3/7956 Matty Smith. 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Interpretation of PC to his daughter

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I am struggling with the message here.

I know the Number and 7th Beds and BEF but the rest I cannot understand. Any ideas please?

Based on the odd way he writes the number 7 in his service number and '7 Beds Regt' I am assuming the next reads "17 I. B. D". Is this Infantry Base Depot? This was at Etaples I believe.

Then 24 S? A.P.O. ? I wondered if APO was Army Post Office?

Any ideas please

Edited 15 April , 2023 by Raster Scanning

[charlie962]

Yes to 17 Infantry Base Depot and you are probably right about APO.

Did you know he has a lengthy service record, here on FindmyPast

(Sorry, still cannot crack links to FMP)

 

Edited 15 April , 2023 by charlie962

[charlie962]

Record Transcription_ British Army Service Records _ findmypast.co.uk.pdf

[charlie962]

Terry Reeves gives APO S17 history in this old thread 

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/118153-army-post-offices/  

Edit

But I realise it is S24 you want.

Durham at war gives this:

APO S24, Calais-Beamarais. 

S standing for Stationary ie fixed location.

 

Edited 15 April , 2023 by charlie962

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Charlie

Thank you very much. I found his pension record on Ancestry I will check FMP now.

Good to have additional info and conformation.