RASC and FDS,s.

Discussion in 'Trux Discussion Area' started by nrsmith, Oct 20, 2014.

  1. nrsmith

    nrsmith Junior Member

    Trux,s description of RASC involvement in operations seems to me to be superficial. What about the ambulance drivers who were on the front line almost continually during the campaign from Normandy to the final victory?. I have it from one who was there ,(my father), that they did not ferry supplies from the rear. They ferried wounded troops from the front, back to the safe harbours behind the lines, and then went back to do the same. FDS,s were the collection point. See references from the major battles of 43rd Wessex Div. as to where these FDS,s where in relation to the front line.
     
  2. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Guilty.

    In mitigation:
    The intention was to transcribe the War Establishment tables for the units of 21 Army Group. Originally they were intended for modellers purchasing Trux Models. Anything extra is, well, extra.
    RASC units are the most obscure, being diverse and flexible, and few studies have been published of individual units etc.
    Ambulance Car units were surprisingly few in number. Much of the work was done by volunteer units or ambulance trains.
    Casualty evacuation is fairly well covered in the RAMC section.

    The hope is of course that others will find this work useful and they will help to fill in the gaps by posting their research in the main forum.

    Mike
     
  3. ted angus

    ted angus Senior Member

    I find nrsmith's post very harsh; without doubt some sterling work by all corps; My Dad was an RE in 15 Div and my Uncle an RASC driver in the post 5 June events --- but the research posted by TRUX is outstanding and I know of no other that gives such a wide cover of post 5 june events- especially as TRUX resides many hundreds of miles from the source documents at KEW. Sorry Mike I just felt I had to comment, for possibly 20 years your research has been my first port of call even back to the days of snail mail !

    TED
     
    Aixman, 4jonboy and Owen like this.
  4. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Thank you Ted.

    I plead guilty because such a wide and comprehensive work can not really be other that superficial. The word has of course acquired another meaning - something which at first appears to have value but on close inspection does not. I have not taken it to mean the latter.

    I am reminded of King Charles when he first saw the new St Pauls. He said it was awful and artificial. Two words which meant something very different then. Awful in the sense of inspiring awe. Artificial in the sense of employing artifice, as in skill and craftmanship.

    Mike
     
  5. toki2

    toki2 Junior Member

    Trux. My dad was in the RASC and, being a complete novice in all things military, I found your page gave me an understanding of the set-up and varied work done by this service and others. From there, I have progressed into becoming a WW2 geek. So thank you for information freely given. (I doubt whether my family would thank you though!)
     
  6. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I can agree with nrSmith's concern as I was picked up by an RASC jeep ambulance at the regimental firstaid post - 100 yards behind

    the front line when the fighting was done for the day and carried 50 miles to the CCS….unfortunately as all five of

    us patients overnight - were exhausted and fell asleep to wake up and find that we no longer had wallets- it was at

    that point that I changed the meaning of the RAMC ( rob all my comrades) to something unprintable about the RASC…

    Cheers
     
  7. Bernard85

    Bernard85 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    good day tom canning.ww2 veteran.yesterday.07:06pm.re:rasc and fdss,#6.i have been reading this thread,and when i read your post i was disgusted at you and your mates being robbed,i can only asume the same people would rob the dead,i hope they have had there just rewards in there later lives,regard bernard85
     
  8. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Bernard -

    The love of money makes people do strange things - I was lucky as amember of my regiment found all wallets at the side of the road and sent them to the owners - he recognized my relatives photos and when i got back to the regiment - he came to me immediately with the wallet…

    Cheers - I am still disgusted with that driver
     

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