Pte/NCO/corporal Lionel Rubins, 2nd RB, Egypt 1941-1945

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by Beee, Oct 14, 2010.

  1. Beee

    Beee Member

    Wow, what a wonderful forum this is, so much to read and look at , it's hard knowing where to start! So I think I'll divide my questions up. (I'm looking at my own family tree and in due course more questions will arise, but firstly), I'm helping my friend with his tree, part of it involves his late father during ww2. We've just received his father's ww2 army records. Unfortunately some of the pages are very faint, others include abbreviations I can't make head or tails of, and while there are bits that are readable, we'd like to know a bit more. So, back to the beginning:

    Lionel Rubins, a Londoner, enlisted in 1940, under the wing of Winchester's 2nd Rifle Brigade.
    In 1941 he was sent off to Egypt, where he was based on and off till 1945.
    But the army records don't tell us anything further, where he was in Egypt, what types of battles he would have encountered, how he was injured, which hospital and where he would have been admitted to in Feb 1941 in Egypt.

    So I'm firstly hoping you can help me to find out more about these things here, so we get more of an idea what Lionel experienced.

    Secondly I'm wondering if any veterans in here may have by some miracle been in the same unit as Lionel Rubins or if his name is familiar at all to you. I'm also interested in seeing all available photographs just in case Lionel can be spotted by recognition in any. Any scrap of information at all.

    Thirdly, I'm not sure what these mean, can you please tell me what they mean, if known, and I hope they will help with the above too:

    in 1941 - 2RB Attached to IBD

    14 Oct 1944 - returned to MEITD (private) from interview with PWB, unit MEITD/XIVA

    Nov 1944 - To welfare 18 area for interview

    Dec 1944 - posted to ME welfare pool (what is a welfare pool?)

    Dec 1944 - attached to 182 T/Corps for PR

    I will very much look forward to any replies about any of the above, thanks so much, but more questions to come yet!!
     
  2. Beee

    Beee Member

    I'm enclosing 3 images from Lionel Rubins's ww2 army records listing everything todo with egypt. I hope this helps someone here with my initial post in this thread.

    thanks so much
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Pete Keane

    Pete Keane Senior Member

    He doesnt look to be a well man - did he ever mention Malaria or similar.

    From getting off the boat in Egypt he seems to have been either in hospital, or an office type posting, then hospital / welfare.

    The references with X in them.....when a soldier went sick, he went on to a list called the X list, in this way he was not shown on his Battalions strength. There are quite a few, if you look they are either just before or just after a bout of illness.

    Theres not really a lot of active service to follow, he came back to the UK and joined 9th Bn., was released - even on the reserve list he was only retained for 12 weeks.

    I suspect classification W/T will mean not fit for further active duty.

    Pete
     
  4. Beee

    Beee Member

    Thanks Pete for your reply. Interesting I had no idea that the x's would have meant that.
    I have contacted the ww2 office again and asked if they can provide more about his medical history during ww2, they said they'd get back to me about that, so it'll be interesting to see if malaria or whatever else crops up.

    Has the "welfare pool" got anything todo with being ill as well?

    thanks.

    A
     
  5. Phillip

    Phillip Junior Member

    Dear BEEE,

    Just found your enquiry. I have typed up the 2nd Battalion war diaries for 1939 to 1945. I had a look at the officers retirns but coud not see your relatives name. He may be hidden in the diaries themselves. Be happy to look if your interested.

    Phillip
     
    dbf likes this.
  6. Hi bee - just found your post - I am looking for details on my grandfather who was also enlisted in 1940 into the 2nd at Winchester! Not sure if you are still on this forum?
     
  7. Hi Phillip - not sure if you are still on here - my grandfather was part of the 2nd - enlisted 15/2/40 Winchester and died in Egypt 11/1/1942. His name was George Henry Bayley 6916097 - are you able to search for him by name or number? thank you
     

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