What does this mean on service papers?

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by LinF, Jul 30, 2022.

  1. LinF

    LinF Member

    Hello, I'm researching my father's war service. Can anyone tell me what the circled letters on his papers means? Or even what the letters are. CIA CLA C/A Thank you.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Think it's written as C/A which is
    clothing? /Allowance.
    Help will be along soon :)

    Lesley
     
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  3. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Lesley may well have it, but it's best to post the entire document so we can compare handwriting quirks and gather circumstantial evidence.
     
  4. LinF

    LinF Member

    Here's the full page. The scribbles on it are from a family member trying to make sense of the various acronyms - some of them are a bit fanciful! Not sure if the CIA/CA means clothing allowance as in front of that it says, I think, Entered to... The other 'entered' means 'arrived in'. I could be wrong!
     

    Attached Files:

  5. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    The entry says 'Entered Iraq and entitled to C/A (or CIA)'
    There is an entry for 15/7/43 which says 'Classified C1 IA for Pay' so I would think the C/A (or CIA) is definitely an allowance of some sort.

    Tim
     
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  6. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    CTBA = ceased to be attached (as per your note)
     
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  7. LinF

    LinF Member

    Thanks. I think you're right. It does look more like entitled, than entered, plus being very similar to the other entry about pay.
     
  8. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    C/A = Colonial Allowance

    For the Army
    Colonial Allowance (Hansard, 19 October 1943)

    For the RAF:
    The King's regulations and Air Council instructions for the Royal Air Force 1944
    ca1.jpg
    ca2.jpg

    For the Navy:
    King’s Regulations, HM Naval Service, Vol. I, Articles, 1943
    rnca.jpg
     
  9. LinF

    LinF Member

    Thankyou! That's fantastic.
     
  10. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

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  11. LinF

    LinF Member

    Thank you.
     
  12. LinF

    LinF Member

    Looking at my Dad's forms, all the entries seem to be in pretty much the same handwriting. Who fills in the details on those forms? Does each individual man fill in his own form or is it done by a third party?
     
  13. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Good question, I would suggest the regimental clerical section, but signed off by an officer.

    As an example, 56 Reconnaissance Regt had a total of 9 clerks, each of the 3 squadrons (equivalent to company) having 1 each with RHQ and HQ squadrons having 3 each.

    My father's records show that there was one occasion when he completed one line himself, however, when he was first posted to the battalion he was the 'orderly room clerk', so that probably accounts for that. He did attend a 'course of instruction in unit procedures and 2nd Echelon duties' at Recce Corps Office.

    When you think of the logistics of an operational regiment the clerical tasks must have been enormous.
     
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  14. LinF

    LinF Member

    Than you. Very helpful.
     
  15. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    There were actually 3 copies of the B103 and other forms maintained and updated at different organizational levels. You often see the 3 copies in the WW1 service files on Ancestry & findmypast .

    From WW2 service files I’ve read I think there were copies held and maintained at Battalion, 3rd Echelon (in a Theatre of War) if overseas and at the Regimental Records Office in UK. There was communication between each to enable updates.

    MOD only release one version of the B103 but Scots Guards service files on findmypast usually contain all 3 versions - there are occasionally slight variations of the order in which entries are recorded. From files I’ve seen it looks to be the Regimental Records office copy that has the least variations of handwriting. As information comes from overseas I suspect it was often the case that multiple entries were made some time after the same entries were made on the B103 (and other forms) maintained elsewhere.

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2023
  16. LinF

    LinF Member

    Thank you. You mention 3rd Echelon, someone else mentioned 2nd echelon. What do those terms mean?
     
  17. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    They are admin units rather than fighting units.

    The 3rd Echelon provided the services which kept the combat troops in the field.

    These units and transport remained more or less permanently to the rear of the fighting lines, such as base camps, depots, most hospitals, etc.

    The units were not part of a Divisional Command in the Army Corps, but took their instructions from the Army Head Quarters.

    2nd Echelon would provide a similar support role but at Brigade level.

    Infantry Battalions had various echelons - usually designated by letter. B echelon held the Battalion MO, regimental Aid Post, Quartermaster & staff etc.

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2023
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  18. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Think of the rungs or steps on a ladder, each being an echelon.
    Depending on the unit these vary. In a Regiment but you might consider 2nd Echelon being the Regimental Quartermasters Stores and 3rd the Divisional Stores that supplies them.
    Generally the higher the echelon number the further they are from the front line.
     
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  19. LinF

    LinF Member

    I see! Thank you.
     
  20. LinF

    LinF Member

    First of all I'd like to thank all the lovely people on here who have helped me with questions regarding my Dad's service. I now have another question. On his service records it says that he was posted to 'A' [no.1] Allied PW repat camp MCRP on the X [1] list on 17.10.44 and, also on X[1] list to 305 transit camp on 1.8.45
    Does anyone know where these camps were or anything else about them? I know Dad was helping repatriate Italians at some point and also that he was dealing with the delousing of officers at the end of the war before they left for the UK. Could he have been doing either of those things at one or other of these camps?
     
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