could use some help understanding WWII Service records.

[WillowOak]

I could use some help form those with an understanding of the WW2 Lingo. My Grandfather appears to have been a lot more brave than we ever imagined of a quiet bloke. He never spoke of the war. In researching the family tree i have come across some documents and i believe they tell me he was part of the 3 Battalion Parachute Reg.

I have a "Record of service" (army form W5258) showing the following.

No. 1631559 Rank Pte Name Paterson. R. B.
a. Regt./Corps - R.A From - 17/10/40 - 5/10/45
b. REgt./Corps - A.C.C From - 6/10/43 - 11/6/46

I also have a release Leave Certificate (army form X 202/A)
Army No. 1631559 Present Rank - PTE
Surname - Paterson
Christian name - Richard B
Unit,Regt. or Corps - A.C.C X(i) 3Bn Parachute Regt.
Called up - 17/10/1940
trade on enlistment - Mill Worker
Trade courses and trade tests passed - "B" CL III
Service Trade - Cook

Stamped 8 Feb 1946 Lieut. Col. Commanding 3rd Parachute Bn
It appears to have then been sent to Aldershot being recieved 8 Apr 1946

I also have his Service book which states he underwent the following training.

Gas test 1/8/42
SLC Trg Brde School E 28/1/42
DM gas chamber 17/9/42
Attended Course Serial no K22/9 from 15 April to 9 July 43 at ECTC Derby Classified Group B Class III Jrodemer(sp.) Cook

Class II Gp B
Passed TT A/a4vs7 10 1944 at ECTC Derby

So can anyone decipher the jargon used? Particually this bit.

A.C.C X(i) 3Bn Parachute Regt.

I would like to know In which part of the Paras he was involved in, Which company if possible and if he was involved in the Arnhem Battles.

thanks in advance.

deb x

[Tab]

ACC stands for Army Catering Corps, now if he had completed a parachute course it would state that on his record, also when the Para's go into action each man cooks his own food and they don't have field I'M A SCAMMER SPAMMER!!!.

ECT Emergency Cookery Training
DM Driver Mechanical Training, so how this can relate to a gas chamber is any ones guess

The three Courses listed were cooking cooking courses as he learnt to murder the the food, well they weren't called slop jockeys for nothing

Now I have 15 foolscap pages of military abbreviations and many of these go back years

[Wholley]

I know it does not pertain here but some abbreviations have twins within the various services.
For instance,ACC can also stand for Army Co-operative Command.
Commonwealth Services had their own as well.
As for the USA well,15 A4 pages doesn't come close

[Tab]

Greetings Mate......If he is a cook then I think that those letters would apply. I think also we know how much the Americans like their abbreviations of titles

[Wholley]

I know you are correct regarding cookie boy Tab.
Makes you wonder how we ever communicated inter service.

[Scouse Lancer]

I could use some help form those with an understanding of the WW2 Lingo. My Grandfather appears to have been a lot more brave than we ever imagined of a quiet bloke. He never spoke of the war. In researching the family tree i have come across some documents and i believe they tell me he was part of the 3 Battalion Parachute Reg.

I have a "Record of service" (army form W5258) showing the following.

No. 1631559 Rank Pte Name Paterson. R. B.
a. Regt./Corps - R.A From - 17/10/40 - 5/10/45
b. REgt./Corps - A.C.C From - 6/10/43 - 11/6/46

I also have a release Leave Certificate (army form X 202/A)
Army No. 1631559 Present Rank - PTE
Surname - Paterson
Christian name - Richard B
Unit,Regt. or Corps - A.C.C X(i) 3Bn Parachute Regt.
Called up - 17/10/1940
trade on enlistment - Mill Worker
Trade courses and trade tests passed - "B" CL III
Service Trade - Cook

Stamped 8 Feb 1946 Lieut. Col. Commanding 3rd Parachute Bn
It appears to have then been sent to Aldershot being recieved 8 Apr 1946

I also have his Service book which states he underwent the following training.

Gas test 1/8/42
SLC Trg Brde School E 28/1/42
DM gas chamber 17/9/42
Attended Course Serial no K22/9 from 15 April to 9 July 43 at ECTC Derby Classified Group B Class III Jrodemer(sp.) Cook

Class II Gp B
Passed TT A/a4vs7 10 1944 at ECTC Derby

So can anyone decipher the jargon used? Particually this bit.

A.C.C X(i) 3Bn Parachute Regt.

I would like to know In which part of the Paras he was involved in, Which company if possible and if he was involved in the Arnhem Battles.

thanks in advance.

deb x

Hi Deb, hope this helps:

R.A From - 17/10/40 - 5/10/45 = R.A. are the Royal Artillery. (See Note 1) Your relative was
selected to be trained as a chef and returned to his RA unit
as A.C.C Attached.

A.C.C From - 6/10/43 - 11/6/46 = A.C.C Army Catering Corps, they did not really exist until
1965 officially as a Corps, but were part of the RASC during
WW2. They were responsible to train Army Personnel in
the fine art of Military Catering.

Trade courses and trade tests passed - "B" CL III (CL III = Class 3) = A Class 3 Chef.



ECTC = Emergency Cookery Training Centre, Derby

You should read this Wiki Article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Parachute_Brigade as it explains that 3 Bn Para Regt were part of 1 Para Brigade and it will also list the units that were part of the Brigade, you should concentrate on the Royal Artillery units.

Sadly, it would seem your Grandfather was not an actual Para, but an attached Arm/Service. It is not guaranteed that he Jumped anywhere but would have arrived after the Paras' secured a landing zone for Gliders or for Transport Aircraft.


Note 1. An Airborne division - 1x airlanding light regiment from late 1944.




Air Landing Light Battery RA WE I/163/3 effective date 26 April 1944. (The + is for War Establishment so Officers Sub would have an extra 2 Subalterns for War.


If you have any questions please message or post here I will check back.