19 M.r.s.r.e.??

[Annie]

At the bottom of a box of my mam's postcards I found 2 photographs she says she has never seen before!
One is a formal group photo, all in full uniform, and on the back is written "19 M.R.S.R.E Antwerp Oct 1944-April 1945"
The second is a football team each player has the number 19 on the front of his shirt.
My dad is in both pictures. We knew he had been in Antwerp, that's where he met mam and we knew he had been in the Royal Engineers. Can anyone decipher the rest of 19 M.R.S and how do we find out what it was doing in Antwerp? Dad never talked about the war even to mam.

Annie

[Colin Moretti]

Hello Annie

I guess that you could try the Imperial War Museum although I don't know if they'll be able to help
http://www.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.001


Colin Moretti

[Annie]

Thanks Colin
just tried them but no luck.

Annie

[Ladkyis]

There is only one regiment in the British Army that has two Royals in its name. The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) The Head quarters of the Regiment is at the Castle House Monmouth. and they have a museum there with a full time curator - and an exhibition that contains lots about the regiment during WW2. I only know this because my dad was with the RMRE and was injured in February 1945.
Ann

[Annie]

Thanks for that Ann
It would make sense as Dad was born in Nantyglo though we were under the impression he went to the midlands somewhere to enlist

[Annie]

My husband has no interest in family history at all but as I was enthusing on all the help I was getting from this forum and said I was half way to solving the legend on the back of dad's photos he picks it up and say " that's the Map Reproduction Section" hands it back and walks away!! :cool:

Well anyway now I know what it is and even I can guess what it did!

Annie

[Ladkyis]

Just look at his face and say "so that's what smug looks like, hmmm" I have to confess that I did giggle a bit and then remembered that it has happened to me at least twice so I shut up.
And we have all learnt something new MRSRE is Map reproduction section Royal Engineers - and they were in the Antwerp area in 1944/45 that's interesting.
Ann

[Annie]

I did use words similar to that Ann. Dad couldn't draw so what part he played in that section I don't know and he had a lousy sense of direction. Its so sad that I'm finding all the questions now and he isn't around to answer.

Annie

[Peter]

Having served my National Service in the Royal Army Medical Corp, I was stationed at an MRS, but it stood for Medical Reception Station, but we were nothing to do with Royal Engineers. Peter

[Annie]

Hi Peter
my dad would face enemy tanks before he would tend a cut finger! Hated the sight of blood especially his own

Annie