Stanley Robert Allen - Royal Engineers WW2 - tracer record

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by RobM, Apr 21, 2021.

  1. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Hi, Can anyone please help with some of these acronyms on the attached tracer card.
    My grandad was first in Royal Artillery 1942-44 where he was based in the UK - Heavy AA driver training regiment.
    He was transferred to RE in March 1944. See attached for details.
    I know from his release papers he was trained as a barge engineer in the RE.
    I know once attached to IWT 980 Coy in 1945 they were sent to Kalewa, Burma and he worked on the Chindwin river going down to Prome then finally to Rangoon. (I have seen and copied the war diary for '45).

    So back to the tracer card ! I know TnTC is the transportation training centre
    What was the depot wing ? was that supplies and kind of quartermaster work or repairs ?
    What is (is it) F&D Works ?
    I believe T Wing is Transportation Wing
    What is PT or TT wing ?
    1 ??? Port - Could this be No 1 Marchwood Port (I found clues that my grandad was based there at some point with an address No 1 Port & Construction Depot (Home), Marchwood, Southampton)
    I am still awaiting his military record.

    Many thanks for any help guys. Rob

    By 1944 my grandad was 39 so not surprised he was not pushed into a front line role ! However the day after his 40th Birthday he received the news that his new company 980 IWT was to be reposted to Far East (it turned out to be Burma).

    Ah I now assume it's actually Fld Wks T Wing - So Field Works Training or Transportation Wing ?
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 21, 2021
  2. sjw8

    sjw8 Well-Known Member

    Hi RobM

    From my initial look at the attachment, I would interpret it as follows -
    2.3.44 - joins Technical Training Wing, Transportation Training Centre (TnTC), for his initial training.
    3.5.44 - begins further training with the Field Works Training Wing, TnTC.
    Following this period of training -
    12.7.44 - he is temporarily attached to, and held on the strength of, the Depot Wing, TnTC, (usually pending transfer to his next posting).
    13.9.44 - posted to No.1 Military Port (Marchwood),
    where on the following day -
    14.9.44 - posted to the Port Operator Technical Training Wing.
    Following this, presumably after specialist training, on -
    16.11.44 - posted back to to the Depot Wing, TnTC, pending a new posting.
    From there on -
    9.2.45 - he is posted to 980 Inland Waterway Transport Workshop Company.
    9.3.45 - ? arrival in theatre and joins 980 I.W.T. Workshop Coy.

    Steve a.k.a. sjw8
     
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  3. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Hi Steve, thanks so much for making sense of this for me and the family !
    It all makes sense now. Yes, they arrived in India (the 980 company) in March in 4 details and from there by train and Dakotas and finally road to Kalewa on the Chindwin River, Burma.
    I know he did a barge engineer trade course, maybe it was in Sept-Nov '44. When his record finally comes we will get clarification.

    Any idea what the numbers on the right hand side of the tracer card may mean ? There is first a number then / then looks like the year. The far right numbers I have no clue about.

    Thanks again for your help it was really appreciated, mum and dad are really happy and say thanks too, cheers Rob
     
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  4. sjw8

    sjw8 Well-Known Member

    Hi Rob

    The numbers on the right hand side are cross-references to the orders published by the various units, which details his moves, course details etc.

    For information, each sub unit publish "Part 2 Orders" on a regular basis, detailing events affecting an individual's career e.g. course attendances, revision to pay band, promotions. These are numbered sequentially each year e.g. the entry of 3.5.44 was published in Part 2 Orders number 87 of 1944 issued by Field Works Training Wing, with a copy being sent to the RE Record Office, who notes up his personal service records.

    When you receive his service records, you should see these details recorded against various entries which correspond to the details shown on the "tracer card".

    Kind regards
    Steve
     
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  5. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Thanks for that Steve, much appreciated !
     
  6. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    In case you haven't seen this:

    Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942

    1942

    Allen.jpg
     
    RobM likes this.
  7. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Many thanks Harkness !
    I knew he joined Royal Artillery on 11th June 1942 and was in the 227th Heavy AA Driver training Regiment. He was at least for some time training soldiers in the Tractor Training Wing. Here he is front row second from right in that regiment in January 1943 in Blackpool. From the stripe it looks like he was a Lance Bombardier at the time. When he was in RE he was never higher than a Sapper although in his testimonial on his release papers they mention that he would have been NCO towards the end but there was no vacancies !
     

    Attached Files:

  8. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Steve, I've just realised the following ;
    No 1 Military Port - Port Operating technical training is most probably at Faslane in Scotland, this port was built and run by the transportation arm of RE and was known as No 1 Military Port and I read it was ideal for training too.
    I still believe he spent some time in Marchwood I think likely in the RE repair depot maybe this was part of the depot wing ?
    I also know that 980 Coy were based in Southampton from early Nov 1944 until they were deployed to Burma in early March '45 so possible link there.
     
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  9. sjw8

    sjw8 Well-Known Member

    Rob
    I stand corrected - you are correct No 1 Military Port was at Faslane.
    I have checked back on some notes I've made re various RE Training Depots / Establishments. Marchwood was home to 1 Port and Construction Depot, so easily confused with No 1 Military Port.
    Steve
     
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  10. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Yes, absolutely Steve, very easily confused and also because I mentioned Marchwood in my messages ! Again, thanks for your help !
    I am not sure what the guys got up to in the depot wing but I know there was a repair depot at Marchwood and this was written on the back of a photo So i think it is likely he was there maybe at some point.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. sjw8

    sjw8 Well-Known Member

    Hi Rob

    For your information, I have found two mentions of the Military Ports in the "Royal Engineers - Useful Links" section of the Unit History RE sub forum, which may also assist you in understanding your grandad's role.

    1. There is a long and detailed article in the March 1958 issue of the The Royal Engineers Journal (pages 1 - 27) - "The Construction and Operation of the Military Ports at Gareloch (a.k.a. Faslane) and Loch Ryan (a.k.a. Cairnryan)". Although very technical in detail, it gives you a well informed appreciation of the work which your grandad may have been involved in, during his time at Faslane.
    https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1958-March.pdf.

    2. In addition, the Corps History, Vol VIII, Chapter VI - which covers "Training Establishments and Units" records, on page 213-
    "The construction and operation of two military ports in Scotland, at Faslane and Cairn Ryan, by Transportation Port Construction and Dock operating units,[..............], afforded an opportunity of training movement control personnel alongside transportation units to a degree not possible in existing ports, which were almost entirely maintained and operated by civil organizations."
    https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Corps-History-Vol-08.pdf

    Regards
    Steve
     
  12. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Steve, I have been searching for info in the past week on Faslane but only got high level with a little detail, this is perfect. Wow !

    1, I found very interesting, was great to see the photos of the port, learn about the construction and also the detail given on the type of cargo handled in the "operation of the port" section on page 26, really informative.
    2. This was great too. Especially p158 mentions how the Port Operating Technical Training Wing was formed and moved around (which my grandad attended Sept-Nov '44 (from his tracer card). P.142 mentions the No 1 IWT repair depot at Marchwood which is on the back of the photo, maybe his full military record will shed light on that. As you mention p213&p134 refer to Faslane being ideal for training and p160 mentions the RE depot.

    Thanks so much again this has been so helpful. Next time you are in London please drop me a message for a pint !
    Rob
     
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  13. sjw8

    sjw8 Well-Known Member

    Rob
    So you enjoyed a little light reading then :D Glad you found these useful.
    Sadly I don't get to London these days but thanks for the offer :cheers:
    Regards
    Steve
     
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  14. RobM

    RobM Active Member

    Thanks for all your help Steve, the family much appreciate it.
    Yep, I love a good read !
    All the best, Rob
     

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