My father was posted to 641 Coy RASC in March 1946, then later to 83 Coy RASC and later to 43 Coy RASC and in September of 1946 his location is given as CMF. He was then SOS from CMF in December 1946. From memory he told me he was in Italy. Can anyone confirm this or where can I go to find out. I would also like to undertsnad what each Coy did and where during this period. Where would they embark from and on what ship ?
Wepham - Lots of questions but the only one I can answer if the fact that CMF was indeed Italy - probably left Liverpool and landing at Naples - but what each company did might be tough to find - try getting his service record from Glasgow - that will have all the answers Cheers
Wepham As Tom says get his records also search the National Archives for the war diary of the units he was involved with, you can view them if you get to Kew
Hi Tom and thanks for confirming. I do have his service record but it is not descriptive enough (well for me). I'll attach his record (Casulaty sheet) perhaps you can tell more from that. Thanks again.
Hi There is a reference to the 1655 med regt pln that looks as if it has 2 diaries at Kew WO 171/2595 War Office: Home Forces: War Diaries, Second World War. ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS. Anti-Aircraft Platoons. 1655 Pln. 01 April 1944 - 31 December 1944 WO 166/13252 War Office: Home Forces: War Diaries, Second World War. ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS. Anti-Aircraft Platoons. 1655 Pln. 01 November 1943 - 30 November 1943 If these diaries are as detailed as my fathers (similar looking unit) they will give you a good picture of his time in that unit and may mention details of the artillery regiments that I suspect they would have been supporting.
Wepham Nothing too scary there - he had a session with the Canadian RASC prior to D Day - then to France - sick bay - then travelled to Italy by TRAIN which caused me to double check the date and of course it was after the war - which was three day trip as opposed to ten by ship...but nothing too exciting really Cheers
Also a diary for the 49th Field Dressing Station that looks like it might cover the period of July 44 49 F.D.S. War Office: Army Medical Services: War Diaries, Second World War. FIELD DRESSING STATIONS. 49 F.D.S. Collection: Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies Date range:01 February 1944 - 30 November 1945 Reference:WO 177/924 Tom, you read CRASC as Canadian Royal Army Service Corps, I've seen it used as 'Commander Royal Army Service Corps', that's confused me in other diaries especially where UK and Canadian forces seem to have been in close proximity while on the East side of Italy!
Hutt That's the way it looks to me as the Canadians were also in close proximity all over the SE of England and up near Dundee in Scotland before the 1st Cdn Division went off to Sicily for the landings there followed by 5th Cdn Armoured Div and both Gerry Chesters 25th Tank bde and my own 21st Tank bde supported the Canadians all the rest of the way from Lucera to Feb '45 when the Cdns took off for Belgium to join up with their 2nd- 3rd and 4th Divisions to make up the 1st Canadian Army so you are right as the Brits and Cdns were in close proximity as well as the 1st AD 6th AD -1st - 4th - 5th - 46 - 56 - 78th Divisions along with three Indian Divs as well as the Kiwi Divs - not forgetting numerous Brit Armoured bdes and the Polish Divisions and the South African Division But you do have a point as I personally knew the CRE ( Commander Royal Engineers) and there was a CRA also for the Artillery Cheers
