George Francis Elliott - REME

Discussion in 'REME/RAOC' started by PSHunt, Aug 15, 2020.

  1. PSHunt

    PSHunt New Member

    Hi All,

    I have just received my late Grandad's service records and would love to learn a little bit more about what he did in WW2 as he did not really talk about it when I was little apart from driving tanks. There was also talk in the family of him being badly injured too.

    I have attached his service record and wondered if anyone on here could help me work out what was going on as it seems full of codes - or suggest where I could go for further insights.

    Thanks

    Paul IMG_4551.JPG IMG_4549.JPG IMG_4548.JPG IMG_4550.JPG IMG_4551.JPG IMG_4549.JPG IMG_4548.JPG IMG_4550.JPG IMG_4551.JPG IMG_4549.JPG IMG_4548.JPG IMG_4550.JPG IMG_4551.JPG IMG_4549.JPG IMG_4548.JPG IMG_4550.JPG IMG_4551.JPG IMG_4549.JPG IMG_4548.JPG IMG_4550.JPG
     
  2. PSHunt

    PSHunt New Member

    Sorry new to the forum so sorry for the large images.

    Paul
     
  3. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

  4. Mr Bradbury

    Mr Bradbury Junior Member

    Hi Paul,

    If its a but much to decipher you can always contact the REME museum, for a fee, they will interpret the records for you, Research - REME Museum
     
  5. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Hi Paul,

    I've taken a stab at a quick run through the main bits to get you started. Some of it is really tough to read but this is my best guess:

    In May 1943 he was initially posted to No. 27 Primary Training Centre with the rank of Private. After basic training he was transferred to the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and sent to No. 14 Technical Training Centre with the rank of Craftsman. In September he qualified as a Driver, Internal Combustion (Class B?), his rank now being classed as 'Driver'. Shortly afterwards he was posted to 15 AA (Anti-Aircraft?) Workshops in Hemel Hempstead.

    In November he was posted to the REME Mobilisation & Holding Centre, then Taken on Strength of (what looks like) the Line of Communication Recovery Company attached to the Holding Centre.

    In January 1944 he 'Proceeded with unit to new location and ceased to be attached to the Mobilisation & Holding Centre REME for Pay, Rationing & Administration'.

    In March 1944 he is 'Struck Off Strength' of that unit and posted to (crikey this is hard to read...) HQ Static Workshops REME, then very quickly Taken On Strength of No. 3 Armoured Fighting Vehicle Servicing Unit. He embarked for service in North West Europe with that unit on 7th August, and landed in NW Europe on the 11th.

    Big gap in the record here - about a year later, 26th August 1945, it looks like he was wounded or ill, as he is on the X(ii) List (evacuated from his unit) at No. 32 General Hospital. He's then on to the X (iv) List (the reinforcement pool after recovering) with No. 54 Reinforcement Holding Unit.

    In October he's Taken On Strength of (getting ever harder to read...) 3 Army Tps Workshop. In November he's ill/injured again, on the X (ii) List at 23 General Hospital. This looks fairly serious as it seems he's then Struck Off Strength of the British Army of the Rhine and sent to a hospital in the UK in December.

    He's out of action until March 1946, when he is again Taken On Strength of HQ Static Workshops REME and then posted to No. 3 Central Workshops in April. Medal awards (39/45 Star and France & Germany Star) noted in June 46.

    In April 1947 he is promoted to Unpaid Acting Lance Corporal, then immediately 'Granted the paid appointment of Lance Corporal'. Last entry I can see is 'TOS Y List 7' in July 1947, which should relate to his demob from the forces.

    Next step is finding the war diaries of the specific units he served with to see what they got up to. 'No. 3 Armoured Fighting Vehicle Servicing Unit' may prove the most fruitful, as it looks like he was in NW Europe with them from August 44 to August 45, and may have been injured in service with them. Hope that's of some help.

    Edit: These might be the diaries you want:

    3 A.F.V. Inspectorate Servicing Unit | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 171/2965
    Description: 3 A.F.V. Inspectorate Servicing Unit
    Date: 1944 June - Dec.

    3 A.F.V. Servicing Unit | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 171/7003
    Description: 3 A.F.V. Servicing Unit
    Date: 1945 Jan.- Dec.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2020

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