Royal Engineers' Photograph, Bangalore

[George.]

I have a photograph of my father taken in Bangalore in 1946 and would like help with initials and abbreviations please.

The photograph is titled: U.R.O Staff of A. 5. Coy. of Special Btn. M.T.
                                    Q.V.O. M.S. & Miners GP. I.E.

Is there an expert out there who can translate that so that it is understandable by a non-military mind?

Thanks.

[MaxD]

Sure of :

URO is Unit Record Office
QVOS&M Gp IE is Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners Group Indian Engineers - nice book here refers to them https://archive.org/details/MadrasSoldier page 151/152 and appendix A

Remainder :
Staff of (A 5) Company of Special Battalion Motor Transport - while the words look right, it doesn't entirely make sense.  Could the A 5 be AT, there were AT Companies (Army Troops companies)  .

Father was one of the British army men who made up most (all??) of the officers and NCOs at that time.

Can you scan and post the markings?

maxD

 

[George.]

Hello Max,

Thank you very much for the information. It is definitely A5 as you can see from the photograph.
One day I would like to go to Bangalore to see where my father was stationed; I beieve that the barracks are still there but now used for some other purpose.

Thanks again.
George