Terms used on WAAF Service Records

[Stirrick]

My wife's grandmother was in the WAAF during WWII.

We have her Service Records (1942-44) but are having trouble decyphering some of the terms.
Can anybody help ?

Upon entry to the Service:
Description of Effect = ACH/Ball

Proficiency is graded A, B or C.
I know that A = Skilled at Trade
B = Foreman at Trade
What is C ?

Under 'Special Qualifications', what do the following mean ?
ExRemark (as Balloon Operator)
Exreel (upon promoted to ACW1)
ExReclass (failed an unspecified examination)

Upon discharge from the Service (was pregnant with my wife's mother)
Unit = 652 CL11

???

[edwest2]

Here is a website that I hope will be useful.

http://www.waafassociation.org.uk/

[Stirrick]

Thanks, Ed, but this is just the general 'what was the WAAF' stuff.

The abbreviations are always a problem. They were written by RAF/WAAF's for other RAF/WAAF's and I'm sure no-one thought that strangers would be wanting to read them in 70-odd years time. ;-)

[edwest2]

I understand such family research is an important matter in the UK. I will see what else I can find.

Best,
Ed

[Stirrick]

Cheers, Ed, much appreciated.

[RSwank]

ACH was probably "Aircraft Hand", a term used for general duties.
Ball is probably "Balloon". So ACH/Ball was probably the classification for someone working with barrage balloons.

ACH is shown here: http://www.associations.rafinfo.org.uk/acronyms.htm

A reference here to when the ACH term was abandoned post-war:

https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightP...20-%201738.PDF

[Stirrick]

She was, indeed, a Balloon Operator.


Thanks for that.

[RSwank]

See proficiency ratings here:
https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightP...20-%201328.PDF

C = Administrative Ability.


I believe 652 refers to the section? or paragraph? related to Discharge Headings/Reasons as found in "The King's Regulations and Air Council Instructions for the Royal Air Force" (KR) probably a 1940s edition.

Example: https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk...eryExact=False

[Stirrick]

Fabulous, thanks again !

[Stirrick]

Oh, and I'd already discovered that the proficiency classifications were sub-divided as:
Ex (Exceptional), Supr (Superior), Sat (Satisfactory), Mod (Moderate), Inf (Inferior).

Deb's grandmother was classed as 'A - SAT' throughout her service: Satisfactory as a Balloon Operator.