Hi there Having just had my late father’s WW2 Medals refurbished, I’m needing some help to determine how he came to be awarded the Africa Star. He was in the R.A.M.C. from 1940 until 1945 and I can only ever recall him talking about being in the North West Europe theatre of operations (as a Nursing Orderly in 2218 POW Camp at Vilvoorde, Belgium, according to his records) between 6 September 1944 and 31 August 1945. I have copies of his military records which clearly indicate the award (attached) but there is no actual mention of him being there.. I’ve also attached a ‘cobbled together’ front and reverse of a section of his records which clearly show ‘trooping’ through Liverpool between 12 October 1942 and 2 March 1943 (sorry the pages don’t quite line up and the quality isn’t all that good) and I know the medal was awarded to British and Commonwealth forces who served in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. He fits the qualifying period but there's no mention of where he went during that time. I’m hoping someone can shed light on my quest. Regards Chiad Fhear
I would suggest posting his complete service record, the above only shows part of the qualifying period TD
My best guess is that 'trooping movements' involved him being part of a medical team onboard a troopship/hospital ship proceeding to and from North Africa. I would think your best bet is to investigate the movements of 3 Company RAMC. The references to Liverpool will be where he embarked/disembarked. Tim
Hi and thanks for your reply (sorry for the delay in responding but we got visitors) I had thought about posting all his records - 14 pages - but the section I 'cobbled together' from two of them is the only possibility of him going overseas. He is documented for 5 weeks in Belfast from 17 April to 25 May 1942, all 'Home' from 10 June 1943 until his stint in Belgium from 6 September 1944 until 31 August 1945, then 'UK' through to his demob on 20 November 1945. Chiad Fhear
Hi Tim I tend to agree with you here. Any suggestions where I could find out about the movements of 3 Company RAMC during the period in question? Chiad Fhear
I had a quick look at Arnold Hague Convoy Database earlier, but could not align dates with the N.Africa convoys KMF/KMS. Does "Trooping pool" mean those that serve with the Navy looking after the troops on a ship/convoy?
Hi SteveDee Thanks for joining this thread. ‘Trooping Pool’ would be a group of personnel available for whatever was required. The word ‘pool’ was still in use during my RAF days (62-84) Dad never mentioned anything about his ‘trooping’ activities Chiad Fhear
Convoyweb (ConvoyWeb) shows: 3/12/42 Convoy MKS2 arriving Liverpool from Algiers 1/3/43 Convoy MKS8 arriving Liverpool from Bone (Algeria) I would think this almost confirms he was onboard one of the ships in these convoys and therefore entitled to the Africa Star. Tim
Tim You are a star ... both dates tally with entries in his records 3 December 1942 Disembarked Liverpool 2 March 1943 disembarked Liverpool Many thanks for solving my query Aye mair questions than answers! Chiad Fhear
If you post the relevant parts of his service record it may be ‘clear’ to others as to when he was in North Africa TD
Hi TD I included the relevant entries detailing all the dates in the attachment with my original post. I hope this will suffice Chiad Fhear
Hi TD I included all the dates in the attachment with my original post (see above). The entries above and below the trooping dates are irrelevant to this thread. Regards Chiad Fhear
So you are saying he has nothing in his service record covering 1940 - 1942? I was hoping to see his service record for the period to try and find definitive details of his time in North Africa, but hey ho, TD
So you are saying he has nothing in his service record covering 1940 - 1942... Not at all ... they refer to time at Dalkeith, Leeds, Shrewsbury, Moy (Belfast) and Shrewsbury again before he joined the Trooping Pool. I hope this can conclude things Regards and thanks again for all the help. Chiad Fhear
As I have not seen his actual service record between 1940 - 1942 it would be difficult for me to make any sort of opinion TD
