help identify a british soldier
 

Hello

do you have some informations about this soldier ?

a beach group helmet

thanks for answers
cordially
Didier
[IMG]https://zupimages.net/up/20/13/vmy6.jpg[/IMG]

Hello Didier,

I have searched the Casualty Lists for this number and no results came up. This shows that the owner, Dvr Wood, was not wounded, missing or killed in action. Having the trade of Driver, he could have been in a Corps such as the R.A.S.C., The Royal Engineers, The Royal Artillery, The Pioneer Corps or any number of other regiments. Wood is a relatively common surname in England.

The number is part of the block allocated to the General Service Corps. As a war time measure, many British soldiers were given their basic training with the G.S.C. before being allocated to a regiment or corps.

As the owner has left no trace in the published records, it will be difficult to identify him. It should be possible once the WW2 Service papers are released into the public domain. As yet, there is no date set for their release.

Best wishes,

Simon

Hello Simon

Thanks a lot !!

cordially
Didier

I think the 'T' prefix is a sign of a RASC soldier.

regards

I assumed it was just his initial . :confused:

No, not with the slash after it.

T/numbers were used in WW2 in the RASC.

regards

Hello

Thanks again

I just found that:

Royal Artillery - (Field Branch, Coast Defence and Anti-Aircraft Branch)
721,001 to 1,842,000

https://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/mm...ce_numbers.htm

that's right ??

Didier

The service number on the helmet is 8 digits , the range you show is only 7 digits.

That list is the old system which was superceded in 1942 with a new version:

"In 1942 the 'General Service Corps' were formed for the initial training of all new recruits. From then on the new recruits were allocated a number in a series beginning 14,000,000."

General Service Corps 14200001 - 15000000

Also , as Simon has posted the number is preceded by T/ .

"As the Royal Army Service Corps is divided into four main branches , the following prefixes to Army numbers will be used to denote the branches in which the soldier of that Corps may be serving:

S= Supplies

T= Transport

M= Mechanical Transport

R= Remounts"

OUPS !!!

I'm sorry, apologise....

thanks Mike :)

Didier

No need to apologise Didier , a great part of this forum is what we learn from others and I've learned a lot ! :)

I have seen an "H" as well Mike ... that I think denotes "Home Defence"? ...as its on a 2nd Line Soldiers number in the Yeomanry.

......a great part of this forum is what we learn from others and I'm still learning ! :)

The prefix letter T denoted Horse Transport and I doubt if there was much of that around in WW2. The only likely use would be by the Chindits in Burma.

If WWI the "H" would be a prefix for Hussar regiment numbers I think.