Afternoon all, I have today received my Grandfathers Attestation papers and Service and casualty form B103-1/3 (I think). In the left margin there are numbers and letters like 2E21.1698/44. Now, I understand that these have a meaning, but I cannot find anywhere on the internet that can help me decipher. Can anyone point me in the direction of help or otherwise please? I also would like to know what the following mean if possible please: U/A/L/Bdr UA/Bdr PA/Bdr PA/Bdr UAL/Sgt PAL/Sgt UA/Sgt PA/Sgt Many thanks
Unpaid Acting Lance Bombardier Unpaid Acting Bombardier Paid Acting Bombardier Unpaid Acting Lance-Sergeant Paid Acting Lance-Sergeant Unpaid Acting Sergeant Paid Acting Sergeant
Hi, Difficult to be specific without having sight of the B103 but in general terms they refer to the "authority" for the "activity" subject of the entry on the B103. They will more often than not refer to a long destroyed Battalion ( or as you've asked about RA ranks - a RA Regiment) Order - either Part One or more often a Part Two Order. Steve Y
Hi, I doubt it would help as they are usually just a reference to the unit order - which will have been long destroyed. However if you need any general help on interpreting the papers please post them as it always helps to have sight of the original documents. Good Luck Steve Y
The numbers in the left-hand column are of no importance whatsoever-only the Army understood what they were for Lesley
My father was in Italy with 175 Pioneer Corps via Salerno and Monte Cassino then later on to Normandy on 02/08/44. This is referred to as disembarking N.W.E. ( North West Europe?) At that time his records have numbers 2E21/4421/44. The 44 = year and wonder if the 2E could be second front Europe and the 4421 being the order? Certaily 2E21/4421/44 states embarked UK 02/08/44 then disembarked N.W.E 03.08.44. We believe that he landed on Utah or Omaha. From dad's notes he seems to have gone from Chichester to Southsea then Arromances, Bayeux, Caen, Paris, Rouen. Hope this helps or you can add to our understanding.
Hi Popswar As stated in the above posts, these numbers relate to the Part 2 Order which recorded your father's overseas posting to Europe. Basically a unit or individual would be posted, either by a higher authority or an individual unit and a Part 2 Order would be raised to record the move. Without seeing his records I assume his whole unit was sent to Europe as reinforcements; this would be on the orders of higher command (e.g. GHQ). Breaking down the Part 2 Order further - 2E - 2nd Echelon = part of the Adjutant General's Branch dealing with collation of unit strength records, postings etc. 21 - 21st Army Group 4421 - consecutive no of the order 44 - year Steve