I am new to this and feel a bit overwhelmed, and I am certainly not sure if I am putting this message in the correct place. I am writing a book on my father's family and would like to give some detail on his military career. I am trying to find what my father (Cyril Sprankling 6084586) did and exactly where he was in WW2. He initially joined the Royal Queen's Regiment, was transferred to 23rd Royal Fusiliers and then 46th Bn. RECCE and then 46th Regiment RECCE. Looking at some other messages I see a list of locations for 46th Regiment Recconasiance Corps and battles, so that is really helpful. Some of the abbreviations on his Service and Casualty Form I do not understand. Reading the form across it states: Unit X List Adm. 96 Gen Hosp. & T.O.S XC(ii) List BNAF 30.11.43 Disch. 96 Gen Hosp & T.O.S. X(iv) List BNAF 27.12.43 Adm 95 G.H. & T.O.S. X(ii) List BNAF 16.1.44 Disch. 95 G.H. & T.O.S. X(4) List BNAF 3.2.44 I kinda get what this means but really do not under stand T.O.S and the various lists he was on. Can anyone help me? I would be very grateful. Sally
Hello and welcome. TOS stands for taken off strength. Do you have dates regarding the units he was with? Andy
Correction it can also mean Taken on Strength - the lists are used mainly to place people on the strength of an administrative entity. SOS = Struck off strength ADM = Admitted Disch = Discharged
Welcome to the forum BNAF = British North Africa Force 95 British General Hospital Peebles 6/42 to 11/42 then overseas; Beni Aknoun (Africa) 12/42 to 9/44 then to Melfetta; Melfetta 9/44 to 1/45 then to Barletta; Barletta 1/45 to 6/45 then to Brindisi [is what it says but actually went to Bologna]; Bologna 6/45 to 8/45 then to Monte Catone; Monte Catone 8/45 to 2/11/45 then disbanded. 96 British General Hospital Peebles 9/42 to 11/42 then overseas; Maison Carree (Algiers) 11/42 to 12/42 then to Guelma; Exmouth 11/44 to 1/45 then to Kain; Kain 1/45 to 5/45 then to Tournai. Cheers Paul
Drew - TOS - ONLY means Taken ON Strength - SOS = STRUCK OFF Strength Sally - the X(ii) & X(iv) means that he was sick - probably Malaria - Jaundice - Gastro enteritis which were favourites at Algiers - which meant he was in Hospital i.e 95th Gen around Maison Carree - discharged too early and back again for another heavier dose of the foul Pamaquin - Atabrin - Mepacrin- and the even worse Quinine ...that would make it enough to discharge oneself from any Nurse with her toffees to kill the taste - no matter what she looked like ! Cheers
Brilliant, thanks so much for the messages. Andy I do have some dates and other abbreviations on the form that are not clear to me: 16.11.40 23rd RF Appointed unpaid acting WOII CSM Stalham (I assume this is Norfolk?) Then he was appointed paid acting WO w.e.f 16.11.40 having held the unpaid acting rank for 21 days, someone put in 10.12.40 but crossed it out. He was then transferred to RECCE Corps and posted 46 Bn 11.7.41 46th Regt. RECCE Corps attended a Vechicle maintenance course this was 27.6.42 Embarked UK 6.1.43 Disembarked 17.1.43 Medically examined and placed in Med Cat. B2 Field 17.8.43 Posted to X(iv) list (3Bn IRTD) on being placed in Med Cat B2 5.9.43 (then we have all the bits about him in hospital) Then while on X list transferred to RAC BNAF 1.1.44 Awarded Africa Star and GTD 1st Army Clasp. Then it becomes a bit more confusing as it says SOS x(4) list on posting to X(i) list ("C" Ofrs T/C) CMF 4.7.44 Posted XI List At HQ Pool for Transit Hotel Duties 59 Anea (bit difficult to read) 18.6.45 Medically examined on 30 July 45 CMF 12.8.45 (I can't read the next word but it looks like) Entrained at Milan for UK and SOS CMF accordingly CMF 21.9.45 - I think this was about the time he came home. Thanks everyone I really can't believe the help that it has been to me. If anyone can understand the last little bit that would excellent. Thanks again Sally
Sally, Hello and welcome to the forum. If you have not already got the book 'Only the enemy in front' by Richard Doherty I can certainly recommend it. It provides an insight in the Reconnaissance Corps and the fact that they were held in such asteem as the Commandos and para's. Regards Tom
have not got much on the 46th Recce but have a look at http://daimler-fighting-vehicles.co.uk/DFV-File%20Part%20D007f%20-%20Infantry%2046th%20Recce.pdf However im in touch with the chap who runs the WW2 46th recce corps old comrades association. (theres only about 5 of em left) I will be meeting up with him soon and see what information i can obtain............ Singe.
Sally - you are right about the "Entrained at Milan" as at that time some people were being sent home on Leave after three years overseas - you couldn't "embark" at Milan as it was no where near a port ... I came home that way from Austria i.e "entrained" at Villach - Udine - Padua - Vicenca - Milan - Dolomodosso - Sion -Chamonix - Lausanne - Geneva- Dijon - Paris - Boulogne - Dover ....three day trip ! he was probably sent home early as being re graded downwards and suffering in some way - he did spend a lot of time in various hospitals... Cheers
Sally - you are right about the "Entrained at Milan" as at that time some people were being sent home on Leave after three years overseas - you couldn't "embark" at Milan as it was no where near a port ... I came home that way from Austria i.e "entrained" at Villach - Udine - Padua - Vicenca - Milan - Dolomodosso - Sion -Chamonix - Lausanne - Geneva- Dijon - Paris - Boulogne - Dover ....three day trip ! he was probably sent home early as being re graded downwards and suffering in some way - he did spend a lot of time in various hospitals... Cheers Thanks for that Tom Was 'entrained' always used when going home? Jules.
Generally you emplane, embark on a boat/ship, embus on a truck and entrain on a train - the fact that Milan is major railway junction miles from the sea suggests to me that entrain is correct !!!
Hi Im after some help and advice and would be extremely grateful if you could help me. I am after information on my Great Uncle William Richard Bradford, born in Whitchurch, Shropshire. I have reason to believe he was in the 46th Inf Div, the divisional flash on his arm is of a black cat with a red background and the cap badge is definetly of the recce corps. Like many men of that era he never spoke about the war and was wondering what he did during the war. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Ben
Hello ben0239 and welcome. Lovely to have another recce on board! My dad was in 56 recce. Have you any photos of your great uncle you would like to post. Others will be along to help soon-there are a lot of recces on this forum. Lesley
Ben0239 Close - but no banana - the Black Cat on Red is the Div sign of the 56th (London) Division - the 46th sign was an Oak Tree The 56th came up from their first battle at Enfidaville with the 8th Army whereas the 46th landed at Algiers to join the 1st Army. Both then joined the X corps for the invasion of Italy at Salerno with the US 5th Army - and on - with 56th doing a stint at Anzio- then on to Egypt for reinforcement and back to the Gothic Line where they were both massacred at Croce and Gemmano Cheers
Hi ben0239 welcome to the forum. A black cat with a red background would mean he served with 44 Recce which was the Recce Unit for 56 Div. 44 Recce fought at El Alamein with the 44th Division and then with the 56th Division in Tunisia, at the Salerno landing and to the end of the campaign in Italy. Cheers Paul
