Meaning of "to field" in army document

Discussion in 'General' started by RobM, Apr 5, 2021.

  1. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Hi, when my grandad was transferred from Royal Artillery to Royal Engineers in 1944 it states on his RA record "1 Mar '44 To Field" in red. What does this likely mean ?
    Does it usually mean just a transfer, training or meaning operational service ?
    After this is states 2/3/44 to RE
    Thanks Rob
     
  2. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    In the field means that an operative is no longer outside the combat area but is actively involved with combat situations.
     
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  3. idler

    idler GeneralList

    As 'Field' is also a branch of the RA, it may relate to some internal tidying-up before he went RE. It seems a bit superfluous but was he AA or A/Tk, for example, before that?
     
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  4. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Thanks for the reply.
    Whilst in the RA he was in the Heavy AA driving training regiment.
     
  5. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Field Service Regulations provided the principles for organisation, administration, leadership and use of resources with which to fight.

    Both RA and RE have the same motto Ubique = Everywhere

    Both could be found literally anywhere they were were required.
    Their work could be administrative planning, in support or in the field.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2021
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  6. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Thanks Uncle Target.

    I am still waiting on his military record, hopefully it will arrive soon as I requested it last April. Currently 1944 is a mystery.
    What I do know is that when he transferred to the RE in March 1944, he trained as a barge engineer and I have some clues that he was based in Marchwood, Southampton. A barge engineer worked in the engine room on certain tugs/barges.
    Pretty certain he did not go to NW Europe but may have supported operations as the piece of paper I found stated No1 Port and Construction Repair (home) Marchwood, who were the group that worked on the Mulberry.

    In Q1 1945 after being attached to 980 company in RE he went to Burma and worked on the Chindwin river until the war was over and then was sent to Kirkee, India and worked in the Quartermaster (likley Armoured Vehicle depot) until Q1 1946 when he returned.

    It has been fun piecing it together from war diaries at Kew in which he was named, photos, his release book etc but '44 remains unsolved.
     
  7. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Hang around for a while its a bit quiet at the moment but there are people who specialise in Mulberry and the like who will eventually turn up and be helpful.
    There are also specialists on Burma/India.
    Perhaps a moderator might now add a few key words to make you more noticeable, I am not a great forum navigator.
     
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