Frank Williams WW2 Wrexham TA, RWF mix of units, Killyleagh, Possible Commando time

[ap1]

I was also wondering what "CRS" is. Maybe his unit had guarding commitments at these locations.

The WW2 Forum lists : CRS - Chief Review Services; or Control and Reporting School

[Anniek]

all the hospital stays were CRS. so CRS Dromore which I think must have been in Northern Ireland as that is where he was at that time, CRS Vanguard - Bangor, CRS Portmadoc so I just assumed it meant something hospitally? I know he was in Dromore for scabies. I must try and scan the papers in, it might be clearer but they are A3 so not sure how to do it tidily. Might try photographing high resolution instead.

Thank you for your help everyone.

I wonder why he went back to Wrexham for more training then in 1940 if people tended to stay in their groups. But it looks like he was posted at the same time to the 50th holding battalion so perhaps that was why he was moved and they just did a briefing or something at the ITC in Wrexham?

Just asked my mum and she said she remembers him saying they were turned loose in the mountains for survival training and he killed a sheep for food so that could well have been training in the Mourne mountains and she said when she asked where Narvik was once because it was in a book she was studying at school he said he had been there during the war so he must have been somewhere in that area. With regards to him saying he went to Benbecula (which according to some things on the internet was used for landing vessel training - is that the right term?) she said she read the name once when she had ordered some tweed material from there and pronounced it as "ben b cooler" and he said it was Benbecula and he had been there for training during the war.

[ivor43]

Hi Again.
CRS. ok
CRS Portmadoc Links to a WERN MANOR Portmadoc a Land army unit.
CRS Vanguard Bangor No info
CRS Dromore.

Possible RAF Base in Gillhall Manor? (possibly haunted)

But Dromore is 15 ish KM from Lisburn and there, is a Forthill House and Grounds which was used as an Army Camp with the RWF being one of the first units to be stationed there.

Also the Nominal Roll of 1 Commando has a Private F Williams.


ivor

[ivor43]

hi Anniek

Benbecular was Commando training country.


ivor

[Anniek]

ooh thank you - that is great.

[Anniek]

Hi Again.
CRS. ok
CRS Portmadoc Links to a WERN MANOR Portmadoc a Land army unit.
CRS Vanguard Bangor No info
CRS Dromore.

Possible RAF Base in Gillhall Manor? (possibly haunted)

But Dromore is 15 ish KM from Lisburn and there, is a Forthill House and Grounds which was used as an Army Camp with the RWF being one of the first units to be stationed there.

Also the Nominal Roll of 1 Commando has a Private F Williams.


ivor

He is listed as a corporal or a fusilier on his records, I don't understand the ranks. It would have been helpful if he had had a slightly more unusual surname wouldn't it!

[ivor43]

hi .
Corporal is a Rank to which he had been Promoted.
Fusilier.
In most Army units the lowest ranks are known as Privates. but some units are known as FUSILIERS. as in Royal Welch. these tend to be the older units. The RWF goes back to the 1600's when they were named The 23rd Regiment of Foot. They have been Known as The Royal Welch Fusiliers since 1881, I think it was. With a great deal of pride and respect to which they are entitled. A very Heroic Unit.


ivor

[Anniek]

ah I see - so if he had moved across to say 1 Commando then he would be a private as it is the equivalent rank. thanks. It could be him then.

[ivor43]

hi again
just found this

''Technically these men were only on secondment to the Commandos; they retained their own regimental cap badges and remained on the regimental roll for pay.[5]''

the men had volunteered to be commando's. so Frank would have been still RWF, on paper.


ivor

[ivor43]

Al.
In view of this last bit of info.
Is it possible that CRS is used to indicate that he was away from RWF on Commando Regiment Secondment.
Possible.


ivor.