Tracing Dad's footsteps

[upsidedown]

To anyone who may be able to help,

I'm trying to trace my late dad's movements who was: L/Cpl Robert Alfred William (Bobby) Saunders RASC from call-up in 1942 until demob in 1946. I do have his service records but there are a number of things that are unexplained.
First of all his number which confuses me: T/10692518. Is the 'T' prefix because of attestation into the T/A or because after posting to 'A' Coy. 7 Trng Batn (D) RASC he was a Gen Trspt driver? Talking of numbers...My own RAF No (1953-1956 was 4122518..note the last four, wierd or what?
4 months into his service he already had his L/Cpl stripe. His medical classification was B2 because he couldn't bend his index and middle fingers of the right hand due to an earlier accident, causing in 1932 medical discharge from the Middlesex Regiment. I had completely forgotten about this disability until I received his service records. For 2 years before call-up in 1942 he had been an ARP warden and ambulance driver; hence the stripe?
His records show that he enlisted at Stavely, (anyone know where that is?), then passed his driving test I.C. Class III at Eckington, again help needed to locate this place and what type of licence this is.
On 8/5/42 he was posted to 99 Coy, (again nowhere can I find mention of this unit), and appears to have remained with that company when he embarked for N.Africa on 23/12/42. I remember him and my mum visiting me from our home in Walthamstow just before his embarkation,(I was an evacuee in St. Albans),telling me that Father Christmas had to go to war and would be away for some time!!!
His Africa Star has the 1st Army clasp which probably means he was part of the final build-up of Gen. Anderson's force prior to the eventual victory in N.Africa. My late mum did tell me that he was later at Anzio. I do know that he was then with 88 coy and then 70 tipper coy,then later driving ambulances still with RASC, (didn't the RAMC drive these?). He then finished up at Trieste. He had time out for visits to dressing stations (twice) and once to a field hospital where he stayed for 3 weeks with broken ribs and concussion. Can anyone help explaining the difference between these medical units?
When I was a lad I tried to get info out of him, but all he would tell me was that he had lost a lot of mates and didn't like talking about it. I also remember him coming home on leave from Trieste at the end of the war with all the flags and bunting, Welcome Home Dad etc. Us kids loved playing with his .303! Another query here; Why did a driver carry a rifle? Imagine how he felt at having to go back to Italy again. I would dearly love to have any information about these various RASC companies as I have never seen them mentioned anywhere.

General Anderson's later operations account published in the London Gazette made me immensely proud..."When all have done so much, it is perhaps invidious to select particular services for mention, but I must pay tribute to all ranks of the Royal Army Service Corps and the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, who despite every difficulty of climate, terrain and enemy action, understaffed and overworked, nevertheless never failed to deliver the goods".

[Son of John]

Do you know the name of the ship he embarked on in 1942?

My father sailed from Glasgow to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in November 1941. Then they embarked on USS West Point (AP23). They stopped briefly at South Africa. I think then they continued to Bombay, where I believe my father may have disembarked. There was a Transit Camp at Dheolalli where my father stayed before being sent to Alexandria, Egypt. I believe that most of the men and equipment for Egypt arrived at Port Tewfik (Suez). The point I am making is that they went a long way round to avoid German U boats. My father was in RASC/EFI and was in Alexandria for about four years.
My suggestion is do research on troop ships and convoys. If you Google AP23 or USS West Point you will find all the voyages made by that troop ship. Not saying your father was on that ship but it will give you an indication of the routes that they took.

[Son of John]

Just found the names of more troopships. Duchess of Bedford, Empress of Japan, Empire Star. I think the serial number of my dads convoy was HS123. There must be lists and dates of the convoys and the ships in those convoys. Do you live near the National Archives at Kew. They have excellent facilities for the public to research their families exploits.

[upsidedown]

Thnx for all that info, I'll certainly chase it up and I do intend to have a day at Kew in May. I don't think my dad did the long trip as according to his records he was on board ship for 12 days. Thnx again and cheers,
Dennis

[littlee]

I am in the process of trying to trace my Granddad's movements during WW2,he was also in the RASC and the prefix to his army number was also 'T'.
I have found out that everyone in the RASC had one of two prefix's to denote the two main branches,either 'T' (transport) or 'S'(supply).
I hope this solves at least one of your dilema's.

[Johns son]

Was he in France in 1940?

A lot of RASC troops were evacuated from France through St Nazaire AFTER Dunkirk.

My dad got out of France in June 1940, an arrived in Falmouth. After he had arrived back home his prents received a telegram to say he was "missing"

Part of the RASC was on NAAFI work, they were called Expeditionary Forces Institute EFI