652 AOP Squadron RAF * RA

[Bobsy]

Hi Annie
After leave on our return we went to have a look at the notice board to see where we were posted to and found we were going to 652 Squadron RAF Wesley Bury St. Edmunds. So we set off, and were taken to Preston Station to the train for Cambridge eventually arriving at Bury St. Edmonds, then we were taken on trucks again to a Bigfield on the Newmarket Road in the middle of nowhere but a cafe opposite the entrance. We were  made welcome by a Flight Sgt. as the Army were only just arriving I think we picked up more people en route. There was a Lysander there and a Gypsy moth.
lWe did all sorts of odd jobs  until our equipment arrived and the RAF vehicles were taken away. We then became a unit with training exercises etc. It was at this time they changed the phonetic language from Ack Beer
that we had just learnt to Able Baker Charlie Dog Easy Fox we went To Newmarket with American Air Corps. to familiarise us with it.(We had different food and three cooked meals each day) We were in a wooded area on the perimeter
Bob T.

[Bobsy]

Hi Again Annie
Where did the quote come from?
Bob

[Taidquest]

Thanks for that K,surprised about the M.P part as he had been a 'red cap'
in the irish army before joining the British army.its said he guarded the
Arsenal at Woolwich and was added to the missing list by mistake because the arsenal
was bombed and his friend had asked him to swap duties with him,his friend was killed,the confusion arose because my dad had gone to the cinema
and an announcement was made asking all soldiers to return to barracks.
there are more details about this but none that would identify the poor soldier who was killed.among the many stories told there was mention of being in Grimsby and Southampton or portsmouth.he enlisted in Northern Ireland although he lived in Dublin.sorry for the novel,I will try to get his service records soon.
                                                             Anne

[kyt]

Thanks for that K,surprised about the M.P part as he had been a 'red cap' in the irish army before joining the British army.

Hi Anne

The reason I said that was because it was rare, though not impossible, to transfer between the RMP and the RA. But the fact that he was an "MP" in the RA does seem to imply guard duties. If he had been an MP, ie Red Cap, then he would not have been in the Royal Artillery as they are two seperate units. He may have guarded a RA base but still wouldn't have been described as being in the RA.

But his service records may well prove me wrong

K

[kyt]

Hi Bob

thank you for your interesting post about the different squadrons. I have just scanned the last few pages of the aforementioned Unarmed Into Battle and if you PM me your email address I can send them to you. You may find them interesting.

K

[liverpool annie]

Hi Again Annie
Where did the quote come from?
Bob

I got it from here Bob ! 

http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/visit/rafhist.cfm

I love hearing stories like yours .. I'll listen as long as you want me to !! 

Annie 

[Bilge]

There may be some confusion here as an RMP or a Military Policeman (aka.RedCap) he would have been in the Royal Military Police and only attached to the Royal Artillery.
However he may have been an RP Regimental Police who's members belong to that Regiment in this case the Royal Artillery.
All military unit have RP but not many have RMP attached.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Military_Police

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regimental_police

Then of course there were the independent Civilian Police Forces i.e Air Ministry Constabulary, Army Department Constabulary, many of whom lost their lives during the war.

http://www.policememorial.org.uk/Forces/Ministry_of_Defence/Ministry_of_Defence_Roll.htm

http://www.questonline.co.uk/topics/local_government/focus_on_the_ministry_of_defence_police_mdp

I hope this helps you to understand the Law and discipline situation in the War Department at the time.

[Taidquest]

Thanks again K.you've given me a few new words to
google with and I have found the explanation about
R.M.P and M.P.s attached to regiments on wikipedia.
so I understand where I was going wrong.
and to BoB.T , a very warm welcome to rootschat and
sorry for 'hijacking' your topic,like annie I look forward to
 more of your stories.
                                                          Anne
our posts crossed bilge ,thanks for the links

[Bilge]

Your welcome

As a mater of interest my Grandfather David William Jenkins was killed in the attack that Ch/Insp Hursey was killied in in 1942 at ROF Hereford.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,331945.0.html