Uncle's War Record

[Crofters11]

Hi
I have a postcard sent by my uncle to his parents:-
1699012 Gnn Barclay L
[looks like]: 86 (JPAC) OFY AA Regt
HQ B L A
On the front "vrolijk kerstfeest" which apparently means happy christmas in dutch.
Sadly none of this has helped me find any records anywhere that would tell me what he did or where he was.
Can anyone please supply any information.

[Pam Downes]

First of all, uncle's service (where he was, what he did) record is not yet online, and depending on his year of birth, it may be some time before it is.
I'm assuming that he was in the army, and those records are in the process of being transferred from the Ministry of Defence in Glasgow to The National Archives at Kew.

This thread, about applying for service records, was started almost ten years ago and things have changed since then.
https://www.british-genealogy.com/fo...757#post585757

You will need to carefully read post #6 in particular. (Being selfish, I've got my dad's and my uncle's so I've not absorbed all the fine detail. )
https://www.british-genealogy.com/fo...757#post585757

Try this for the acronyms.
https://assets.publishing.service.go...ions_dec08.pdf
Though it's not exactly helpful to have thirteen definitions of AA, for example, though you might be able to rule out a couple of the possibilities such as Australian Army, and Accommodation Allowance.

Records of a particular event might be found on Forces War Records.

[Megan Roberts]

You need to apply to the National Archives for his service record, which won't be simple. Here is their guide:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...ce-after-1918/

[Crofters11]

Thank you both for the info. Will look into everything in more detail and see what I can follow up on... and/or put on the list for next visit to Kew.

[simmo1]

Hi

He was in the ROyal Artillery, as his service number is in the range for them - Royal Artillery (Field, Coastal & Anti-Aircraft) 721001 - 1842000 and 11000001 - 11500000.
Gnr = Gunner = Private as a rank.
As stated above, getting his service records is the first thing to do, not much online.
You should find him in this list on Ancestry - UK, World War II Royal Artillery Tracer Cards, 1939-1948
There will probably be nothing else unless he died in the war or was awarded a gallantry award.
After getting that, war diaries for WW2 are either at National Archives UK or there are some on Ancestry.

regards

Robert

[simmo1]

Hi

Find My past has 2 records on him, but I can only see the list as I am not a subscriber-
Barclay

L P

—

—

1939-45

British Army, Honourable Artillery Company

Great Britain

Barclay

Leslie Philip

—

—

1940

Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942

Great Britain

So I would say what you have is actually - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/86th_(...oyal_Artillery

regards

Robert

[Crofters11]

Hi
Thank you Robert, will certainly add all this info to my list and follow up on what I can.
Greatly appreciate your help.

[Lesley Robertson]

Is there a date on the postcard?
The only abbreviation for HQ BLA is Head Quarters British Liberation Army (mind you, these things often changed - eg another item on the same list gives BL as either breech loading or bricklayer's assistant!)

The south Netherlands were liberated in late 1944. The remaining country was liberated by the German surrender on 5 May '45 (now official Liberation Day. Could he have been there in that period.

[Crofters11]

Is there a date on the postcard?

Sadly no, and no information as to manufacturer of postcard. Just his message back home and a signature of someone who I presume 'vetted' the card before it was sent.

[Lesley Robertson]

Pity. I was hoping that we’d have a clue as to where he was, but the RA seems to have been in little groups all over the place.