Army Book 64

Recovering in a Leeds hospital and making sense of recent events, Edward will have arrived with few items of note. His dog tags and what was left of his uniform will have made it through the journey but there was one final ever present on his person.

Army Book 64, a soldiers service and pay book, was expected to remain upon all on active service. This presumably explains its covers poor condition. What is pleasing is that said cover has preserved the books contents making this item a valuable record in Edwards wartime collection.

Opening with a fascinating set of instructions to those carrying the document, its pages record the following information:

• Instructions to Soldier (Image above)

• Soldiers Name and Description on Attestation

• Description on Enlistment

• Particulars of Training

• Record of Employment As An Army Tradesman

• Record Of Specialist Employment Whilst Serving

• Medical Classification

• Next Of Kin

• Soldiers Will

In theory this document should hold the key to many questions which have presented themselves over the course of this blog so far. However, disappointingly many of the sections have not been completed. First and foremost, Particulars of Training have not been completed leaving that stage of Edwards war still unaccounted for. His Records of Employment and Specialist Employment have also been left blank shedding no further light on Edwards full service or specific dates or milestones. Whilst providing a captivating process account and explanation, Edward and his superiors failed to complete the "Will" section either. I would like to think this was on purpose as a means of motivation or positivity but we will never truly know.

Regardless of these information absences, the document still provides us with a record of Edward as a person, from his background and beliefs to his physical make up as captured below:

What is first striking given previous blog posts is its suggestion Edward did in fact enlist in 1941 contrary to his enlistment documents. I can only presume this page to have been completed following enlistment which would explain the absence of exact war duration details covered only by the statement "Duration of the Emergency".

A short man by modern standards standing at 5ft 6 and only 9.5 stone in weight, Edwards features are captured even to a distinctive scar to his right knee. Intriguingly it appears there are a number of differing pen inks and handwriting styles to this page suggesting information was added following his eventual discharge signified by purple stamps to each section.

The mix of notes below Edwards Description on Enlistment interest me a great deal but are not yet understood. They appear to read:

A/S Group "40"

O/S Service -/234

O/S 1/234

A/S.40.25/09/45

I invite those reading this blog to contact me with any suggestions as to the meaning of these notes in the hope they may reveal more details of Edwards service.

Finally Edwards Medical Classification appears to have been completed post war, on the 20th of November 1945. It grades him as B7. Unsure of the number sevens relevance, it is suggested in the British Army's system of medical classification that categories beginning with B relate to those unfit for general service abroad but fit for base or garrison service at home or abroad. Given the condition we know Edward to have likely been in on arrival in England, but his presumed slow recovery progress by this time (approximately 7 months later) the 7 may signify his limitations to this categories advice.

Stamped by "45 Div Med Board" its recording amongst so many absent sections of the document suggests Edwards condition was felt to still be of note. Therefore it is presumed at this time that by late 1945 Edward was still being treated for his injuries and was yet to return home to Birmingham.

Note: If anyone wishes to see the full contents of the Army Book 64 please let me know and I will upload copies to the gallery section.