Difficulty Reading War Service Record

[langwell]

I have purchased The War Service Record of my late brother in law and finding it difficult to work out what some of the abbreviations mean. Is there anyone who can either help or advise me where to look.
Langwell

[MaxD]

Best way is to post scans of the relevant bits to enable them to be seen them in context which always helps.
MaxD

[langwell]

As suggested I am attaching a page with some of the information, some of which I can read. Lines I need help with are No's 1, 3, 5, 12, 15, 16, and 17-25.
I know he was in North Africa and that he was hospitalised, is it possible to find out where in N.A. that hospital would have been.
Not very good at getting size of attachments right, sorry.
Langwell

[MaxD]

Line 1  Attended Course number IN/20 (?) at Emergency Cookery Training Centre Inverness
3 Qualified [on that course] Class III
5 (Absent from on previous line) 2200 hours 10 1 42 to 1820 hrs 12 1 42
12 Granted Special Proficiency Pay [related to his skills as a cook now he is in the Army Catering Corps]
15 Attached (not sure but not important) to Middle East Supply Centre [a large logistics centre in Cairo]
16 Ceased To be Attached to MESC

The remainder are a continuation of his postings and further qualifications in his cooks trade.  I'll  get to those later.

This sheet only records the fact of his hospitalisation in March/April 43 not the place and it is unlikely that we would find that out.  Check the remainder of his docs for any entries that have those dates.

MaxD

[langwell]

Thank you for doing this.  Will work on it but could be back!
Langwell

[MaxD]

17  Posted to 105 Anti Aircraft Defence Headquarters (a Royal Artillery Headquarters)
18  Posted to RASC Base Bepot [the X iv is a code indicating he is student on a course - next line]
19 Attached to MESC and qualified as Cook Class 1 N/T [Non Tradesman - he was a specialist rather than a tradesman]
20  Posted to MESC [previously he was attached for the course, now he belongs]
21  Posted to RASC Base Depot X iv [this time awaiting posting]
22  Posted to HQ No 3 District [goes with the next line]
23 (Difficult to read but indicates he now is in Italy, belonging to 3 District HQ in Central Mediterranean Force and is struck of strength Middle East Force and
24  Struck off Strength British North African Force
25  Group B Class 3 Tradesman Cook [an army wide rejigging of the trade structure]

22-25 are not only recording his posting from North Africa to Italy but are also a tidying up operation on his records.  MEF, BNAF and CMF were the umbrella terms for the campaigns in
Egypt, Algeria/Tunis and Italy/the Balkans and a man can only be in one at a time.

You'll note that a number of the entries appear to have been made at the same time and are clearly the result of his records falling behind his movements and being brought up to date.  Always makes it look a bit odd!


MaxD

[langwell]

Thank you so much for all this help. I have several pages to go through yet so might have to get back to you. 
Langwell

[langwell]

Coming back with some more pages if anyone willing to help.
Langwell

[MaxD]

You've had some of this already, see ECTC Inverness and MESC (there may be more) in my earlier post.

May I suggest to avoid much duplication of effort, you review what you have already and re-do the clips marked to show those still not "translated".


MaxD