I have been fortunate to receive, from the RAC Museum at Bovington, my father's tracer card covering his RAC service from 1944 to 1947. A couple of abbreviations have me stumped and enquiries with the museum have drawn a blank. The first is under his Unit column and states "Drafted RLBOL"; the second states "Posted to A.C.O.T.S" For the periods covered he was stationed in India, Does anyone know what the two abbreviations stand for please? Phil
Phil, RLBOL is a convoy draft code, used for baggage labels for example and meant the destination was not visible to possible watchers. I rely on: WW2 Abbreviations and Acronyms | Researching the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers ACOTS needless to say does not appear there. As you used the prefix 'posted to' I suggest it is typo; it is SCOTS. Less plausible is accts / accounts. Have you checked the "go to" RA site for his unit? See: Royal Artillery in World War 2 - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 If you have his Tracer Card and Service Records we recommend posting them here for the sleuths to help.
We have a thread about Draft codes here. Draft recognition codes. Maybe post an image of the card so we can see it too.
Copy of Tracer card attached for info together with the transcription below as supplied by the museum staff at Bovington 14988087 Tpr Harold Clifford Tracer Card Transcription Enlisted in the Army and was posted to the 61st Training Regiment 8.8.1944 Moved to the 57th Training Regiment 31.8.1944 Drafted RLBOL 5.7.1945 XIVa India [Unposted Reinforcement to India] with the RAC 24.7.1945 Posted to A.C.O.T.S XI India [posted/attached to a formation HQ or 16.2.1946 extra-Regimental unit] XII India [Evacuated on medical grounds behind Regimental Aid Posts] 9.10.1946 Y List Category I [First step of demobilisation] 2.2.1947 Posted to the Royal Armoured Corps Depot in the UK [Demobilisation 3.7.1947 halted] Posted to the Y List Category 7 12.8.1947 Posted to Class Z (T) Reserve [full demobilised, 26.10.1947 part of the Reserves]
Possibly 'Armoured Corps Officer Training School'? "During the Second World War, Ingall was the commandant of the Indian Armoured Corps Officer Training School at Ahmednagar in India." From: Francis Ingall - Wikipedia
Certainly seems to fit, thanks. He never made officer grade due to a medical evacuation. Typed transcript of the tracer card below.
