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Any military experts about?

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Sam

Sam Report 15 May 2006 20:40

Today I have received my granddads service records from WWII (Yippee! wait was less than a month!!) and there are a couple of things on it I don't understand. They did provide a list of abbreviations and their meanings but there are a few that aren't listed, I wonder if any of you know what they are? One is the rank of w/cpl. I know cpl is corporal but what is the w? And a couple of abbreviations that relate to places he served in are also not listed - NEW and DHOND. Any help much appreciated! Sam x

Porkie_Pie

Porkie_Pie Report 15 May 2006 21:08

I think DHOND relates to Burma/India? railways, Dhond-Manmad State Railway here is a website http://irfca.org/faq/faq-acronym.html Roy

Sam

Sam Report 15 May 2006 21:13

Hi Roy, That would make sense as he did serve in both Burma and India. Cheers Sam x

Porkie_Pie

Porkie_Pie Report 15 May 2006 21:19

Sam, just a thought? the w in w/cpl could relate to his regiment Roy

Sam

Sam Report 15 May 2006 21:33

I'm not sure - it is mentioned a few times (w/cpl). I know he was in the Royal Tank Regiment and the Royal Armoured Corps. In his records, when he was promoted it says 'granted ws rank of corporal' and according to the list of abbreviations, ws means war substantive (whatever that means) so I don't know if w/cpl means the same. Sam x

Porkie_Pie

Porkie_Pie Report 15 May 2006 21:44

Sam, A provisonal rank is what you are when you first get promoted, it is then made substantive rank after a set period of time normaly 3 months or when you have proved yourself, substantive rank is a Permanent Promotion, so the w could mean a war time promotion? The Royal Tank Regiment is part of the Royal Armoured Corps. Roy

Sam

Sam Report 15 May 2006 22:00

Thanks Roy, that makes it a bit clearer! I'm so happy to have his records but all the military language and abbreviations are a bit hard to understand/decipher! Sam x

Veronica

Veronica Report 15 May 2006 22:06

Hi, I found that the site Britregiments - google and you will find it- was of great help...they have a forum like this, and people are quick to help Good luck Ronnie

Keith

Keith Report 15 May 2006 22:17

War substantive rank was a half way house between permanent rank and any local or acting rank held. For example my father was Substantive Lieutenant, War substantive Captain and Acting Major all at the same time. :-) Keith

Researching:
Fletcher May Allison Ashcroft Moore

Sam

Sam Report 16 May 2006 14:55

nudge for the day shift - anyone know what or where N.E.W is?