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[Deben]

I am researching an Arthur Walter Gilder, Navy No JX275734 for a friend:
Any help appreciated with following questions please:

1)  He was an A/PO Radar, with a suffix of R.C.........any ideas on R.C?

2).  c/o GPO London BREE/45  13?   Any thoughts on this address or BREE ?

3).  Arthur was Lent to various establishments...can anyone decode:
       Lent "V.B" ?    12 Nov -5 Dec 1943
       Lent "RADEX"  15 Jan – 26 Feb 1946
       Lent “Philadelphia”  6/7 Nov 1943
       Lent “ Eastney”   - I think might be HMS Mecury
4).   HMS Pembroke  (6 Jan – 11 Mar 1945)…..  Did Pembroke have a radar connection?  Or any link with Bletchley Park??

Many Thanks on any insights

[PhiloNauticus]

1] R.C – radar control : in the early days of the radar branch it was divided into ‘plotting’ and ’control’.    RC ratings specialised in the use of fire control radar for the guns

2] GPO London was the normal postal address for servicemen, i.e "HMS Rodney, GPO London" - the mail was then directed to the barracks at Mill Hill, London, where it could be forwarded to wherever the ship was.   I cannot explain the BREE bit ...

3]
V.B. = perhaps Victory Barracks (the naval barracks, Portsmouth)?

Radex probably refers to  the building known as Radex House ( = RN Radar School, Portsmouth)

Philadelphia is curious – was he at Gibraltar at the time? the USS Philadelphia was there at about this time I believe

Eastney probably means Fraser Gunnery Range which was located at Eastney, Portsmouth
see:  https://fraserrange.co.uk/history/

4] HMS Pembroke was the naval barracks at Chatham and had no particular radar connection.  The only connection to Bletchley Park that I know of, is that the WRNS posted to various ‘secret’ establishments, such as Bletchley, were shown as serving at ‘Pembroke V” ( that’s a V meaning 5)

[Deben]

Hi Philonauticus

Thank you for your response.  i think I am a clearer on the Lent Philadelphia....Arthur was on HMS Royal Sovereign during her refit in the US (Brooklyn Navy Yard or NJ). He was P&V puts him on HMS Saker and HMS Asbury.....so i think he may have possibly gone to the Naval Yards at Virginia Beach (V.B) - It's a guess, but stacks up more geographically.

Could "Radex" possibly mean Radar Exercise?

When he was de-mobbed in 1946 it T/A Petty Officer Arthur Gilder is released to shore in "Class A.  A&S Gr. No 38...S.161 R HMS Victory"  Any idea on the meaning of the Class A  & A&S Gr 38..., by any chance?

Thank you again
Paul   

[PhiloNauticus]

Radex - it could possibly mean 'radar exercise' but such things would not normally feature on a service record

Class A meant released to shore, but liable to recall to service in the event of an emergency