The 'Introduce yourself' Thread

Hi again, Paul, and thanks! I've responded to this twice, and both times apparently lost the message. The short answer is, it's hard for me to tell. The long answer (a transcription of what the forms say) is what disappeared when I tried to send it. Here's some of what I wrote earlier, updated:

Per his service records from the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow, Abraham Alfred Cohen (ID 1787698) served in the British Army from 10 April 1941-12 Aug 1946. His original assignment was to the Leicester R 070 Regiment (R.A. [CD] is crossed out after that, along with something no longer legible) as a lance corporal. The nature of the engagement is "AC" or "OC" (perhaps Artillery Corps?). His industry group is WE, and his occupational classification is 363-10 (stricken) or 364/50 (written above it). His medical category is a hodgepodge: A1 and A2 (both stricken), then 132/113, B7, 179C, B4, 179C, 53/221 TL, F36, following by something illegible and 2 2 9 39.

Dad was last stationed at Donna Nook Airfield. He enlisted at the rank of private (“pte”), and was apparently assigned to the "1st AA [anti-aircraft] Div 'Z' Tr[ainin]g Reg[imen]t R[oyal] A[rtillery]". On 5 June 1941, he was sent to the "NO/Coast Arty Group" (North Coast Artillery Group?) with a rank of GNR (“gunner”). He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 14 October 1942, a rank he held until at least 10 August 1943, according to his promotions list.

Then on 5 December 1943, Dad agreed to service overseas, and was transferred to the Leicestershire Artillery [Yeomanry] (Leicester R70, according to AFB 104-1).[1] He was wounded on 29 November 1943 "Ref 44331 (AG6a)," Apparently, he received a head wound serious enough to be "likely to interfere with efficiency" (a statement labeled "B117") on 12 May 1944 (that one is labeled "B114") according to the identification of abraham alfred cohen on joining. Dad never, ever spoke of his experiences in the service, but he received the defence medal and war medal 1939/45 (same document).

His STATEMENT OF SERVICES says 54/41 1st AA Div Z Trg Rgt on enlistment 10 April 1941. Then via an order dated 12 April 1941, he was posted to 1st AA Div "Z" Trng Regt RA [1st Anti-aircraft Division Z, Training Regiment, Royal Artillery], rank GNR [gunner]. Under that line, in the "unit" column, is entered C/B/j (?). The next entry is 62/41, No/ (or maybe "NO1"?) Coast Arty Group, 6 May 1941. The rank is Gunner. There is a series of alphanumerics below that which looks like "WO.VPT.BM-16q Hq (AG6d) [illegible] 2-5-41 (02 May 1941).

He agreed to serving overseas and was transferred via 145/43 to 515G Rgt, Leicestershire Artillery, an entry which is followed by what looks to be WOUN. Ref 44331 (AG6a) dt 29-11-43 (29 November 1943). His rank was PTE [private].

There is another (untitled, unnumbered) form that looks like an index card (and in fact says "dates on which Amendment Slips were sent to Central Card Index" at the bottom. In the "Postings" column, it reads:

11/40 13th 20-6-40

200/44 ISTC 15-11-44
1401/45

PM[?]164/16944 21 HLDG BN 31-10-45

The "Promotions" column says:

189/42 U/A/L/C 14 10/42 (14 Oct 1942)

204/42 L/CPL/Pd 14 10/42 (14 Oct 1942)

103/43 U/A/Cepl 12 5 43 (15) May 43

106/43 a/cpl pd 12 5 43 (12 May 1943)

158/43 W/CPL 10/8/43 (10 August 1943)

Can you make heads or tails of any of this?

All good wishes,

Carol

norwichpaul;98617 wrote:

Carol, if you can find the regiment, battery or platoon I can tell you where he was stationed or if you give me a place name I can probably tell you the regiment, battery and platoon - well in theory but it would be interesting to put it to the test.

Carol;98636 wrote:

There is another (untitled, unnumbered) form that looks like an index card (and in fact says "dates on which Amendment Slips were sent to Central Card Index" at the bottom. In the "Postings" column, it reads:

11/40 13th 20-6-40

200/44 ISTC 15-11-44
1401/45

PM[?]164/16944 21 HLDG BN 31-10-45

The "Promotions" column says:

189/42 U/A/L/C 14 10/42 (14 Oct 1942)

204/42 L/CPL/Pd 14 10/42 (14 Oct 1942)

103/43 U/A/Cepl 12 5 43 (15) May 43

106/43 a/cpl pd 12 5 43 (12 May 1943)

158/43 W/CPL 10/8/43 (10 August 1943)

Can you make heads or tails of any of this?

All good wishes,

Carol

Hi Carol, welcome to AiX,

U/A/L/C= unpaid acting lance corporal

L/CPL/pd= lance corporal paid

U/A/CPL= unpaid acting corporal

A/CPL/pd= acting corporal paid

W/CPL= no idea/corporal

Best wishes, Pete

cbrjock;98700 wrote:

W/CPL= no idea/corporal

War Substantive Corporal

All the best,
PB

Hi
My name is Terry Andrews and I am part of the Heritage Team at RAF Upper Heyford. I have been interested in military structures for many years and have delved into many airfields in my local area over time.

I have written up the ORB's of RAF Finmere, and have photographed many buildings on the field that many have failed to find! I hold a degree in War in History and over the last few years have studied the Cold War and what remains within the UK. As a result I got involved in trying to help preserve the remains of Upper Heyford and record its history, photographically but also historically through research into held records etc.

I have my own Cold War bunker, an EX Royal Observer Corp Post, which I have restored back to pre 1991closure. So perhaps I am a bit weird?

Anyway thats enough of my background hope to post on a fairly regular basis mostly about Upper Heyford but also on other related matters in the future!

Thanks for taking the time to read about me!

Mr. Becker, I understood (after I re-read your post) that you were using the RB Chronicles as an example only. Meanwhile, I've ordered Ack-ack: Britain's defence against air attack during the Second World War @ L15 (no pound sign on this keyboard). I think that would please my dad. I vaguely remember the term "ack-ack" from my childhood, so I must've asked Dad what he did during the war, or heard him say it at some point (but I don't think I ever really understood what it meant). It's silly (in that he's been dead for nearly 40 years) but I worry that I will learn that he went through something terrible. He was . . . still is . . . my best friend of a lifetime, so please forgive what must seem ridiculous sentimentality. I want to know what he experienced because I loved him.

Paul, you are a sweetheart even to care. Thank you, and take your time. It's taken six decades for me to research this--a little while longer won't make much difference.

Gobsmacked.

What on earth does that mean????

P wrote:

War Substantive Corporal

All the best,
PB

Thank ye kindly, matey! That was thoughtful of you.

jacksparrow;98673 wrote:

Hello too. It is nice to see you here.

Pete, that is wonderful information. Why would he be unpaid? (Did that just mean that his pay hadn't come yet, or that it had been withheld?)