Hi I’m new to this site and very excited as to what I might find. I’m helping my dad find out anything on his father(my grandad) Frederick Joseph Jackson. He was in the 101 heavy aa ra battalion and 18th light aa ra. I have his tracer card and we have a few photos (one of him in a horse) but my grandad never said a word about his time serving. He didn’t even collect his medals. My aunt collected them after he passed. If anyone has any advice or info on how I can find out where and what he was involved would be much appreciated.
Welcome aboard. The RA became a corps with a million plus members, so individuals rarely appear in online research - unless they got a medal, wounded and died. I usually check whether a subject’s name or number have appeared here before. He has not appeared. We always recommend applying for the subject's full service record. Yes, it may take a year to arrive - either from the MoD or National Archives (TNA). It is not available online and is the definitive record. There is nothing you can do about the wait. Please post up his Tracer Card, and the experts here may be able to help interpret the scrawl. If you search online with his unit(s) if known or later, so for example: "XXth Anti-Tank Regiment" site:ww2talk.com that may identify threads mentioning them, at a glance without adding much. If you drop the 'th' more may be found. Searching the National Archives for the subject or unit(s) can identify those who were awarded honours / medals and the existence of War Diaries – which rarely mention individuals soldiers. They do give context and details of activity. Some research tips next via PM and good luck.
Kez, Please add his Service Number within the text. It may be on his Tracer Card, but the forum search option and an online search will not find it on an image.
Tracer card was difficult to read , now enhanced, slightly easier to read. Afraid I don't have time to go further this week. Several members should be able to transcribe it, if they are available. Quick look seems to reveal reveal more than two LAA Regiments. Embarked for Iraq 30.12.41 131 LAA 28.11.45 82 LAA 16.1.46 Two XII entries XII = sick or admission to hospital. (Records wont be available due to confidentiality clauses). 101 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 18 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 131 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 82 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 624 Infantry Regiment RA(TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 Suggest that you apply for his Service Record Tracer Cards carry minimum Information Get a copy of military records of service You should not need his Army Number to apply..
The RA Tracer Card was maintained by clerks at Regt. HQ. The format here is: Unit, Date of Entry / Information and in brackets the original document specifying an update. MEF is the abbreviation for Middle East Forces (Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq. If you construct a chronological timeline (table format) it will become clearer who he served with and when.
Isn't the number 1633062 on the tracer card his service number, or am I missing something here? Are they two different numbers?
No, not missing anything. Yesterday I did not look at the 1st image of the Tracer Card, so asked Kez to add in the text. If the number is on an image I learnt a search will not find it - either online or the site's search option.