RTR Tracer Cards

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by clive_t, Jun 1, 2012.

  1. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    Hi all,

    A long time since I've posted (or even visited, for that matter) but I have had a very productive week in the search for details of my late father's time with the 44th Royal Tank Regiment. I have found, from the 44th RTR Facebook Group that the Library at the Bovington Tank Museum has 'Tracer' cards which show details of postings etc for servicemen.

    I only found out about this yesterday, but today, having paid £5 over the phone I have received an email attachment of my late father's Tracer card - basically a card-index style record of the various postings throughout his career.

    If you send an email to librarian@tankmuseum.org, with the details of who you are looking for, then they will do a search for that person - I guess the more you can tell them, the better. Fortunately I had the service number.

    It was quite enlightening to see that even though my father enlisted in the 44th, he was then posted to various other regiments during the war.

    Hopefully this will be of use to someone, apologies if you already knew this.

    Best regards,

    Clive
     
    von Poop likes this.
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Nice one, Clive.
    That sounds like a decent way of getting at least the basics while enduring the long wait for Service records.

    Anyone know how comprehensive these cards are?
     
  3. clive_t

    clive_t Member

    Below is the front of my father's card (apologies to mods if it breaks any size limits). There is a couple of notes on the reverse as well, pertaining to his eventual discharge.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Belgian Dave

    Belgian Dave Well-Known Member

    Not sure if clive_t still visits the forum, but he said he hopes his post is helpful to someone. Well it was, as I should receive my Grandfathers Tracer Card from the Tank Museum this week, and its his post that made me aware of such records.

    Hope the card can help me out, look forward to doing a bit of detective work!
     
  5. Belgian Dave

    Belgian Dave Well-Known Member

    Well the scan of the Tracer card has arrived and...............its a bit of a let down.

    It begins with an entry for 25/10/43 yet my Grandfather joined up in 1936, so why no other information concerning his service before this date?
    Also, there are only 4 lines, and they roughly duplicate the information contained in his Certificate of Service book.

    When I look at other peoples Tracer Cards, there seems to be all kinds of information (clive_t's card as shown earlier in this topic, for example).

    Can anyone explain further please?
     
  6. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Belgian Dave

    I guess the first rule with the Cards is that there were no rules! Just like War Diaries (and I speak with good experience relating to what I shall call the brevity of the 24th Lancers War Diary. I knew the guy who wrote it and Ken was always a man of few, albeit very targeted, words). Knowing how good they are at the Tank Museum Library, I am sure you will have received all they've got.

    I was actually at the Tank Museum Library researching a particular tank (the one featured on my avatar) a few weeks ago but unaware of the tracer cards. I will ask during my next visit about my fathers Card!
     
  7. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    I cannot explain why there aren't any more details on the card, and it is really disappointing. This is why we always give out advice to new forum members to apply for the full service records first, the sooner, the better. The service records usually have so much more detail on them, and from there one can follow-up with the war diaries to give a more complete picture.

    Lesley
     
  8. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    I agree with Lesley. Is it also possible that he served under two service numbers?....under different names ( never say never) ?....and not all of his time with the RAC?....the Service Records should reveal all.
     
  9. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    SDP

    Perhaps on your next visit to Bovington..IF .. BIG IF....you have an hour to spare..you might pop in and say hello to Sapper and his dear wife - who will be more than pleased to see you

    and chat a while......he is in the book at Swanage under the nom de plume as Brian Guy - not ten miles from Bovvy - but be sure to take your camera as he keeps running out of batteries - he says ....

    Cheers
     
  10. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Tom

    Will they have a tracer card for you and, if so, do you want me to get a copy for you? No problem and I hope to get back there this side of Christmas or early in the New Year. Visit to Swanage to see Sapper would be good. We used to go to Swanage for family holidays in the 60's and that is when Dad introduced me to tanks. Pity it didn't mean very much to me at the time. Wish I'd asked Dad all the questions I now have for him (he died in 1981 at the early age of 59).
     
  11. Belgian Dave

    Belgian Dave Well-Known Member

    SDP & Lesley-

    Well he was RTC until the RTR was formed and become part of the RAC, but that was 1939, so I can understand why it may not have the '36-'39 period. He was seconded to the RE for a short time (not mentioned on the Tracer Card), but apart from that he was RAC all the way to 1st RTR's return to Britain in '44 where he did then get transfered to the RASC.
    Im quite certain he only had the one number, going off his Certificate of Service, and his ID disc which I still have. I dont think he ever had another name, or a reason to use another name (If he did, I would love to know why!)

    The Service Record is in the process of being ordered, just thought the Tracer Card could give me something to work on while I wait.
     
  12. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    SDP

    Good idea to pick up my tracer card at Bovvy, if you would be so good - probably just says - joined 1942 - left 1947 - Thank God ...!


    Best regards to Sapper and the saintly Sheila.......you are not alone in not asking questions when the answers were at your side...

    Cheers
     
  13. Belgian Dave

    Belgian Dave Well-Known Member

    SDP

    Tom is right, I wish I had asked lots of questions when my Grandfather was alive. But I just wanted to look at his medals, badges, and the photos he had. Now I can still do all those things, but never ask the questions I really want answers for.
    Its a great pity, the majority were not officers or did anything to make them special, and have their history recorded. Most did'nt think of preserving items or memories for the future, they just wanted to get back home and resume normal life again. But I think its those men and women who are the most interesting, and probably had the best stories to tell.
     
    SDP likes this.
  14. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Belgian Dave

    Your comments sound so familiar to me and also no doubt to many others. The best thing to do is to persevere and look on it as a long-term quest. Forget short term things (apart from the relatively straightforward ones such as service records) because it will be frustrating and it needs a gently gently hobby approach. In my case, I started with just four photos of dad's tank plus a number of other photos of unnamed people and a few snippets of information. From there it gradually built into what is now and becoming a vast raft of information where success in one area leads to success in another. The first breakthrough is that important eureka moment. I eventually even became the Hon Sec of dad's regimental Old Comrades Association and there have been several eureka moments. Look at my topics on this forum and you will see what I mean. I was spoilt by starting this several years ago in the mid 1990s when a lot of dad's old comrades were still alive....in fact that is possibly the biggest aspect because time stops for no one. My dream would be to locate a former member of dad's tank crew.....but clearly the odds are against me on this one! Good luck in your quest.
     
    Belgian Dave likes this.
  15. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Last edited: Jan 15, 2017
  16. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Big BTW...

    ...does anyone have a clue as to what the numbers after a regiment's name mean in a tracer card (that is when they are not just a date?)

    Nb. The last bit seems to be applied specifically to the year of the entry - but the bit before the "/" before that i.e. 128, 74, 53 ? comes across as something rather different.

    Many thanks,

    Rm.
     

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