Hi, I would be grateful for some advice. I have obtained my grandfather's service history and he was posted to N. Africa in Nov 1943, joining the 619 AFV servicing company. There is not alot to go on that I can see from the the service record after that. Would there be a unit diary for this company and where would I get it? Any other general advice would be much appreciated I have attached the relevant sheets from the service history for background and interest . Regards Colin
Hello Colin and welcome. I can guarantee there will be members along very soon to help you out. There are a lot of knowledgeable guys here! Lesley
Hi Colin. Welcome to the forum. Searching The National Archives there are these two references: WO 169/12597 619 A.F.V. Servicing Coy. 1943 Dec. WO 170/6468 619 A.F.V. Servicing Coy. 1945 Jan.- Oct. If you can get to Kew you can copy these for free, otherwise there are people on the forum who can copy them for you for a reasonable price. I've checked my REME history, but not seen any mention of this unit. As this was an AFV servicing company he would have been dealing with vehicles which included tanks and armoured cars. Have you already found out information about him prior to this? Jules.
Jules, Many thanks, I appreciate your time looking at this. I shall take up the references you have given me. To me your question can be interpreted in two ways: So I will answer both: I have not found out any information prior to this. I have spent some time deciphering the service record but that's all BUT it has really whetted my appetite. I know my dad has some telegrams and other documents from the war period, which will help to fill out my granddad's story and the next time I am at my parents (400 miles away, so not done as often as I would like) I will do some serious scanning! If you are asking what my grandad did prior to the posting, he joined up with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in late 1940 for infantry training. He trained as a motor mechanic and was posted to the 14LAD A.F Signals in May '43, then on to N Africa in November '43. The service notes are pretty good up to this point so I think I can piece this together. As I said, It gets a bit sketchy from November '43 Many Thanks Colin
Jules, Many thanks, I appreciate your time looking at this. I shall take up the references you have given me. To me your question can be interpreted in two ways: So I will answer both: I have not found out any information prior to this. I have spent some time deciphering the service record but that's all BUT it has really whetted my appetite. I know my dad has some telegrams and other documents from the war period, which will help to fill out my granddad's story and the next time I am at my parents (400 miles away, so not done as often as I would like) I will do some serious scanning! If you are asking what my grandad did prior to the posting, he joined up with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in late 1940 for infantry training. He trained as a motor mechanic and was posted to the 14LAD A.F Signals in May '43, then on to N Africa in November '43. The service notes are pretty good up to this point so I think I can piece this together. As I said, It gets a bit sketchy from November '43 Many Thanks Colin I was probably asking all of that And it would be great if you could share any of the documents. Regards Kinnegar - Northern Ireland - this was a depot that was set up pre-WW2 and was to replace the depot at Carrickfergus that was out of date. It became one of the important Command Ordnance Depots during the war. The REME Mob Centre Arnold was near Nottingham. After BNAF there is the CMF reference. My grandad moved from Tripoli to Naples around November/December '43. From the record though, your grandad was on Xiv list once he disembarked. This is a link to explain x lists including xiv: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/19949-x-lists-service-records.html If you need any help with abbreviations and an explanation of draft codes this thread should help quite a bit: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/13716-abbreviations.html Jules.
And here's the 1943 war diary: WO 169/12597, 619 A.F.V. Servicing Coy. (1943 Dec.) WO 170/3089, Inspection and Servicing Units and Companies: 619 Coy. (1944 Jan.- Dec.) WO 170/6468, 619 A.F.V. Servicing Coy. (1945 Jan.- Oct.) (Downloaded from ARCRE War Diary Search Engine: Arcre - British Army War Diary Search Engine by Lee Richards (c)2011 - 2011-05-31 22:53 GMT) Lee Hi Colin. Welcome to the forum. Searching The National Archives there are these two references: WO 169/12597 619 A.F.V. Servicing Coy. 1943 Dec. WO 170/6468 619 A.F.V. Servicing Coy. 1945 Jan.- Oct. If you can get to Kew you can copy these for free, otherwise there are people on the forum who can copy them for you for a reasonable price. I've checked my REME history, but not seen any mention of this unit. As this was an AFV servicing company he would have been dealing with vehicles which included tanks and armoured cars. Have you already found out information about him prior to this? Jules.
Didn't see that one Lee Colin - 1 GRTD could be 1 General Reinforcement Training Depot. Using the ARCRE search engine I have found this: WO 169/13713 1 Gen. Rft. Trg. Dep. 1943 July - Dec. which may be of help. There are others that are similar for the following year: WO 170/3835 1 Gen. Rft. Trg. Depot H.Q. 1944 Mar.- June WO 170/3836 1 Gen. Rft. Trg. Depot 5 Bn. 1944 July - Dec. WO 170/3837 1 Gen. Rft. Trg. Depot 6 Bn. 1944 May, June Now hopefully the smallest member of the household will go back to sleep soon and then so can I! Jules
Jules, Thanks for the additional info. It looks like the journey to piece this is together is going to involve lots of research. Next stop Kew!! I has sussed the Kinnegar reference after some extended web surfing. It seems he was sent to the 4 corners of the UK! Here is the remainder of the service history for your interest. Cheers Colin
Hi Colin and welcome to the forum. I'd also consider contacting/visting the REME Museum at Aborfield: REME Museum of Technology Good luck with it mate. Regards Andy
Jules, Thanks for the additional info. It looks like the journey to piece this is together is going to involve lots of research. Next stop Kew!! I has sussed the Kinnegar reference after some extended web surfing. It seems he was sent to the 4 corners of the UK! Here is the remainder of the service history for your interest. Cheers Colin Looks like you have plenty to keep you busy Colin - It would be very interesting to know what you find out too! Jules.
Andy, Thanks for the steer on the museum. I have dropped their archivist a line. Will keep everyone posted with my progress!! Cheers Colin