Eighth Army abbreviations

[J from Canada]

I'd be grateful for help with the following. This ancestor was a driver.

Posted to: 8th Armd Division  Arm Sub Pk (335 Company) 53 (Light) A.A. Regt.

In Feb, 42, he was posted to: 53 LAA Rgt  EM for ME (Middle East). Underneath 53 LAA Rgt, it states; G.H.  Q2 Ech (Echelon) MEF (Middle East Forces)

In Jan 43 when he was in Egypt he was posted to:  GHR 2nd Ech  BR     S.O.S. MEF to an unknown destination. The next line down states: CHQ  2nd Ech BNAF (British North African Forces) J.O.S.  B.N.A.F.  on 28/08/43

Many thanks!
J from Canada

[RRTB]

The quickest one to help you with is your "J.O.S.". That actually will be "TOS" meaning 'Taken on strength". This means that on 28 August 1943 your ancestor joined the CHQ 2nd Ech BNAF permanently.

SOS is another acronym which means the exact opposite: you are "Struck Off Strength" of a regiment/unit, meaning that you are no longer considered part of it. You have this in "SOS MEF", which means your ancestor was Struck Off Strength of Middle Eastern Forces.

He was posted to the 8th Armoured Division Ammunition Sub Park (335 Company) 53 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment

GHQ 2 Echelon MEF: General Headquarters 2 Echelon Middle Eastern Forces

I'm sure others can help out with a more detailed set of answers.

RRTB

[J from Canada]

Many thanks indeed RRTB! That gets me part of the way along. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
J from Canada

[RRTB]

Would you be able to take a picture of sections of the service record and post them here for us to look at? Sometimes the guys can spot things which give a lot of information. The other thing is that some of these records can be a little hard to decipher, and may appear to be something they're not. Your "JOS" would be a small example of this.

RRTB

[MaxD]

I'd support RRTB's suggestion wholeheartedly (the JOS is a good example). 

The meaning of an entry can differ depending on what column heading it appears under.  The TOS and SOS will have a date attached to them somewhere which enables a sequence to be made out.  In addition, the GHQ 2nd Echelon MEF can be the place the order originated from rather than a posting to a place but without the context of the original record, you will get translations of initials which on their own don't tell the story.  As to what he did which you asked elsewhere, perhaps you'd give us his rank and regiment or corps.  Drivers in a LAA Regiment could be artillerymen, Royal Army Service Corps, REME or even Ordnance Corps if working in an ammo park.

As others have said, lots of willing help here bu more original info needed.

[J from Canada]

 Thank you RRTB and MaxD.  I'm having some technical difficulties. I tried scanning in a section into my computer (successfully) and then uploading it here (unsuccessfully)- even though the file is smaller than the max allowed. Any suggestions about this?

J from Canada

PS he was a private and I believe was in the 8th Army.

[RRTB]

This link might be of interest. It would certainly give us an idea as to why he was posted to BNAF in Jan 1943. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Armoured_Division_(United_Kingdom)

RRTB

[J from Canada]

sorry for the delay. am trying a different method. if it works, the first half is below.

[J from Canada]

second half. Hah! Think this worked.

Any kind assistance greatly appreciated!

J from Canada