Pte. Alfred 'Ray' Martin - advice please on researching my Grandad's commando service

Thanks Nick. My grandad did join Somerset LI in 1934. I hope to scan the records in the next couple of weeks. Do you know what he would have done as a military policeman for HOC? Many thanks Ruth

Ruth,

ruthoneale wrote:Thanks Nick. My grandad did join Somerset LI in 1934. I hope to scan the records in the next couple of weeks. Do you know what he would have done as a military policeman for HOC? Many thanks Ruth

Okay, I'm pleased that I got the parent regiment right. :D

I'm only guessing that he was carrying out military police duties at HOC based on his previous experiences - until I see his Service Records I cannot be sure of anything.

If he was doing police duties it could have ranged from the mundane of the enforcement of Unit discipline to the important but hush-hush duties of Field Security [intelligence, security, espionage and counter-espionage etc] - between 1937 and 1940 the Field Security Police were formed as a wing of the Corps of Military Police (CMP). Soldiers of outstanding ability were trained in small numbers and sent back to their units.
Certainly a Field Service Unit would deploy a number of motorbikes and it could be that your grandfather was attached to such a unit as a dispatch rider - again, I can't say anything for definite until I see the Service Records in toto.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 27/10/2011 14:12:10

Ruth,
Again looking at the records and I notice that when he went to 16 ITC (Infantry Training Centre) - The Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry - he was posted to the Depot Company. This means he as not on a training course but was a member of the Depot staff.
Again I do not know what role he filled.

Nick

first section of my grandad's service record

second section of service record

third section

5th section

6th

7th

8th

Ruth,

that's great - I'll get to work on them...

Nick

Thanks so much for your help