Author Topic: Help needed with researching Grandfathers service records WW2  (Read 805 times)

Offline Andy J2022

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Re: Help needed with researching Grandfathers service records WW2
« Reply #9 on: Tuesday 24 September 24 11:33 BST (UK) »
Hi Bidr,

Thanks for posting his service book and discharge certificate. Unfortunately, as you say they don't provide much in the way of clues to his regiment. Except one possible one. On the Particulars of Training page, it states RAC (Armd). The Royal Armoured Corps has two main components, the reconnaissance troops and the tank regiments. Armoured in this context seems to show he was in a tank regiment rather than a recce regiment. However that may be a false conclusion.

The Royal Armoured Corps was a really big organisation and consisted of the traditional 'Cavalry' regiments such as the 8th Hussars or the 12th Royal Lancers, the Yeomanry Regiments (TA soldiers) and the Royal Tank Regiment - which confusingly was itself made up of a large number of battalions, later to be renamed Regiments. At the height of the war there were over 50 RTR battalions, but at the outbreak of war, the RTR consisted of 20 battalions: 8 regular and 12 territorial. Your grandfather could have served in any of these regiments.

The other thing to note is that his trade in the Army was MT (mechanical transport). This could mean that he drove the trucks that accompanied the tanks, carrying things like additional ammunition, spares, water, rations and fuel for the tanks themselves. However the Particulars page also notes he took part in a preliminary gunnery course, which implies being trained as a tank gunner. I can't read the next entry which ends in -lifting.  I think that had he been part of a tank crew his trade would have been listed as something like gunner/loader, driver, or radio operator. 

Offline haliared

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Re: Help needed with researching Grandfathers service records WW2
« Reply #10 on: Tuesday 24 September 24 13:56 BST (UK) »
Trooper and Bovington suggests to me that he could have been in a tank regiment.

The Bovington Tank Museum have an online RAC and Royal Tank Regiment Roll of Honour:

https://tankmuseum.org/roll-of-honour
Census & BMD information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Andy J2022

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Re: Help needed with researching Grandfathers service records WW2
« Reply #11 on: Tuesday 24 September 24 14:06 BST (UK) »
Haliared,
Unfortunately trooper is the standard term for a private soldier throughout the Royal Armoured Corps, and Bovington is the home of the Royal Armoured Corps, not just the Royal Tank Regiment.

Offline haliared

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Re: Help needed with researching Grandfathers service records WW2
« Reply #12 on: Tuesday 24 September 24 14:07 BST (UK) »
Census & BMD information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Offline haliared

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Re: Help needed with researching Grandfathers service records WW2
« Reply #13 on: Tuesday 24 September 24 14:31 BST (UK) »
Haliared,
Unfortunately trooper is the standard term for a private soldier throughout the Royal Armoured Corps, and Bovington is the home of the Royal Armoured Corps, not just the Royal Tank Regiment.

Thank you for explaining, that's not at all helpful of them at all back then to call all those soldiers the trooper title! I guess Bovington is home to both as the RTR were part of the RAC back then.
Census & BMD information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Bidr

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Re: Help needed with researching Grandfathers service records WW2
« Reply #14 on: Wednesday 25 September 24 15:30 BST (UK) »
Thank you all for the information!

If and when I receive my grandads war records I will update this thread with the information, so you can all compare what's in the records to what's in his service booklet.

I have researched his cap pin and have uploaded an image, maybe this will give a clue?

Once again Many thanks for the advice!

Offline Andy J2022

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Re: Help needed with researching Grandfathers service records WW2
« Reply #15 on: Wednesday 25 September 24 16:03 BST (UK) »
Yes that's the Royal Tank Regiment capbadge, rather than one of the Cavalry regiments. He would have worn a black beret, both in working dress, and on parade.  It is said that black was chosen so that the oil stains wouldn't show up!

All members of the RTR wore the same badge irrespective of which battalion they were in.

I don't suppose you have found his medals, have you? They would reveal his Army number which in turn would ease the problem of locating his record of service.

Offline Bidr

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Re: Help needed with researching Grandfathers service records WW2
« Reply #16 on: Wednesday 25 September 24 16:30 BST (UK) »
Unfortunately, I don't have the medals.  When my grandparents passed away my Granddads items were shared between his two daughters.  My mum received the service book and pin and my auntie received the medals.   I have asked my cousin for images of the medals but she can't locate them.