Royal Signals

This page is currently being researched and edited...
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"The Royal Signals are responsible for installing, operating, maintaining and running telecommunications equipment and information systems."


On this page I will put details of Dad's Army Service with Royal Signals during World War II and afterwards in Palestine. Initially I will be uploading photos and then trying to understand the timeline of his service...

You can find details of when he was Called Up in 1939. Click HERE> and you can find his Grade Card for example

Much more detail to come on this page:
Assorted Bott documents & his Royal Signals cap badge


SOLDIER'S SERVICE AND PAY BOOK
Army Number 2342915

Below are the pages from his Soldier's Service and Pay Book. I believe most of it seems to have survived apart from the complete cover.
Front Cover
Certificate pasted inside cover 24 Jan 1946
Loose slip 31 Dec 1944
Page 1
Pages 2 and 3


Pages 2 and 3 show Bott was enlisted on 9 May 1940 and he signed the book on 17 May 1940.

Some sensitive information is blocked out: Place of Birth and Nationality of Mother and Father. 

Religious Denomination is filled in as Cong. which means Congregational.

He was 5' 9⅝" and weighed 139½ lbs (just under 10 stone or nearly 63kg). His complexion was Fresh, his eyes Blue and his hair Fair.

Under Distinctive Marks and Minor Defects it is detailed he had 'scar back left shoulder' and 'red birthmark back right shoulder'.

In black ink, halfway down page 3, is 'A&S Grp - 36c'. Initial quick research makes me think this is an abbreviation for Age and Service Group 36c. This seems to be is something to do with demobilisation after the war but as yet I do not understand this exact meaning. Below A&S Grp is 'Python date as at 31 /12/44 - Feb 42'. Python in this instance is, I think, something to do with home leave for soldiers who had served overseas for more than a certain number of years but I am not sure and need to do more research and/or get help!
Pages 4 and 5
At the top of page 4, under Particulars of Training, he is recorded as being 'Experienced DM Gas'. Thank you to Rob Clark for sharing his knowledge with me and explaining DM gas is Adamsite gas - a chemical weapon a type of sneeze gas or vomiting gas. The entry is dated 20 Jan 1942.

At the bottom of page 4, along with another note I don't yet understand, it is recorded he was awarded the Africa Star but I don't know where this is or if it still exists. A photo of the medal from the web is below.




The other note at the bottom of page 4 seems to say 'Awarded ME [Middle East?] Pt II Order No 54 0/0. Thanks again to Rob Clark for explaining that the Part II Order relates to Dad's unit recording that he was eligible for the medal. Rob further explained 'that a unit would record promotions, demotions, men going on leave etc. in its Part II Orders. So whichever unit Dad was serving in during November 1944 recorded he had been awarded the Africa Star in Part II Order No.54 dated 8 November 1944'.
Page 5
Page 5 is entitled 'Record of Employment as an Army Tradesman'. The columns bellow are then filled in and signed. These will be transcribed next..
Pages 6 and 7
Pages 8 and 9
Pages 10 and 11 Next of Kin
Pages 12 and 13 Wills
Page 14 Wills 
Extra page between pages 14 and 15
The extra page pasted in between pages 14 and 15 is dated 3 Dec 1941. It details issue of clothing and shoes. It is signed by '... Cruickshank Capt.' and stamped 'Commanding Officer... No.2 Company, 1st Holding Btn., R. Signals'
Page 15 Wills
Pages 16 and 17 Wills
Pages 18 and 19 Wills
Page 20 Wills
Loose page Inoculations & Artificial Dentures


RECORD OF SERVICE CARD

Record of Service Card
Bott's Record of Service dates from 9th May 1940 to 5 May 1946.







ROYAL SIGNALS SERVICE TIMELINE
I would love to be able to just add details of Dad's time in the army in World War II in Egypt and afterwards in Palestine. But I do not have the information in the family papers and photos in my possession.

I need to do a lot more research to get copies of Dad's service record from the Ministry of Defence. Thank you to Rob Clark for his advice. As at August 2020 I have not yet applied for these. When I do get them I will probably take on some specialist help.

For now I have cobbled together a bit of a timeline from dated photographs, 1939 call up details and Dad's 'Soldier's Service and Pay Book' which is detailed above.

It is a start but tells nothing of the full story... more to follow

In Brief:

1940 possibly Egypt
1941 Home Guard England
1942-1945 back to Egypt
1945-1946 Palestine straight from Egypt or via England or elsewhere?

Date

Details

Source

07 Nov 1939

Call up, medical,

Grade Card

09 May 1940

Date of enlistment stamped 'Duration'

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

10 May 1940

Vaccination: Protective Inoculation: Tet Tox

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

17 May 1940

Date of enlistment stamped 'Duration' - Rowland Bott's signature

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

04 Jul 1940

Protective Inoculation: Tet Tox

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

1941

Home Guard Camp [where?]

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; Home Guard Page

24 Nov 1941

Protective Inoculation: 1st T.A.B. [enteric fever?]

 

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

01 Dec 1941

Protective Inoculation: 1cc TAB

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

03 Dec 1941

Details of army kit provided which is stamped with is thought to read 'No 2 Company 1st Holding Btn [Battalion] R. Signals'

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

May 1942

In Ein Shams (sic) Egypt

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; Egypt Page

1942

In Wadi Natrun, Egypt

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; Egypt Page

1942

On leave (?) in Helio at R.A.F. Club

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; Egypt Page

1942

At TME [Telecommunications Middle East] Heliopolis 1942

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; A-Z page

1942

At MDF [Main Distribution Frame?] Cairo

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; A-Z page

1942

In Alm - poss abbreviation for a place

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; A-Z page

14 Jan 1942

Date Mustered; and details of trade as 'Linesman'

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

19 Jan 1942 - 25 Jan 1942

Draft Leave [illegible]

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

20 Jan 1942

Particulars of Training: 'Experienced DM Gas'

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

28 Feb 1942

Protective Inoculation: Tet Tox 1cc

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

-- Feb 42

entered after item * i.e. 31 Dec 1944 - Feb 42 so perhaps refer to Python Date too

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

May 1942

Ein Shams

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; Egypt Page

Jun 1942

On leave in Cairo

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; Egypt Page

1943

On leave in Alexandria

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; Egypt Page

12 Jan 1943

Protective Inoculation: 5cc TAB

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

1 Jun 1943

Vaccination Failed

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

17 Jul 1943

Vaccination

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

20 Nov 1943

Protective Inoculation: Typhus 1cc

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

27 Nov 1943 (PtIIO 7151 d 22 Dec 1943)

Appointed Paid Acting Corporal wef [with effect from] 27 Nov 1943

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

21 Nov 1943

Protective Inoculation: TAB 5cc

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

27 Nov 1943

Protective Inoculation: 2 Typhus

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

04 Dec 1943

Protective Inoculation: 3 Typhus

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

1944

Cairo, Egypt

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; Egypt Page

1944

American Switchroom, Cairo

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; A-Z page

1944

At Heliopolis War Cemetery, at Jock Prior's grave

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; A-Z page

24 or 29 Feb 1944 (PtIIO 1125 d 24 Mar 1944)

Appointed War Substantive Corporal wef [with effect from] 24 or 29 Feb 1944

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

29 May 1944 Typhus Booster

Protective Inoculation: 1944 Typhus Booster

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

8 Nov 1944 signed off 18 Nov 1944

Relates to eligibility for Africa Star**

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

16 Nov 1944

Protective Inoculation: TAB typhus B TetTox

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

18 Nov 1944**

Awarded Africa Star

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

31 Dec 1944*

Python Date

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

12 Feb 1945(PtIIO 384 d 9 Mar 1945)

Appointed P/L/Sgt wef [with effect from] 12 Feb 1945

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

By March 1945

Palestine, Ramle (place name?)

Rowland Bott Photograph Collection; Palestine Page

2 Jul 1945 (PtIIO 1143 d 20 Jul 1945)

Appointed U/A/Sgt wef [with effect from] 2 Jul 1945 (PtIIO 1143 d 20 Jul 1945)

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

23 Jul 1945 [with effect from] 2 Jul 1945 (PtIIO 1250 d 8 Aug 1945)

Appointed P/A/Sgt wef 23 Jul 1945 [with effect from] 2 Jul 1945 (PtIIO 1250 d 8 Aug 1945)

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

1 Aug 1945

Vaccination

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

29 Dec 1945 (PtIIO 39 d 3 Jan 1946)

Appointed War Substantive Sergeant wef [with effect from] 29 Dec 1945 (PtIIO 39 d 3 Jan 1946)

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

24 Jan 1946

Certificate inside front cover re posted strength

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

23 Feb 1946

Joined Depot Battalion

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

24 Feb 1946 to 24 Mar 1946

28 days disembarkation with free warrant 24 Feb 1946 and 24 Mar 1946

 

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

25 Mar 1946

Certificate inside front cover re posted strength Renewal Date

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book

9th May 1940 to 5 May 1946

Record of Service

Record of Service card

26 Jul 1946

Remustered under AC150/45 wef [with effect from] 26 Jul 1945

Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book