RASC 51RHU or 35(CT) in 1945

On my father's service record, as a driver, he was sent to BAOR from Egypt in September 1945.
He was originally posted to 51 RHU. He was then posted to 90 Coy followed by 35(CT) from where he was demobbed in early 1946.
His testimonial was signed by Capt K Mason and the place looks like Meminiti Germany.
I cannot find anywhere which even vaguely resembles this place name.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks

Good evening Colin
Myself and JPW are researching locations for BAOR units in the 1940s and can help with 51st Reinforcement Holding Unit this was part of 105th Reinforcement Group – HQ Bulow later Ripon Barracks Bielefeld – this unit was a regiment in size with a Lieutenant Colonel as commanding officer and a transit unit with many cap badges acting as a depot for personal from disbanded units and those recently discharged from hospital and also for retraining for other units in Germany…90 Coy RASC is recorded as a 30th Corps Troops unit in WW2 but no information of where it was located in the 30th Corps District area Jun 45 to Sep 46 the states of Hannover – Braunschweig – Oldenburg and recently found from Apr 46 losing Oldenburg and gaining Schleswig-Holstein…however many units were disbanded and probably 90 Coy so the reason for your father being posted to 35 (Corps Troops) Coy the HQ of 30th Corps District was initially Neinburg and later moved to Lüneburg…this should be the area your father was stationed but like you unable find a place called Meminiti…hope this helps
Best of luck
Steve

Many thanks Steve. I have included a scan of the document so you can see what I mean.

Maybe Kew might have more?

With respect gents,

I was 18 years in the ambulance service, so have a pretty good eye for unravelling GPs handwriting.

Having said all that, "Meminiti" looks suspiciously like Neumuenster to this alcohol pickled old Gunner.

Over.

Brum, I think you're right, thanks.

But then isn't it ironic that an ex ambulance service man would be able to solve it.
Dad was in the 470 Ambulance Car Corps, in Egypt!
Colin

Taking one hand from my Zimmer frame, I salute you, Sir !

Well done Brum...Neumünster was 8 Corps District until Apr 46 then disbanded with 30 Corps District taking responsibility Colin what date do you have for his discharge?

Steve

He left 470ACC for his first home leave from Egypt in August 45, having been there since Sept 40.
Then it shows he was with B Coy 1 HLDG and then 907 Coy.
He was TOS 51 RHU 21/9/45, then 8 Corps Tps, then 90 Coy, back to 8 Corps and finally 35(CT).
On his Service and Casualty form it shows his Class A release, embarkation, and SOS BAOR was on 26th February 1946.

His home leave in August 45 was also marked Python, but in September he was drafted to BAOR.

His Statement of Services shows he was released to Class Z (T) Royal Army Reserve on the 24th of June 1946.
Reading a bit about Python on line, would this mean he signed up again, or was unfortunate in being re posted?

Colin

Another question Gents.

The voyage to Egypt in August 1940 took 6 weeks.
I presume the voyage would have been around Africa then the Suez.

Colin

colinareynolds wrote:

Steve

He left 470ACC for his first home leave from Egypt in August 45, having been there since Sept 40.
Then it shows he was with B Coy 1 HLDG and then 907 Coy.
He was TOS 51 RHU 21/9/45, then 8 Corps Tps, then 90 Coy, back to 8 Corps and finally 35(CT).
On his Service and Casualty form it shows his Class A release, embarkation, and SOS BAOR was on 26th February 1946.

His home leave in August 45 was also marked Python, but in September he was drafted to BAOR.

His Statement of Services shows he was released to Class Z (T) Royal Army Reserve on the 24th of June 1944.
Reading a bit about Python on line, would this mean he signed up again, or was unfortunate in being re posted?

Colin

Thanks Colin...companies and squadrons are difficult to pin down will add 90 Coy to 30 Corps and 35 Coy to 8 Corps then 30 Corps from Apr 46
Best regards
Steve

Colin

Welcome, to pick up on a couple of your queries.

As Steve has suggested Neumunster was a fairly large British Garrison from May 1945 till the British Army left Schleswig Holstein in Autumn 1959. My researches have indicated that there were initially three Barracks, two ex Wehrmacht (army) renamed Mcleod and St Georges by the British and an ex Luftwaffe airfield which may have been briefly used for Army accommodation but was principally used by the RAF as a dumping ground for former Luftwaffe planes prior to them being cut up for scrap

St Georges Barracks in the south east of the town was used for a number of years to house Logistic units (RASC, RAOC, REME) and it could be your father was stationed there in Autumn 1945

PYTHON was the leave scheme introduced in Summer 1945 whereby those servicemen with four or more years continuous overseas service were granted a period of UK leave before reposting within NW Europe or the UK prior to their final discharge from the services to civilian life

Finally your father would have undoubtedly travelled to Egypt via the Cape, calling in at Cape Town, Port Elizabeth (sometimes) and Durban. On leaving the latter there would be anxious moments on board. If the ship continued up the coastline it meant Egypt and the Western Desert, if she headed out to sea it meant India and the Burma Front after the fall of Singapore

Many thanks for all the information. It certainly builds a clearer picture.

Colin

One final question.
Before he was discharged from reserve liability in 1959,he had two weeks with 426 Coy at Larkhill in 1952.
Would that be part of his reserve duty or something else?

Colin

Colin

I think most reservists, like national servicemen, had some form of annual training liability with their local TA unit, which many ignored. Could be your father volunteered to do an Annual Camp at Larkhill. If it had been 1956, many Reservist were compulsorily re enlisted at the time of the Suez crisis, your father was clearly not involved.

Just a couple more deciphering questions if I may?
His records show he had some leave, in Palestine, and the entry is shown as "Leave H/R/M".
Another was Gtd S.P.P. (presumably granted) but what does SPP mean.
Now its probably obvious but I can't see it.

Colin

90 Coy RASC was at NEUMÜNSTER 1946 Looking at the Handwriting, it is Neumünster. Rhe U has 2 dts on top Ü. I think that mad it all a bit difficult. I wonder if Colins Father has any Photos from that tim in Neumünster, I haver a few. Perhaps he is on one of them. Best regards heinz Johannsen Rendsburg 30 Miles north of Neumünster. and Happy Christmas

No sorry, the only photos I have are one taken in Cairo in 1941 and the other about the same time, also in Egypt.
Is the depot still there?
Colin

Hi to all,
Being new to all this, I read the forum,and just of interest I was at St Georges barracks
Neumunster in late 47, with the R.A.S.C. There was also R.E.M.E. there, and we obtained? some old D.R.bikes, and built a speedway track out of town, Hamburg Lions rings a bell , but its getting a bit vague now.
Phil

Phil
I don't recall my father ever mentioning any motor bikes in his time in the RAOC, although he did have one after his demob.
Both myself and elder brother had motor bike interests later but he said nothing.
He was an ambulance car driver in Egypt but I don't know what he did in Neumunster.
His name was George Reynolds.
Colin