2721433 Harold Arthur Mead Irish Guards

Would anybody be able to help me decipher my uncle's service record? He was not posted overseas but I would very much like to know where he was from the abbreviations on his records.
Many thanks. Judy

 

Morning Judy
Welcome to the forum.
From a brief look - First document -
a. 27 June 1940 - enlisted into the Irish guards at Caterham.
b. 22 Aug 1940 - was sent (Posted) to the Training Battalion (Tr Bn).
c. 03 October 1940 - promoted to Action Unpaid Lance Corporal (A/I/L/Cpl) i.e. not a paid rank!
d. 21 February 1940 - posted to the Holding Battalion, usually pending posting to an active battalion.
e. 19 April 1941 - posted to the 1st Battalion.
f. 1 July 1941 - for some reason, his Lance Corporal stripe is taken off him and reverts to rank of Guardsman (deprived L/stripe).
g. 20 January 1942 - ? posted to the "Y" list (unposted strength, usually connected with being released for service back into civvy street).
h. 13 June 1942 - posted back to (rejoins) the 1st Battalion.
i. 30 July 1942 - posted back to the Training Battalion
j. 11 December 1942 - posted to 5 (DHQ) Company; DHQ = Guards Depot Headquarters Company?
k. 5 December 1944 - still with 5 (DHQ) Coy, promoted to Acting Unpaid Lance Corporal.
l. 27 February 1945 - posted back to Training Battalion.
m. 17 April 1945 - made substansive Lance Corporal and therefore now paid as Lance Corporal!
n. 19 June 1946 - posted to "Y" list prior to discharge into civvy street.
o. 13 August 1946 - placed on Reserve service with the Territorial Army.(Class Z (T)).
p. 10 February 1954 - finally discharged from TA liability.

Second document -
This is a brief summary of his personal details, identification marks, service dates etc. and is pretty much self-explanatory.
It also shows that he attended and passed "Wheeled Course No 88" between 18 June and 13 July 1945, qualifying as "B2" (trade classification). It appears that he sustained an injury on 2 July 1945 whilst on this course.

As the first document appears to contain some large gaps in service, do you hold any other papers you hold which may fill in the gaps?

Steve

 

Many thanks Steve. None of the other documents I have seem to have anything about his actual service. I am attaching some but don't think they help any. There is a picture of somebody in a tank (presumably him) sent in a Christmas card. One document is photocopy of certificate of passing test of competence to drive. Groups 1 & 3, dated 3rd May 46.
Do you know where any of the battalions he was posted to were situated, other than Caterham?
Strange that he was posted to Y list in 1942.

 

Judy
Thanks for the additional documents, which unfortunately do not reveal much more detail than the ones posted earlier.
One thought did occur to me; on the second document under the distinctive marks etc. box, it describes his fingertips. I wondered if this somehow affected his ability to be posted overseas, however his AF B102 shows that he was medical category "A1" - essentially fit for everywhere.
As regards the Battalions' locations, have you tried the Guards sub sub form, within the Unit History sub forum? I'm sure the Guards experts will be able to advise.
Regards
Steve

 

Hi,

On his posting to Depot Dec 1942 I note B1 is written. I take it that was his medical category at that time. B1 precludes service abroad. I would've thought the injuries to his fingertips - which he appears to have had on enlistment - would've hampered his use of a rifle etc. Probably reassessed into B1 as 1st IG prepared to go overseas to North Africa.

Steve Y

 

Would anybody be able to help with the locations of the battalions my uncle was posted to?
I posted on service record forum for help deciphering his service record and it was suggested that I posted here for expert help as to where he would have been. The family seems to think at one stage he was at Buckingham Palace.
The answer I received re deciphering is as below:-
a. 27 June 1940 - enlisted into the Irish guards at Caterham.
b. 22 Aug 1940 - was sent (Posted) to the Training Battalion (Tr Bn).
c. 03 October 1940 - promoted to Action Unpaid Lance Corporal (A/I/L/Cpl) i.e. not a paid rank!
d. 21 February 1940 - posted to the Holding Battalion, usually pending posting to an active battalion.
e. 19 April 1941 - posted to the 1st Battalion.
f. 1 July 1941 - for some reason, his Lance Corporal stripe is taken off him and reverts to rank of Guardsman (deprived L/stripe).
g. 20 January 1942 - ? posted to the "Y" list (unposted strength, usually connected with being released for service back into civvy street).
h. 13 June 1942 - posted back to (rejoins) the 1st Battalion.
i. 30 July 1942 - posted back to the Training Battalion
j. 11 December 1942 - posted to 5 (DHQ) Company; DHQ = Guards Depot Headquarters Company?
k. 5 December 1944 - still with 5 (DHQ) Coy, promoted to Acting Unpaid Lance Corporal.
l. 27 February 1945 - posted back to Training Battalion.
m. 17 April 1945 - made substansive Lance Corporal and therefore now paid as Lance Corporal!
n. 19 June 1946 - posted to "Y" list prior to discharge into civvy street.
o. 13 August 1946 - placed on Reserve service with the Territorial Army.(Class Z (T)).
p. 10 February 1954 - finally discharged from TA liability.

 

Thanks Steve x 2,
That would make sense. Thank you.
I have posted on the Guards Forum as you suggested.
Judy

 

Many thank Owen. I does help.
Judy