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  1. #1
    Newcomer to Brit-Gen
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    Feb 2021
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    Default 1939 acronyms help

    Hi all.

    I've just started researching my great grandfather John Rodgers and found him listed on the 1939 Register of England and Wales with the following occupation:

    Labourer H M F Gunner R A
    138th AA Battery RA

    I've tried searching his name on Forces War Records but am absolutely clueless when it comes to regiments, etc. Can anyone help me work out what unit I should search under to find his service number (and hopefully apply for his records)?

    I have his DOB, DOD and next of kin, etc. but would like to know more about his involvement in the war.

    Many thanks for any help you can give me

    Debs

  2. #2
    Super Moderator christanel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
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    Wairarapa New Zealand
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    10,676

    Default

    Welcome to the British-Genealogy forums
    As you have come to us from Forces war Records reading this will explain the connection.

    The MoD are still holding service records from 1921 onwards. The good news is that you do NOT need a service number or regiment to apply for them. What you do need is a date of birth and a copy of the death record. This 'sticky' explains and gives the link to the application forms. Unfortunately I believe that at the moment it can take many months before you receive them.
    The National Archives do have some war diaries and this is where you can read up on their research guide for them.
    This is a record TNA have for the Royal Artillery 138th Anti Aircraft Battery
    Christina
    Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.
    William Burroughs

  3. #3
    A fountain of knowledge
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    Dec 2012
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    Trowbridge
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    Default

    AA -Anti aircraft
    RA -Royal artillery
    H M F His Majesty's Forces.

    138th battery AA RA -is the nearest you'll get to a definitive unit designation.

    You'll need his service records however to get anything definitive with any accuracy.

  4. #4
    Reputation beyond repute
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    Oct 2004
    Location
    Kent
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    16,792

    Default

    You could search the Royal Artillery attestations on FindMyPast. I would have looked for you but you haven't provided sufficient identity details.

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