Hi, I am trying to understand an entry on this POW service record, which in turn may help with understanding the route he took home from Manila. I cannot find any answers to the box stamped: 22 DVI 25.11.45 3/166 Does anyone have any clues to the meaning? Thanks Mike
Hi, It looks like the usual completed Army census box entry that is seen on most service records. I think the number 22 may be soldiers Army Service Group Number but I’m sure that the 3/166 entry is the calculation of the total length of overseas service at the date the record was stamped. This endorsement/stamping of the service record was an early part of the post war demobilisation planning process. It applied equally to POW and non POW and has no conection to any released POW repatriation process/route. Sorry can’t assist with DVI acronym. Steve
Hi Steve, Many thanks. The '22' does match up to date of birth/commencement of war service. The 3/166, is this somehow coded, or do you mean simply 3 years 166 days etc? Unfortunately this does not match up. I believe he was in India early 1941, then Singapore mid 41, captured Feb 1942, released Sep 45. Do you read his record as definitely arriving in UK on 17.01.1946? Thanks Mike
Hi, Yes it’s 3 years 166 days at the date the calculation was made - which from other “stamps” I’ve seen was sometime in 1944. Even if his calculation was made later - due to some clerical oversight - ie at the time the handwritten DVI note was added later 25.11.45 - the same 1944 “end” date would be used as if not it would have given him an “unfair advantage” of having more overseas service when LIAP/PHYTHON and the demobilisation process was being arranged. Hope you follow that logic? I agree 17th January 1946 is the date that his U.K. arrival was recorded on his papers. However that may not be completely accurate. My father’s record has the same stamp dated 16th May 1945 but his POW questionnaire is dated 12th May 1945. Steve
