Hello, I’m currently waiting for a death certificate to request the service records, but could anyone help me decipher a tracer card? I’m not sure what any of it means.
That's a lot of stuff and I know very little. BDRA is "Base Depot Royal Artillery" (lower left first card) Below that is a reference to 175th Field Regiment which was apparently a training unit. 175th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery - Wikipedia
Bit tied up for a while but if you want to do a bit yourself you could solve the X List entries. You might enjoy the experience. The ‘X List’ was used to identify a soldier and his status in the system for accounting and pay purposes. All time was accounted for particularly if the soldier was unavailable for duty, necessitating a stoppage of pay. . The ‘X’ was followed by a Roman numeral, X(i) for all ranks waiting for a posting to a unit. X(ii) for all ranks held on medical grounds, wounded, injured or on a sick list. X(iii) was for prisoners of war, deserters, and soldiers held further to disciplinary action. X(iv) soldiers waiting to be posted to a unit from reserve holding / training camp. X(v) soldiers attending training/courses. Whilst not exactly correct, some records are written with Arabic numerals X1, X2 etc. ME = Middle East i.e Iraq & Palestine NA = North Africa i.e. Tunisia Units often moved between these locations. I will drop back in case you need further help but others might be able to help sooner. We have seen similar postings fairly recently. Postings are often accompanied by SOS Struck off Strength (of previous unit) and TOS Taken on Strength (of new unit). The Y list was generally a change of duty i.e. from RA to Infantry or holding after long term sickness or awaiting return via the lines of Command / Communication. You might like to search that and clarify for yourself. I would need to check it out again. Enjoy your research!
Key points noticed during a quick look. Centre Right large writing: 28.2.41 3Regt RHA see: 3 Royal Horse Artillery - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 Needs confirmation but at a a quick look seems to fit the postings on the card. Also opening posting transcribed by Chris C. see: 175 Field Regiment RA - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 16.11 44 Y list mention of ASC Army Service Corps. Full Service Record should resolve this.
Cyrenaica, Middle East. = Libya with Benghazi, and Tobruk amongst other places. Getting interesting isn't it.
Whilst they are not in good order of appearance I have listed the dates in chronological order in an attempt to make sense of them. More so than the Army Jargon, the difficulties of transcribing lie in the handwriting and in the case of Tracer Cards, the disorganised information on them, often over written. My Reading of the Cards are as follows: Tracer Card 1 RH Column 19.8.38 Enlisted 2nd Training Regt F Regt 28.2.41 3 Regt RHA (North Africa) 10.4.41 X List ME Awaiting posting 21.6.43 X List 3 BME (missing or POW?) See Post #5 but date doesn't fit. 14.7.43 X List IV in Holding Unit 30.7.43 X List1 Awaiting posting LH Column 25.10.43 X List II ME 24.11.43 X List I ME 5.3.44 X List (IV) BDRA ME 15.8.44 RA Depot 25.9.44 175 Field Regt (UK) 16.11.44 Y List Royl ASC Tracer Card 2 Discharge Card Y Release 4.12.45 (Still on Reserve List) 29.3.46 Release Section B Reserve 17.4.48 Discharge complete. The Full Service Record should provide more accurate details including courses, postings, hospital admissions etc.
Thanks for that! Busy week at work and hadn’t found the time to come back. That is exciting! He never talked to anyone about his time, so it's all new discoveries.
Just notice in passing, A member has posted something of interest, 3 RHA War Diaries War Diaries For 3rd Regimemt Royal Horse Artillery