R.A.S.C 214 Transport Coy

[Lidfam]

My great Uncle served in the Royal Army Service Corps in WW2, and I was wondering if anybody could give me any help in researching him. I was under the impression that the maximum age for joining the R.A.S.C was 40, however Alfred C. Lidbury was actually 46 in 1939. He had served in the Royal Engineers in WW1, and I know lots about his service there, but know nothing about his time in WW2, other than he was in 214 Transport Company in 1943, and in "The Mediterranean". Any help would be very much appreciated.
                                                   Dale

[Jebber]

His WW2 records will still be with the MOD, there is charge of £30.

See the website

www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

Jebber

[Spikey68]

The son of a former member of 214 Company has created a website, with interesting details about the various theatres the company served in etc:

http://www.srobinson.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/newlands/rasc_214_tipper0.htm

[Drew5233]

Here's all the Company war diaries covering WW2. It is very unlikely that he stayed with this company for the duration of the way. I would expect him to have moved from company to company.

WO 167/1159 2 Motor Transport (Works Services) Company (214 Company) 1940 Mar.-Apr.
WO 166/4940 214 General Transport Company (GT). 1941 Oct.-Dec.
WO 166/9474 214 General Transport (GT) Company 1942 Jan.-Oct.
WO 175/919 214 Company 1942 Nov.- 1943 June
WO 169/11771 214 Company 1943 July- Dec.
WO 170/2452 Companies: 214 Company 1944 Jan.- Dec.
WO 170/5706 Companies: 214 Company 1945 Jan.-Dec.
WO 170/8344 Companies: 214 Coy 1946 Jan.- Mar.

There's a few possibilities for 1939 through to 1941 but I would apply (as suggested) for a copy of his service records to confirm all the units he served with during WW2.

Cheers
Andy

[Lidfam]

Thankyou Jebber, Spikey and Andy. I will certainly follow your advice and order the service records. Andy, can you explain what you mean by "a few possibilities in the diaries" please. Does it mean that he is named in them, and can you tell me how best to access them. Thankyou again.

                                                         Dale

[Drew5233]

No, he's unlikely to be named unless he's an officer.

The possibilities I meant are for the missing diaries. If you look at the date ranges on the files there's some months missing in 1940 after the fall of France and possibly in 1939-I suspect the unit had a different name then as it looks like it started to be called 214 Company in France, possibly when it deployed to France.

[ScouseBoy]

The Mediterranian   may well refer to service  in North Africa.

[Drew5233]

The WO 175 file is North Africa (Tunisia) and the WO 169 are Middle East but this includes Egypt and Libya. 

[ScouseBoy]

Do you know his service number?