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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: 47813 on Thursday 27 April 17 03:06 BST (UK)
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I have been enjoying reading the service records of my Great-Grandfather.
He was a clerk in civvy street before the war and put those skills to good use in the RASC (Royal Army Service Corps) in North Africa and Italy.
He was moved around several units but the most time was spent in ME39.
My main question is what does ME stand for.
Is the unit a unit within the clerk part of the RASC or was he stationed as clerk with ME39?
Any other information about the RASC and the role of clerks in particular would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Jonathan
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Could you perhaps post a pic of the bit of the record that has that "ME39" and if it is in a table, the column heading? It doesn't immediately look like a unit designation, there are a number of units with 39 in the title in the Middle East.
This site http://www.rlcarchive.org/ is a goldmine of specific information but best to know what units you are looking for first.
maxD
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Hi,
On the 'Service and Casualty Form' it is in the column headed 'Unit'.
Before he leaves England he is in 109 Coy. Then struck off and sent to 'A Coy 1 Holding Bn. RASC'
From there to Camberley Reception Depot in the days leading up to embarkation.
Upon arrival overseas he starts in 6 Bn. GRTD and ends up in ME39 via ME20.
All this takes place on his first day upon disembarkation.
On another record. Much smaller, looks more like a Service Card.
All his postings are on this, unlike the Service and Casualty Form which is over four A4 sheets.
Here the ME 'units' are in columns headed 'Postings'.
Starting with enlistment in Oct '41 - 12 Training Btn.
3.4.42 - HQ 9 Arm'd Div.
28.9.42 - 4 Mob Cen RASC.
14.10.42 - 79 Arm Div (last word, looks like place name but can't make out)
1.2.43 - 109 AR DV TPS COY.
2.8.43 - 1 Holding Btn.
4.8.43 - Camberley Reception Depot.
No date - RZKHY
13.8.43 - To N/Africa
25.8.43 - ME20
25.8.43 - ME39
1.1.44 - To Middle East
29.1.44 - ME53
1.10.44 - To CMF
26.2.45 - 576 SSD
On his 'Notification of Release' papers he lists under 'Unit'
'No.10 Command Depot Medical Stores'
With 'Last Serving With' added before 'Unit'
Regt or Corps - RASC
Should add this record also has:
Age and Service group - 25 (C)
Army No. - S/292085
Present Rank - W.O.I (S.S.M)
Age? - if this is of my Great-Grandfather then someone somewhere is mistaken. He was 40 upon release in '46.
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Silly question out of the way first - is it possible that the ME references are badly written MELF?
maxD
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I will attempt to scan the documents so you can take a look for yourself.
However to my eye it always looks like ME followed by a two digit number.
Jonathan
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OK. I've sent a PM. Meanwhile I have posed the question elsewhere, so far without success!
maxD
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Just to wind this thread up. - with the help of others, the ME units have been identified as belonging to a number of "Military Establishments" many of which were involved in "non-traditional" activities nudge nudge wink wink.
47813 has been directed elsewhere and is continuing his research.
maxD
PS - If you are watching Ruskie, RRTB, JenB, Seaweed and others who have been entertained in the past by tales of secret operations in North Africa - this was a real one!!
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Middle East = ME
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Sorry, I should have made it clearer in last post. In this context, ME means Military Establishment, so ME 29 is Military Establishment 29 etc. They are not, as I thought initially, RASC units, although some RASC people served in some of them. They were also not all in the Middle East which, as you rightly say, in another context, is abbreviated as ME hence my earlier question whether it was MELF as in Middle East Land Forces.
maxD