I have my great-grandfather’s B103 form and I just want to have a few more pairs of eyes on it to check I have interpreted the dates right! Not sure what the SOS / TOS on the form stands for. But if anyone is interested in checking, does this look right to you for a timeline of units? 7th April 1943 - Posted to 4 Holding Battalion RAOC Cottingham, WEF 10th April 1943 - Embarked from Hull to North Africa (Unit RSGFA - can’t find any information on what that stands for) 23rd April 1943 - Lands in North Africa, attached to X List IV?? Unit 1 BOD 13th May 1943 - Transferred to BOD BNAF 8th September 1943 - Transferred to 32 BOD 18th January 1944 - Transferred to 32 Vehicle Coy 26th March 1944 - Transferred to E Vehicle Coy BOD 21st April 1944 - Unit redesigned to 38 Vehicle Coy
Two places to identify British (and Commonwealth) military abbreviations: Second World War Abbreviations and Acronyms - Researching WW2 and: Abbreviations in Service Records (UK/ Army/ WWII) : For ref. Unit RSGFA is very likely a convoy code. BNAF British North Africa Force BOD Base Ordnance Depot Google returns four deaths, all in Tunisia for the "32 base ordnance depot" and nothing when using 32nd. BOD and 32 Vehicle Company appear in: Brunton Douglas Pte 3133751 - 70 Brigade Posts 84-85 may help too on: X lists (Service Records)
Further to #2. SOS/TOS - Struck off Strength, Taken on Strength RSGFA is a draft code rather than a convoy code. See Draft recognition codes. Tim
The ‘X List’ was used to identify a soldier and his place/role in the system. The ‘X’ was followed by a Roman numeral, as follows; ●X(i) for all ranks posted to fill vacancies in units created by casualties or requiring reinforcements ●X(ii) for all ranks evacuated on medical grounds thus, X (ii) referred to soldiers awaiting transfer to a hospital, etc., or. being on the sick list; ●X(iii) was for prisoners of war, deserters, and soldiers held further to disciplinary action ●X(iv) were newly arrived un-posted reinforcements, i.e. soldiers waiting to be posted to a unit or. after discharge from hospital. They might be stationed in a transit camp while waiting to be integrated into a unit or returned to a previous unit if they were requested him to do so. This particularly applied to skilled tradesmen or military specialists like signallers or artillerymen. it is important to the Army to verify where the soldier is and what he is doing so that his pay can be calculated and the War Office could calculate costs. ●X(v) is for soldiers attending training/courses.
BNAF is British North Africa Force Mainly Tunisia and associated locations 1942/43. WEF = With Effect From re designated -not redesigned Holding Battalion is where soldiers designated to a specific Corps or Regiment are held to be made available for further orders i.e. Embarkation abroad or Discharge/ Release. After BNAF the forces often went to Italy to become CMF Central Mediterranean Force (Italy etc) or MEF Middle Eastern Force (Egypt/ Iraq)) etc.. TTI = Trade Training Instruction
I'm looking into my grandfather's service, Malcolm Alfred Chinn, and am awaiting his records, we understand he ended the war in ROAC, 38 Vehicle Coy somewhere north of Naples. I'm slowly compiling a list of other men who could have served in 39 Vehicle Coy, searching around his unit is producing lots of interesting stuff. What was your great-grandfather’s name?
Hello Dangermouse, if you click on Catherine2 you will see when she last signed in . This thread is almost two years old. Last sign in was August 2022.
I keep forgetting to check the dates on stuff, I've already sent a few emails to people who would be over 100 years old now. Enthusiasm is blessing and a curse! Thanks for the tip re: last sign in date, useful ;-)