indulgent.

 The referenced site contains a table of the ships of WS19 leaving Freetown and where they were tasked to.  Laconia and Santa Rosa inter alia to Capetown and Christiaan Huygens and others to Durban.  Laconia was thence to join fast convoy WS19L ahead of the others but was found to be too slow and sent back to rejoin WS19P.  The key is; did our subject go to Capetown or Durban?  The snippet of war diary posted by SW shows disembarkation/re-embarkation at Durban and thereon rests my case.
As to the code HMT H7 the initials stand for 'Hired Military Transport' and the number H7 was probably a local convoy number with no lasting significance.

C

[seaweed]

So are we concluding that CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS is the vessel that carried the original posters man? I would go along with that.

regards SW

[cpercival]

Yep.  That's my conclusion.  If accepted there are some pictures of the ship on this site that might be of interest.


https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=christiaan+huygens+ship&rlz=1C1GGGE_en-gbGB410GB440&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=648&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiKgq6Pj-TQAhUIIcAKHYmFARgQsAQIMA

Clive P

[MaxD]

 Clive and Seaweed in matters maritime you are clearly the experts.  A closely researched and supported conclusion - a joy to behold.

J from Canada now has a story that says, in outline, "Frank the driver travelled overseas in a convoy which left Liverpool on 31 May 1942 sailing round the Cape of Good Hope and arriving at Suez on 23rd or 25th July 1942.  Experts who have looked at convoy movements of the time have concluded that the vessel he travelled on was the Christiaan Huygens (see pics).  From there (war diary takes over)". She also has a mine of additional information which she can add if she wishes.

I propose we await the few hours until sunrise in beautiful BC when I am sure J from Canada will see this morning's posts and, reading your submissions, think she has won the lottery.   For my part thank you both for filling in the bit of his story between initial service in the UK and his overseas service with the 8th Army.  All we need now is his shoe size and we've cracked it.

maxD

[groom]

I've been following this thread with interest and congratulate those experts, such as Seaweed, Max and Clive who, using solid evidence,  have managed to solve the mystery. It really does make a change to see it presented in such a way, rather than wild guesses without anything to back it up. That is how research should be. Well done!

[MaxD]

Groom - that really is most generous, thank you.  For my part, this topic has been a pleasure to work on, not least for the opportunity to hear from experts in another field.

maxD

[JenB]

I've been following this thread with interest and congratulate those experts, such as Seaweed, Max and Clive who, using solid evidence,  have managed to solve the mystery. It really does make a change to see it presented in such a way, rather than wild guesses without anything to back it up. That is how research should be. Well done!

I second that. Just fantastic PROPER research!

I've decided to get my father's service record and I'm looking forward to your expert analysis of it. Including the convoy information 

[MaxD]

There is a temptation to keep on keeping on so a (perhaps) final snippet for your delectation and delight.
Thanks to Seaweed who has sent me the beginnings of the war diary of 53 LAA Regt RA, we can say that after disembarking at Suez the regiment moved north west via the odd transit camp or two until on 30 August the guns were deployed in a number of positions in protection of units of 10th Armoured Division near the coast to the west of Alexandria.  At 0230 on 31 August they received the code word to adopt battle positions.  The enemy must have been listening because at 1000 on 31 August an area two miles east of the HQ position came under attack from JU87s (the infamous Sturzkampfflugzeug, Stuka) and then again at 1800 three miles east.  The nearby main Div HQ was later shelled for half an hour (they wisely moved soon after) and reports were heard of a breakthrough by 70 tanks somewhere to the south.  Frank's war was under way.

maxD