Hi all, Finally received my grandad’s service record. Have posted up images - hopefully this is the main record - for you to peruse. The dates marry with the war diaries and that he would have been injured at Eterville and batling for Hill 112 After Glasgow Highlanders, he went on to serve with the CMP. If anyone can decipher much more information that isn’t overly obvious from these records, I’d love to hear it! I’m wondering though, what the 9 Infy Hldg Bn HLI is? - Any help on this one much appreciated!! EC811C70-5B2A-4384-AC7B-F5DE0D0D972D by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM 5756715F-B005-48C0-B82A-541541A67D26 by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM 72BD462D-98EC-4533-B479-039E68B4F34C by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM 71EE67B2-182E-4B34-90D4-31EBD241CD1F by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM 6CD79ED7-7070-4F65-9D60-333814768653 by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM B0526C97-3ED3-47C6-9D59-270807FF47C5 by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM 0919A13C-7EF4-4527-A7CF-FD7201362ADE by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM 04149B74-270D-47D3-9F81-CC7E678C908C by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM B7EF4079-E9FB-4F4B-A0F2-33C903A29C05 by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM 7A86E155-7DFD-4F1C-81AA-D3893D6C0EC9 by MrMalone posted Nov 20, 2017 at 8:54 PM
Thank you - would this have been a part of the 2nd Glasgow Highlanders, or completely seperate? It’s all quite confusing!
Hi, 2nd Glasgow Highlanders were a Territorial Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry Regiment. Glasgow Highlanders - Wikipedia When your grandfather was recovering from the injuries sustained in N W E with 2nd Glasgow Highlanders he was posted to 9th (Holding) Battalion Highland Light Infantry based in UK while he continued his recovery and pending deployment to an active service unit once, hopefully, fully fit (A1) . However he was never considered fully fit (B2) for further service with an infantry unit and was transferred to CMP. I’ve always suspected that the B103 forms for UK Army were maintained in duplicate/ triplicate sets (held & updated at different locations) as Australian & Canadian files available online have multiple sets - often with slightly different contents recorded thereon. This is the first set of UK records I’ve seen where an applicant has been provided with at least one page of a duplicate set of B103. I suspect that the duplicate sets of B103 have been reduced to one set by culling of service files over the years but clearly a clerical error has been made on your g f papers His medical papers will still be on file with MOD but are never released unless in exceptional circumstances (unlike Canadian & Australian files available online). Steve PS You May not be aware but your gf unusually enlisted of his own free will in early 1942 - rather than being conscripted which was the wartime norm. He would’ve committed to 7 years active service followed by 5 years on the Reserve but appears to have been discharged in 1953 on medical grounds
Great info Steve, thanks. I had read up on the Glasgow Highlanders, but was struggling with the 9th holding. I had been told previously, after posting up a copy of my his attestation form, that he had enlisted voluntarily - could this be why a man from Surrey ended up in a Glasgow TA regiment? Unfortunately, he carried the shrapnel from his injuries until he passed away at the beginning of this year. I can only come to presume that the multiple dates listed where he still suffered from the injuries, were down to the shrapnel. I only wish he was more open to talking about his war time experience when he was still with us!
I have many other sheets of paper that came through along with these bits, with various info on them, but I'm guessing these are the main service record that I've posted above? Thanks again
Hi, He selected a Regiment on enlistment but had no control over which Battalion he would serve with - in peacetime he would've gone to either 1st or 2nd Battalion HLI - part of regular Army. Glasgow Highlanders were a T.A. Unit so he wouldn't have been posted there pre 1939 as they were a part time unit in peacetime. However the Army expanded just before and during war and a number of HLI Battalions were raised and TA units went full time (embodied). Your g f had no say over which HLI unit he would eventually serve with and could even have been posted to a completely different regiment on completion of his training. There was a similar topic on forum the other week when a young man enlisted into Hampshire Regiment late 1942 and was posted to Royal West Kents on completion of his training. He was posted to Italy 1944 and was immediately posted to Royal Fusilers and was wounded. On recovery he was not A1 and was posted as a store man to Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1945 till he was discharged in late 1949. Steve
Just to add that his hospital admissions in India & Far East could've been a mixture of both tropical diseases and or recurring problems from his 1944 injuries - plus he had a couple of accidents documented on his B103. Please feel free to add the other army forms you've received. You never know what members may be able to interpret from them. Steve
I’ll get them posted up soon - Looks like I’m near my limit for media, so may have to remove and resize previously added items!
