Service Record confusion - help please?

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could just explain something regarding my mother's WAAF service record please?

Firstly, I would like to know what the abbreviation Dep.Cas.Form stands for, and what the relevent numbers refer to... in this case the first quoted is 286/42.
A similar reference appears further across as Cas. Form confirming Arrival, followed by another set of numbers... 314/42.
Also, how does this reference (314/42) relate to the adjacent Date of Movmnt. date.

Secondly, what event does the Date of Movmnt. date relate to.. is it the date my mother arrived at the relevent destination, or is it the date she departed from (moved on from here) to her next post?

Thirdly, under the Reason heading I see the abbreviations HH, H and X.
Does anyone know what these abbreviations stand for?

To put this into context - this was her first entry after enlisting 25/9/1942:
Dep.Cas.Form: 286/42
Unit To: 22 O.T.U
Reason: HH
Checked: someone's signature
App: empty
Date of Movmnt:29/10/42
Cas.Form confirming Arrival: 314/42

Basically, I realise the 42 relates to the year, I just can't figure out the meaning of the first numbers - 286 and 314 (I wondered if they were just the 'day number' within the year, but that seemed a somewhat pointless effort), and in what way they actually relate to the date (29/10/42) in between.

I hope this is clear and that someone can help!
With thanks,
Pete

 

Hi Lou.
Ok, thanks for the advice, I'll copy my original post and paste it to the other site.

Pete

 

Hi Lou.
Yes, I sure will... nothing yet, but it's early days.
Pete

 

These things can be so confusing, can't they? I'm sorry I can't help, but I can indeed emphathize. Hope someone here can help. In the meantime, do you know of any veteran's organization or even just a veteran who might be able to look at them with you. Sometimes, veteran's themselves can clear things up much faster than anyone or anything else. Good luck! ~K

 

Hi Karen, and thanks for responding.
Yes, this is a little confusing, the date could be seen as referring to either her arrival or departure date... if I could only learn what Dep.Cas.Form stands for it might help!
Unfortunately I have no one left now to help, but it did occur to me to ring the actual department who sent me the record, I wish I'd thought of that before!

I might also try and scan the record, although some of it is a bit feint... I'll see what happens with the former first.
Bye for now, and thanks again for the thoughts.
Pete

 

Hi.

I've been trying to find out for certain your abbreviations/acronyms with relatively little luck, but I have some fairly probable answers;

Dep. Cas. Form is almost certainly Departing/departure Case Form, (only other possibility is 'Casualty', but seems out of context) and the number would most likely be just a sequential number allocated to each case form as they were filled out by a unit.

Date of movement would appear to mean the date travelling to the following unit, as any short leave passes etc would be issued 'still on strength' of the previous unit.

In the Reason column, H is often referred to as meaning 'Holding' (assigned to a unit for admin purposes rather than a specific posting), and X is referred to as meaning 'assigned to X-List' but not found out what that list is, sorry. My guess is HH= 'Home Holding' as opposed to OH which I have seen referred to as 'Overseas Holding'.

Apologies but none of the above is certainly correct except H=Holding in the reason column.

These people should hopefully be able to help confirm,

RAF Disclosures Section
Room 221b
Trenchard Hall
RAF Cranwell
Sleaford
LINCS
NG34 8HB

01400 261201
Ext 6711
Ext 8161/8159 (Officers)
Ext 8163/8168/8170 (Other ranks)

or

Try getting in touch with the RAF Air Historical Branch.

Building 824
RAF Northolt
West End Road
Ruislip
Middlesex
HA4 6NG

Tel 020 8833 8155/8153

If none of that helps, then I believe this book might be a line of enquiry worth pursuing;

William Spencer, Air Force Records for Family Historians (PRO, 2000)

currently available on amazon;

Air Force Records for Family Historians Public Record Office readers' guide: Amazon.co.uk: William Spencer: Books

I hope that all helps at least a bit, I have searched and searched for definite answers with no joy.

Good Luck

 

Hi Nigel, thanks for that, everything you say makes perfect sense.
I'll ring Cranwell tomorrow and see if they can confirm your theories... I had meant to do this today but got waylaid.
I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I find out.
The book you mention looks good value too and there are even several second hand copies available, almost too good to pass by at that sort of money!
Back later anyway.
Pete