Help with RAMC Nursing Orderly History

Hi,

Thanks for your kind words.

You may find that either Ancestry or FMP - or both - are freely available at your local library. FMP has access to some newspapers so you may find mention of your Dad there.

You have a firm foundation in the documents you’ve posted but I think you’d need to have sight of the B103 in his service record to identify the units and locations where he served. Once you have that information you could look for the unit war diaries at UK National Archives - members here offer a look up and copying service at much better rates than National Archives equivalent service. He likely won’t be mentioned by name but you never know.

You could Google “Winston Special Convoys 1941” to identify the convoy he sailed with to the Middle East. Departure will be on or a few days after the date shown in his Red Book. He likely had a short stopover in Freetown, West Africa and a longer stay where he disembarked - and possibly recommenced his journey on a different ship - at Durban, South Africa.

Steve

EDIT TO ADD

The entry about his medical examination in June 1943 - Class D - likely took place at Number 12 British General Hospital at Sarafand, Palestine.

Hospitals WW2 - Scarlet Finders

 

Steve,
Thanks again. You're mention of South Africa rumbled a couple of the few brain cells I have still working. I'm sure now you mention it he did visit there. I know he said he'd done quite a lot of travelling in Africa and had a few light hearted stories about meeting soldiers from other nations (South African/Australian/US) mainly at the camps and convoys he'd been in. I'm looking forward to gathering as much intelligence about his wartime service as I can and your suggestions aren't areas I was aware of trying before your input. Thanks again for your help.

 

Hi Les,

Please feel free to return to the forum for any more help or to share the new information you discover through your research.

I’ve never seen examples of the first 2 documents you’ve posted on the forum previously. His service file will contain 2 further copies of the attestation form.

I do remember visiting my Dad’s youngest sister over 25 years ago to ask on his behalf if she had those 2 forms of his (passed down by his mother as he remembered leaving them with her when he left for The Guards Depot in January 1937) but she hadn’t got them.

I also remember seeing his AB64 as a child but it must’ve been “thrown out” (likely by accident as he kept his Regular Army Red Book) when my parents downsized 30 years ago.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve.
I'm sure I suffer from a touch of OCD because once I start getting into something I can't put it away until I've found out as much as I'm able. Getting a few 'snippets' to help look in the right direction to kick off with makes a massive difference. The help I've had so far (having only just joined the forum) from you and other members has been brilliant. I'm a member of some 'hobby' forums and generally I've read quite a few negative posts when members ask even reasonable questions - which has actually put me off contributing. This forum is clearly quite different and I get the impression that members are actually genuine in wanting to help. I'll certainly be getting stuck in to find out as much as I can and will report back what I've found. Some of the subjects being discussed on the forum look fascinating, so I'll definitely be keeping an eye on things and obviously contribute if I am able. Anyway that's enough waffle. Many thanks, Les.