SGT. L. F. Bond, 53rd Welsh Div Div Signals TA

Discussion in 'Royal Signals' started by Bond, Feb 22, 2013.

  1. Bond

    Bond Senior Member

    I received my fathers war service records today and some of it is difficult to understand and I hope someone can please help me make sense of it if possible?

    He joined the 53rd Welsh Div TA signals in 1936 and was with them until he was sent to Malaya in Jan 1942,though he was diverted to the middle east and arrived in Egypt on 10-4-42 where he was posted to MEF (Mediterranean Force) at GHQ ???? then to "N"L/M Sec(tion?) on 1-2-43 still as part of MEF, then to 73 H?A.A.R.S.S. 28-2-43, then to "7" G O o rD? R.S.S., then on 25-6-43 to3 A.R. 6/?? Room 3/*? then on 23-10-43 to CMF, which ?I know what that is but not all the letters that go with it and some more. Also listed as with BNAF CMF 77/44and with 48 A.A. ops room I think S/S then he went to 16th L of C (lines of communication) Sigs until 18-4-45 then to 1 L of C sigs until 28-11-45

    It is all in the picture below and it might be easier to read it from that than from me transcribing it incorrectly. There is more and a lot more paper work but this is the bit that is most interesting and the hardest for me to understand.

    Thanks for any help given.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Jerry, do you have any other info on his time in the Div Sigs?

    He would have travelled with the Division to Northern Ireland in 1940, before returning to England in 41.
     
  3. Bond

    Bond Senior Member

    Jerry, do you have any other info on his time in the Div Sigs?

    He would have travelled with the Division to Northern Ireland in 1940, before returning to England in 41.

    I have all the documents the MOD sent me.

    He joined in Cardiff in 1936 and went straight to the 53rd and was with them until early 42, which is where I loose the plot in understanding his service.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    arrived in Egypt on 10-4-42 where he was posted to MEF (Mediterranean Force) at GHQ ???? then to "N"L/M Sec(tion?) on 1-2-43 still as part of MEF, then to 73 H?A.A.R.S.S. 28-2-43, then to "7" G O o rD? R.S.S., then on 25-6-43 to3 A.R. 6/?? Room 3/*? then on 23-10-43 to CMF, which ?I know what that is but not all the letters that go with it and some more. Also listed as with BNAF CMF 77/44and with 48 A.A. ops room I think S/S then he went to 16th L of C (lines of communication) Sigs until 18-4-45 then to 1 L of C sigs until 28-11-45

    First stab (not a reference to him being in the TA!):

    GHQ Troops (the unit was assigned to GHQ, not a division)
    N Line Maintenance Section (previous trade was linesman, so that would tally)
    73 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (the variations on SS are Struck Off Strength - when he left each unit. The left hand columns are serial numbers/year of the published orders)
    7 G O R[egiment?] (struggling with this one)
    3 Anti-Aircraft [Ops?] Room
    Embarked and Struck Off Strength Middle East Force to Central Mediterranean Force
    48 Anti-Aircraft Ops Room
    16 Line of Communication Signals
    1 Line of Communication Signals

    I imagine the move from AA to LoC signals was due to a wind down of the former once the Luftwaffe had been eradicated.
     
  5. idler

    idler GeneralList

    GOR could be Gun Operations Room - it fits with the subsequent postings.
     
  6. Bond

    Bond Senior Member

    First stab (not a reference to him being in the TA!):


    Many thanks Idler.

    The TA is mentioned in the other docs I posted later and it lists him as joining 53rd Welsh divisional Signals TA and I have his TA Service medal named to him.

    Thanks very much for having a stab at the abbreviations and the info on the SS being struck off strength, as I would not have got that one and that makes it easier to make sense of many of them. The AA regiments I had assumed that is what they were after I had posted, but good to get agreement on that.
     
  7. Bond

    Bond Senior Member

    I still have a few I am not sure on if anyone can please help me. I have highlighted them in red.

    Thanks in advance.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    3rd Holding Battalion,36 Construction Section 19/12/1941
    3rd Holding 5/1942 - P of E (Port of Embarkation) 6/1/42
    Other 2 highlighted are still 3rd Holding Btn

    Struggling with 7" G.O.R. SS.

    Lesley
     
  9. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Bond, I'll upload an image of 159 Brigade Sigs (will give you an idea what they looked like et al in the Welsh Div) tomorrow and some specific history...

    Sigs stuff tends to be on the peripheral of my knowledge as 'wherever the Div does and whatever the Div does' they tend to be there.
     
  10. idler

    idler GeneralList

    The 'other' one is 3 Holding Battalion where he would have waited for a posting to come through.

    I haven't come up yet with anything better than 7 Gun Operations Room for 7GOR.

    I think the 36 Construction Section (almost certainly Royal Engineers) was a temporary posting from the holding battalion then back again.
     
  11. Bond

    Bond Senior Member

    3rd Holding Battalion,36 Construction Section 19/12/1941
    3rd Holding 5/1942 - P of E (Port of Embarkation) 6/1/42
    Other 2 highlighted are still 3rd Holding Btn

    Struggling with 7" G.O.R. SS.

    Lesley

    Thank you very much Lesley.

    There was a suggestion for 7" GOR as Gun Operations Room posted above and a meaning for SS as being Struck off Strength, which makes a lot of sense.
     
  12. Bond

    Bond Senior Member

    Bond, I'll upload an image of 159 Brigade Sigs (will give you an idea what they looked like et al in the Welsh Div) tomorrow and some specific history...

    Sigs stuff tends to be on the peripheral of my knowledge as 'wherever the Div does and whatever the Div does' they tend to be there.

    Thanks Swiper, that would be good to see and would help understand his past.

    Much appreciated.
     

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