Hello Apologies for posting under the introduction forum. I am new here and was unsure where to post my inquiry. I never knew my grandfather and recently thought to look into his army history for both myself and my father. I have been looking through ancestry, find my past etc and have a found a few things but nothing on while his was in the army. I would love to find about the regiment he was in, locations, any documents and images while in the army, what his job was etc. My Grandfather, Wilfrid Frederick Maynard was in the Burma war from 1942 to 1946 as he was discharged from contracting an illness while in India. I have a copy of his Territorial service paper as well as his postings and also have searched his army number and name but nothing comes up Some of the abbreviations I am still figuring out but heres what I have so far: -1942 was in training center (6 P.T.C) and went into 2 HLD BTN (RC Signals) -1943 was in the 76th Division: Sigs -1943 Embarked for India -1943 19th Ind Div Sigs until 1945 -Was XII List 3 times while in 19IDS until Y list A 1945 If anyone could show me where the best place to search and understand his army journey would be great. I have attached his posting document if this helps-any help will be greatly appreciated! Many thanks Hannah
Hi Hannah The ONLY place to obtain WW2 service records is from the MOD - link to forms here Request records of deceased service personnel - no other place has them Looks like he was in the 19th Indian division Signals ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Infantry_Division_(India))after being in 76th Div signals (76th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia) Embarked for India 17 7 1943 and arrived Bombay around 14 9 1943 But once you have his 'proper service records' they should tell you more TD X List abbreviations can be found here X lists (Service Records) HLD BTN = Holding Battalion - held here until he is posted to a specific unit PTC = ? Training Course - cant remember off the top of my head, bit often its ITC (Infantry Training Course where new soldiers learn the basics of their trade, cleaning boots, using a rifle etc etc
PTC = Primary Training Centre No. 6 PTC was at No. 2 Depot, Royal Corps of Signals at New Holiday Camp, Prestatyn, Flintshire. Tim
Welcome Hannah, As Tricky Dicky says his full service records should reveal some more detail, but here are a few more of the abbreviations from that sheet: ROHGY 16.7.43 - 'ROHGY' looks a draft serial. It doesn't mean anything, it's just a code that was used for all of the men and equipment assigned to a particular overseas-bound draft of reinforcements. All kit would be marked up with the code. More info here: Draft recognition codes. Embarked for India 17.7.43 - It may be possible to work out which convoy he travelled with, especially with more information from the full records. The date given is likely the date he went aboard the ship, rather than the actual sailing date - men could be aboard ship for several days while the convoy formed up before sailing, and then might be stuck on the ship for several days after it arrived at its destination, especially in a busy port with limited berths. The dates roughly seem to line up with Convoy WS32 ('WS' being 'Winston’s Special') so that's a possibility. Some useful links here: WS (Winston Specials) Convoys in WW2 - 1943 Sailings Arnold Hague Ports database STC(B) 14.9.43 - I think this is the British Signal Training Centre at Mhow, India. Looks like he was attached to the STC from September until December, either for more training or performing a job there.
Might be worth buying and reading to see what they did and what the journey was - 19th Indian Division (Dagger Division) - Dagger Division - AbeBooks I have used this company for many years and never had a problem but obviously other companies are available TD
Hi, Welcome to the forum. You’ve posted what appears to be the rear of an Army Form B102 - a central index card. It is one of the forms MOD provide but the most helpful form from which to establish a man’s military history is usually the B103 Casualty forms. The detail recorded on the B102 is vastly abbreviated from the B103. If you attach the B103 members may be able to provide more information. Steve
Hi all, Thank you for all the help. Amazing how much you can find by just looking at the army forms. Tricky Dicky-thank you for the info and links! I have been trying to figure out what HLD stands for, for ages as well. Thanks for book link-the Ive managed to find the Dagger story as a PDF which was useful to have Timuk-thank you for the location! First location I know now where my granddads been during the war PackRat-thank you for the links/info. Amazing to figure out which ship my granddad would have been on Tullybrone-the only forms we have are the B102 and B200d. Would you know where I could apply for a copy of the B103 form? Huge thanks again for all this information. It crazy how many abbreviations were used in the war. Looking forward to looking into all the links and information given. Kind regards Hannah
Apologizes, just remembered MOD was mentioned in regards to army forms. Hopefully I can obtain the B103 form and will attach to the forum once received. Kind regards Hannah
Welcome aboard Hannah. I would just say to expect some delay in receiving your grandad’s service records from the MOD, as you can imagine right now with this year’s events. These threads may be of interest to you in this regard, if you’ve not already read them: Service record, what to expect. Service Records application - MOD response timescale Mongo’s suggestion re not dating your cheque is a very good one as I’ve also read that some here have had their application and cheque returned as the cheque had become out of date due to the delays, and it seems the MOD does not hold your place in the queue while you write them another one. Best of British with your research and rest assured, from my own experience, there will be many here who will give you some great help, as you’re already finding.
Hi Wobbler, Thank you for the information regarding service records-I can imagine they are very popular to receive. Completely agree with help on here-I have already found some useful information through the help of others. Been a huge help in finding out my grandfathers army past. Many thanks Hannah
