Hello I am very much enjoying reading the many posts on this site after deciding to do some research into my fathers wartime experience. One of my regrets is that I didn’t talk to him about his wartime experiences when he was alive. Partly I’m sure is because he was reluctant to do so - although he did talk fondly about his time in Greece in the later part/post the war. I have obtained copies of his war records and starting to make sense of them thanks to this forum and have ordered a couple of books recommended on here. My father “Sidney William Beale” was officially Posted in May 1941 to 70thBn Oxf & Bucks LI before being transferred to 108 RAC. Here he is “Posted to Draft RWOXA” at Rufford in Dec 1942. Can anyone please clarify RWOXA? Or is it RWDXA? From here he was sent to Egypt and posted to XIIb (?) before joining 50RTR in May 1943. It seems he moved around a lot between M.East/N Africa/CMF & MEF. He then survived with 50RTR till early 1946 before finishing his career with 2RTR and as an Officer’s Servant. I have ordered the History of 50 RTR by Stephen Hamilton. When this current situation is over I plan to visit Bovington Tank Museum and would really appreciate any other members’ recommendations on where else to follow up on my research. I already have lots of questions but will save them for the relevant threads as recommended. Thanks Chris
Hi Chris and welcome to the forum. I can tell you that RWOXA is a draft recognition code. It is not an abbrievation or anagram, just a five digit code usually beginning with R, when a unit is about to travel or move location. There is more info on this thread: Draft recognition codes.
These links should help with some of the codes Chris 50th Royal Tank Regimment - service records decipher.
Chris. You will like Steve Hamilton’s History of 50 RTR. He is a terrific battlefield guide and his knowledge of the North African Campaign is second to none. Regards Frank