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Old 18-04-19, 09:09 AM
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Mike Jackson Mike Jackson is offline
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Default REME Rank

Could someone please tell me in what year Craftsman was introduced to designate a Private Soldier in the REME? Thanks. Mike
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Old 19-04-19, 02:02 PM
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Mike. A good question. I have been trawling through all my REME history references and can find no specific comment that answers your question. The generalisation of comment would suggest that it was at the same time as the formation of the Corps on 1st October 1942 (along with the adoption of the new cap badge). It is also suggested that in the beginning the ranks of Dvr and Pte were also used depending on trade/employment.
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Old 19-04-19, 03:44 PM
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My late uncle was an AFV fitter/mechanic/whatever with the RAOC in North Africa at the time of the formation of the REME and was transferred to the REME and immediately given the rank of Craftsman. I know this because my aunt (99 this year) remembers him writing to inform her of the changes and how amused they both were by his new rank of Craftsman. As she said, you couldn't have found a more unlikely "Craftsman" than Charlie if you had tried.
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Old 19-04-19, 05:45 PM
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On the 24th of June 1944 a V1 rocket landed on the 6th Guards Tank Brigade Workshop on Lenham Heath, Kent resulting in the tragic deaths of 46 REME soldiers. They are buried and commemorated in a CWG plot in Lenham Cemetery.
Of the 46 the majority are the rank of Craftsman, there are also some NCOs and a few Drivers and Privates.
https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-d...HAM%20CEMETERY

RIP

Tim
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Old 19-04-19, 06:08 PM
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I have an "AB64" to a REME Corporal, noted as having transferred to REME as a Private on 1st June 1944.
A little ambiguous I suppose.
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Old 20-04-19, 06:30 AM
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Many thanks to all who have responded. It seems to have been somewhat vague, but I imagine that with the formation of an entirely new Corps they had other, weightier matters on their minds. I'll recommend to the author that he goes for Craftsman (caption to a well known D Day image showing a man wearing BEACH REME titles sheltering behind a Scammel). As far as I know its the only image showing that title being worn.
Tim, That cemetery is very moving - such a concentration of REME (and also a couple of Luftwaffe graves probably dating back to 1940?). Given that the tragic loss of the bulk of the Brigade's REME, their move to France was delayed. So I wonder how many tank crews' lives were spared as a result of a later than planned commitment to battle in Normandy? Mike
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