Hi am new to this forum, have just obtained my grandfather's service records from the MOD but am having trouble interpreting them. From what I can understand he served in the R.A.S.C. HQ 2nd Div as a driver, think he was a Lance Corporal then a Sergeant. He served with the B.E.F. in France from 18/09/39 until being evacuated from Dunkirk on 29/05/40. He was then posted on 14/04/42 to Cocanada in India to the R.A.S.C. Combined Training Centre, working in a technical capacity with heavy mechanical transport, serving there intil 14/07/45 before finally being discharged from thr army on 28/10/45. What the records don't show are details of any actions he was involved in. The family say he fought in Burma and was wounded twice. We have his medals, including the Burma Star. Where can I find out more about his unit's activities both in france and Burma? Would be grateful if someone could point me in the right direction. Thanks Jane Lindo
Hi Jane and welcome I'm no expert on the BEF but I think 24 Company, RASC, attached to the 2nd Infantry Division, was the Divisional Petrol Company, RASC. If so, the war diary for this period is in the National Archives at WO167/212 (under "2 Division Petrol Company"). The Division should also have had a Headquarters Divisional RASC unit. I'm not sure but I think the war diary might be the one at WO167/210 (under "2 Division Commander RASC"). Assuming this is right, these war diaries might help fill in some details about your grandfather's time in 1939/40 leading up to Dunkirk. Although be aware that, during the retreat, filling in the war diary wasn't necessarily a priority and, even where it was done, some were lost. If you're lucky, they were filled out after the fact. My own great-uncle was also RASC (4th Division Supply Column) and the war diary for May/June is mainly missing, and what is there was clearly written after the evacuation. I don't know where to start really on India and Burma but if my few RASC books have anything helpful in them, I'll let you know. Good luck and best wishes with your research. Ian
Hi Ian Thanks so much for your prompt reply, this is really helpful. Armed with this info I'll have a look on the National Archives website and see where that takes me. The family seem to think he was at some time the driver for the divisional commander while in India/Burma but I don't know how much truth there is in that. Will be interesting to see what I can find out. Thanks again! Jane
No problem, Jane. National Archives definitely your best bet. I have a history of the RASC in WW2 but it's a bit of a curate's egg. All I could find in it about 2nd Division RASC relating to Dunkirk is the following. The Story of the RASC 1939-45, Bell pg. 73 “2nd Divisional RASC ‘When the railheads ceased to function and our third line transport units were diverted to other tasks, I realized that it was a question of the old adage “those who help themselves”, and acted accordingly. It was a case of operation “scrounge”, but we had a lien on several dumps which we had found some time before and had placed under guard. We also collected large quantities of both petrol and ammunition which constituted our main reserves for the rest of the campaign. Later, we found that the NAAFI at Lille, which was evacuated, was well stocked and could be drawn on. At the same time we roped in abandoned cattle and were able to keep up a fair supply of fresh meat. Many of the animals which had been abandoned were in a pitiful state, so when possible the men with experience of milking were set to provide a welcome addition in fresh milk to the ration. Of course, there was no question of issuing any regular ration scale, but units realized our position and gladly accepted what we could give them.’ The reference to the clearance of the NAAFI abandoned stocks at Lille, which were also drawn by other divisions, had a sequel. Two years later a CRASC heavily engaged in the heat of the Western Desert operations received an important looking document addressed personally to him from the War Office, and in it was a bill – for several thousand pounds. He was asked to verify it and comment on the fact that his division had appropriated a stock of cigarettes which appeared to be ‘in excess of normal entitlement.’” There are no footnotes or anything but this certainly reads like an after action report by the CRASC (Commander, RASC) - who would have been the commanding officer of your grandfather's unit. If I turn up anything more, I'll let you know. Cheers Ian
Jane Could you post scans or photos of your grandfather's service records? Might help track down where he went and which units he was with. The 2nd Division went to India in April 1942 and then Burma. Was he still with the 2nd Division RASC? Cheers Ian
Hi Ian, thanks so much for this further info, very interesting. Service records attached - will be interested to know your thoughts as I find them extremely difficult to decipher. Thanks again for your interest and I'll look out for your further response. Jane
Hi again Ian. Have spoken to my dad and he remembers that granddad's company was engaged in fighting the advancing Germans at the La Bassee Canal when he was in the BEF. I'll see what I can find on the internet! Jane
