Help with RA tracer card deciphering

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Timox, Jan 6, 2023.

  1. Timox

    Timox New Member

    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. front.png back.png
     
  2. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    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
     
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  3. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    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!
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2023
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  4. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Last edited: Jan 6, 2023
  5. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    He is on casualty list 208, 1941 as wounded, date not recorded. Cyrenaica, Middle East.
     
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  6. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Cyrenaica, Middle East. = Libya with Benghazi, and Tobruk amongst other places.

    Getting interesting isn't it.
     
  7. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    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.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2023
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  8. Timox

    Timox New Member

    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.
     
  9. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

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