Army Service records between WW1 & 2

[yappie]

Hi I am trying to help a friend whose Father Charles Edward Richardson died when he was a baby and he knows nothing about. I have found the Father's dob 14/05/1904, marriage and his RN record. It states that he was in the RN for twelve years to 1922 and according to the notes on the record enlisted in the army in 1923. The details have very cryptic. The final note is "SC.3444/38 Fi57 to man SC.1009/41. Partis to O 1/C Records" This is my interpretation. Do any of our very knowable military genes know what these codes mean or where I can find more information. Thank for taking the time to read this. yappie

[MaryA]

Just for the benefit of anybody who could help.

[daggers]

Yappie
I think your friend will have to fork out £30 and apply to the MoD for his/her father's army records via this website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collectio ... ce-records

There have been long delays but I do not know what the current position is.

I am not familiar with naval records but I think that 1922 saw a big cut in the Royal Navy, which may be the"Reduction" written on the form.
On the right hand side there are references to the Northamptonshire Regiment, which may be to enlistment in 1923, and lower down to "102nd (London) Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers, S(pecial) R(eserve). This sounds to me like part-time soldiering, with a short time spent in uniform for training each year.
I can't help with the 'SC' codes and others, which will have meant something in the office holding the records at the time - possibly the title of the form on which information was passed.

Let us know how you get on, as we all learn from each other!
Daggers

[yappie]

Thank you so much Mary and Daggers for your help and advice. I will do some more digging and will let you know what I find. yappie

[yappie]

Hi Folks I have done some serious digging and to date have found Charles on the 1939 Register, his death certificate (he died 1948) and his burial. My friend was surprised to find that his mother (who remarried), father and a baby brother (who he didn't know existed) are all buried in the same section in Manor Park Cemetery. We have now sent for Charles' military record and I will let you know what we find. Thank you all for your help. yappie

[mitches1829]

It states that he was in the RN for twelve years to 1922 and according to the notes on the record enlisted in the army in 1923. The details have very cryptic. The final note is "SC.3444/38 Fi57 to man SC.1009/41. Partis to O 1/C Records"

Yappie,
While I am no expert on military and Naval history, I have seen many doc's that are hard to cipher. But willing to have a go based on past experience.
From his Record Page, kindly put up by Mary A. My interpretation......
Charles Richardson was aged 18yrs on enlistment in 1921.
# First Service on board "Ganges" as a "Boy II" (his Rank among Crew, Usual starting point for a junior seaman) Seamans Reg # 4142
# Second Service on board the "Ganges" changing Rank to "Boy I" from 6/11/1921 to 23/02/1922. Seamans Reg. #4142.
# Third Service on board "Courageous" as "Boy I" from 24/03/1922 to 28/04/1922
Service reg. # 85
# Fourth Service on board "Victory I" as "Boy I" Rank from 29/04/1922, Service Reg. #6711
change of Rank on 14/05/1922 to "Ordinary Seaman" until 03/08/1922.
# On Shore service #3614 received a Bonus Pay of (looks Like 20 pounds) possibly in lieu of reduction.
#Removed to Infantry Reg. Warley on 23/02/1923 S.C. (Service Corps.) Service Reg #18791

#Moved to Stationery E.C. (engineer Corps/class) Service # 1421/34 Infantry Records, Warwick. 1934 **(this is 12 year point)

# on 2/03/1934 F257 Issued (Form 257) S.C. (Service Corps) Service Reg # 1460
# "Liace" ( ? Looks Like) on 16/05/1934 Lanc.
# E.C. (engineer Corps) Reg #383 on 04/09/1934.
# S.C. (Service Corps) Army Tr. (could be transport/training) Company Rserve, Bethnal Green E.2. Service Reg. # 1613/36 (1936).
# S.C. (service Corps) Service reg # 3444 / 38 (1938) Form 257 Issued.
# S.C. (service Corps) Service reg. #1009/41 (1941) Partist (??? could be a boat).
# O/C Records Britt Date (can't read) his records were transferred.

Seamans certificates, might also help answer some of the questions.

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/arts-heri ... eamen.aspx

Prior to finding my missing grt uncles family, I found him listed in these indexes. The archives were most helpful. I later found he had returned to australia, married and remained here by finding his family.
He served in Merchant Navy in Uk, and returned to Australia with his pouch in tact. Though now very fragile, While in service he underwent his training to go from Ord. Seaman to Able Seaman, and then engineer.
Before returning to Australia my grt Uncle Steve Mitchell, was presented with a beautiful gold embossed parchment scroll from King George, for his rescue of a fellow seaman who fell overboard. More than one hundred years have passed, and though not looking it's best, it is still clearly legible.
Moral of the story-- You never know what you'll find until you start looking.

[yappie]

Hi Sharene Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and I now have a better understanding of the naval record I found. Such a wealth of information you have given me. My friend, who is approaching 80 is totally blown away with the information we have found as he never know his father. I cannot thank you enough for making him so happy. I will certainly contact Southampton to see if they have any more information. yappie

[mitches1829]

I am just so glad I could return the favour.

you have given me so much help in the past with my mysterious spenser hampson families.

[yappie]

Hi Folks - I have just had a phone call from my friend to say he received his father's army records in the post today. To say he is overjoyed and overwhelmed is an understatement. I am hoping we can get together over Christmas as I am also very interested to see what the records show. Thank you all once again for making an elderly man a very happy bunny. yappie

[daggers]

Good result!
We hope to hear more about that interesting life.
D

[MaryA]

Very good news, hope there is lots of detail in there.