Service Record - where and what was my grandad doing while in UK?

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Tom 23, Mar 21, 2017.

  1. Tom 23

    Tom 23 Member

    Hi
    On my grandfathers service record he was shown to be part of the B.A.O.R from 9.2.1945, what I need some assistance with please is what he would have been doing for the 6 months leading up to this and where based?

    What I have got so far from the attached part of his service record is:-

    3.8.44 - Enlisted and was sent to Primary Training Wing 53 (Bury St Edmunds) - my question relating to this is would have been attached to a regiment during the 6 weeks of basic training?

    14.9.44 - posted to the Northamptonshire Regiment (possibly answers question 1)? - my question is as this was home service what kind of activities would he have been involved in and where in Northamptonshire was his base?

    5.12.44 - Now permanently attached to the 6th Battalion Devonshire Regiment - my question is does this mean would he have still been in the Northamptonshire Regiment, but they were absorbed into the 6th Btn Devon Regt. Also would this have meant he was based in Devon from this date?

    Lastly what would he have been doing and where from December 44 to February 45 with the 6th Btn Devon Regt?

    Thank you.

    PS - When he transferred to the 6th Btn Cameronians in Feb-45, he was part of the 52nd Lowland Division.
     

    Attached Files:

    • RM.jpg
      RM.jpg
      File size:
      351.1 KB
      Views:
      13
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2017
  2. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    As no one has responded yet here is my two penneth -

    1. In 1942/43 rather than post soldiers to a Regiment immediately on joining all re recruits had the same 6 weeks General Service Corps basic training during which time their aptitude for future specialisation was assessed.

    2. He was selected for the Infantry and posted from GSC to Northamptonshire Regiment and commenced Infantry Training at Number 14 Infantry Training Centre. If you search internet for 14 ITC you should find it's location.

    EDIT - This topic states 14 ITC was in Dorchester, Dorset in 1944.

    Help with various units (2)

    3 & 4 He remained a member in Northants Regt until posted to Cameronians. He was attached to 6th Devon Regt - probably for additional training - not necessarily in the County of Devon.

    EDIT - This site says 6th Devons were based in Sussex in 1944 "training drafts for other Regiments"

    The 2nd Battalion The Devonshire Regiment in World War Two - The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester, Dorset

    It's not unusual to see soldiers move around different Regiments in UK during the latter stages of the war as causalties were incurred in North West Europe.

    Good Luck

    Steve Y

    PS

    No BAOR in Feb 1945 - that's a post war acronym. He was posted BLA - British Liberation Army.
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2017
    Charley Fortnum likes this.
  3. Tom 23

    Tom 23 Member

    Thank you very much for the info Steve, this is much appreciated.
    I have been also trying to research myself and came across the attached newspaper clipping this morning, from an well known genealogical website, which seems to suggest 14 ITC was in Northampton, which ties in with his regiment, however there is certainly conflicting info that it was in Dorchester. The newspaper clipping is from 1946, but not sure if he was in Northampton or Dorchester for his infantry training.
     

    Attached Files:

Share This Page