Graham Stewart

Stuart, To be honest 'no', it's one I've never touched on being interested mainly in infantry. The Brian L. Davis, book I've had since it first appeared on the market in 1983 and today this it's still regarded as a 'bible' among WWII uniform enthusiasts. The lad did something that many authors fail to do and that was go through every ACI and AO regarding dress/ranks and insignia - the end result being a first class record of what was 'in' and what was 'out'. I think it'll only ever be surpassed if Joe Sweeney publishes a book on British Army service dress taking us up to WWII, as I believe he's recently gone through the same sources covering dress/rank & insignia, so I keep my fingers crossed. Recently at a Militaria fair I saw one of those books which make you 'gasp' and although modern by many standards, I wished every regiment had put one into print. It was a 1960's publication regarding dress and accoutrements for the 3rd Carabiniers, which was stuffed with line drawings of every item worn by the regiment. Absolutely fantastic and left on the shelf because no-one was interested. Graham.

Stuart, Correct any School flashes would differ from active units, but it's parent unit would control dress. In this case I'm slightly confused as to why it's called the Royal Armoured Car School, should it not just be the "Armoured Car School", which at this time I suspect was run by the Royal Tank Corps, from which two of the colours on the flash derive. The Royal Armoured Corps wasn't formed until 1939 and and the Royal Tanks Corps became the 'Royal Tank Regiment' at the same time(A.O.58/1939). Also I've found a decent reference regarding flashes in 'British Army Uniforms & Insignia of WWII' by B.L.Davis all of which are taken from ACI's and AO's. If you haven't got this them let me know and I'll forward it to you via e.mail. Graham.

Stuart, Flashes on these type of helmets are a minefield, but at the same time you'll find units which had a particular flash on a 'FSH', would continue to wear it on the new pattern helmet. There may have been an Army Council Instruction or Army Order, which would lay down designated flashes, but todate there's no reference books. There may also be records in Dress Regulations of individual units, which may be held in regimental museums, but you would have to contact each one individually. As for Armoured units, try the Tank Museum at Bovington, as I believe they do have references to flashes as it's a very strong part of their history. Graham.

Sergeant - Royal Marines Light Infantry going off the cap badge, so it would be post 1862, as the Corps was split into two seperate Corps by "Order-in-Council" on 21st March 1862. The two Corps were Royal Marine Artillery, which wore dark blue in line with the Regular Army and the Royal Marine Light Infantry which continued to wear scarlet. Graham.

Personally I think the photo in post 11 aren't Black & Tans at all, but probably Army of Occupation in Germany, post 1919/1920. They're a mixed bag of RASC, RA, RE and an obvious Jockinese unit, but alas the Balmoral cap's aren't showing the cap badge. I believe 'B&T's' wore mixed dress, both SD khaki, with the dark green of the Royal Irish Constabulary, as the were a reserve Police unit and hence the nickname. For head-dress I believe the Caubeen was worn and none of these men are wearing a Caubeen. Graham.

Tony, Very top photo is post-war Green Howards drummers. Prior to then you rarely ever see collar badges being worn by infantry units, though not unusual among cavalry or yeomanry. They could possibly be regulars too as one is wearing at least two good conduct badges. Now the photo with the mixed group ie Kings(Liverpool Regt), Royal Welsh Fusiliers,RAMC and South Lancs etc is interesting, thats because the blokes wearing the Royal Arms cap badges are probably members of the Labour Corps and what you're possibly looking at are members of a Divisional Salvage unit, which makes it post 1917. The large unidentified group are Royal Engineers. Graham.

Certainly Victorian, and would believe it to be either regular cavalry or yeomanry, but I can't make the cypher out. I'll admit I don't think there's a reference book on the types of pouch worn by cavalry units, which would help you out, although "Dress Regulations" may have descriptions of pouches worn by the various units. Graham.

To add to your mystery here is a link to the soldier in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who was actually numbered 18383;- http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=2 Graham.

Could someone please explain to me why they are termed "Hate Belts"?? The reason I ask is because the practice of displaying badges, buttons and titles on service belts had gone on in the British Army long beofre the outbreak of WWI and was certainly continued up to WWII. Graham.

A slightly different SWB Certificate this time issued to Pte Felix Thomas Jones a former 6foot 2inch trooper of the 1st Life Guards who was discharged in 1897. He re-enlisted into the 6th Bn, R.Warwickshire Regt(T.F.) on the 26th April 1915 and then transferred to the Royal Defence Corps on its formation. He was eventually discharged on the 31st May 1918 from the R.D.C.. Graham.

Each recipient of the SWB also received a Certificate, which showed the numbered badge to which he was entitled. The myth behind the SWB is that it was issued for "wounds", which it wasn't, it's issue was for "Services Rendered" as stated on the certificate and that included issue to men who had been discharged for medical reasons and who had never served overseas, as in the case of the above 24/486 Pte John Morrison, 24th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers(1st Tyneside Irish), who enlisted on the 10th October 1914 and was discharged on the 1st December 1914 under Kings Regulations Para 392(xvi), being "no longer physically fit for war service". At the age of 37years he was declared to have "Dropsy". Graham.

Leigh, Try this link to the front sheet of his attestation paper;- http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc018/684120a.gif Graham.

Only William W. Wilson that I can find serving in the R.C.H.,C.E.F. is 2075446 Pte William Wood Wilson, born Germantown, Philadelphia, U.S.A., who enlisted on the 14th June 1917 and served with 5th R.C.H. and then the 1st & 2nd Reinforcement Companies of the R.C.H. Graham.

Doc, Try this link;- http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1 Graham.

39819 Pte Frederick Francis, formerly 16th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers, posted to 'D' Coy, 22nd Bn, N.F.(3rd Tyneside Scottish) became POW April 1918 another brother of Moses Francis. On return to England transferred as 74272 Pte F.Francis, 3rd Bn, Devonshire Regt from whom he was eventually discharged. Graham. A snap shot of my family history and of those who make me proud.

771 Pte Bert Francis, 35th Bn, Australian Imperial Forces KIA 1st September 1918, age 27yrs younger step-brother of Moses Francis. Graham. "and at the going down of the sun, we will remember them".

35668 Pte John Allison, D.L.I. later 58242 Cpl J.Allison Machine Gun Corps, born West Auckland, Durham, enlisted Newcastle DOW 9th March 1918. Brother-in-law of Moses Francis. Graham.

2712(770969)Shoeing Smith Moses Francis, 50th Div Ammo Column I actually have copy of the 1st Northumbrian Brigade,R.F.A. War History, but sadly it's one of those volumes that lack a nominal roll. As you be aware they served with 50th(Northumbrian)Division during the war and Gunner Johnson seems to have gone out with the Divison in April 1915, just intime for the Second Battle of Ypres and the first major gas attack's on British & Canadian forces. It's quite poignant that you should actually have these medals as my own great grandfather served with 50th(Northumbrian)Division throughout the Great War and he too served with the R.F.A.(T.F.), although with the Divisional Ammunition Column, as he was a Shoeing Smith, which is an actual trade/rank. He originally enlisted as 1482 S.S. Moses Francis into the 3rd Northumbrian Bde, R.F.A.(T.F.), but on transfer to the D.A.C. was renumbered 2712 and in 1917 he too was again renumbered under the new system as 770969 S.S. M.Francis. He himself was gassed and left with only one working lung, the rest of his life was spent taking snake serum of all things when breathing got really bad. He died on the 6th October 1954, five months after I was born. Although he survived sadly both his step-brother Bert Francis(A.I.F.) and brother-in-law John Allison(D.L.I./M.G.C.) both perished and his other brother Frederick(N.F.) was taken prisoner in 1918. Graham.

1138 Gunner Thomas Johnson was actually a member of the Territorial Force and as such was renumbered 750250 in 1917 i.a.w. Appendix 183 of Army Council Instruction 2198. His new number was given as 750250 and he can actually be linked to having served with the 1st Northumbrian Brigade,R.F.A. Graham.

Not an awful lot to tell you regards J.Veron apart from the fact he was promoted from Sgt to Clr/Sgt in November 1914 with the 2nd BN,NF. The rank Colour Sgt would be correct as the new ranks of Regimental Sgt Major(replaced Sgt Major), Company Sgt Major and Company Quartermaster Sgt(both replaced Clr/Sgt, the senior four Clr/Sgt's becoming CSM's) weren't instituted until the end of 1914 beginning of 1915. Graham.

Geoff, Best of luck tracking down civvy medals and if I remember rightly you'll be looking towards Falklands War medals too as all of the civvies on the Navy's R.F.A.'s and Merchantmen would have been awarded them as well as the N.A.A.F.I. staff. Wasn't one of the latter awarded a gallantry medal for manning a gpmg while under air attack in San Carlos Bay? Also all of the larger R.N. ships had Chinese civvies on board and am sure they would be entitled to a gong. Now that would be a find, but would it be in stamped in English or Chiness characters. Don't know if you have this, but here is the link to the London Gazette;- http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveSearch.asp?webType=0 Graham.

A bit of a rarity this one as it's wearer actually belonged to 283 Battery, 17th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt,R.A.(T.A.), which were regimented as "Rough Riders" in September 1941. It moved to 1st Airborne Division in July 1942 and was reorganised as No.1 Air Landing, Light Anti-Aircraft Battery,R.A.(City of London Yeomanry)(T.A.). Graham.

Awards of campaign medals to civilians still go on to this day as a good friend of mine who works in G.C.H.Q. and who recently did a stint with the military in the Green Zone, Baghdad(not Basra), was recently awarded an Iraq medal. Before proceding there he had to under go some basic military training and wore military uniform. Not sure if he did weapon handling though. Graham.

Leigh, Only have the one black plastic RRF cap badge, which I picked up at the Drill Hall in Newcastle donkies years ago. It's on my RRF board at the moment, but if I remember correctly it had a pair of soft tinplate tabs on the back for bending over. These "FUSILIERS" titles were they actually manufactured or were they cut down from other cloth titles? I do have the larger cloth white on red worsted "Royal Regt of Fusiliers" shoulder title, but no-one seems to be able to tell me if it was ever worn. The regiment didn't make its appearance until St.Georges Day 1968 and by that time BD had long been replaced by No.2 Dress. Again I have the white on red worsted "R.R.F. over Cadets" shoulder title, but these too remain a mystery as to when or if they were ever worn. I bought both of these titles in the early 1980's from a surplus dealer and have never seen them since. Any ideas would be welcome as even HQ in the Tower of London doesn't seem to have a clue. Graham. PS Also have Ed Forrest's(1 RNF/1 RRF) original No.2 Dress uniform, which was also made from the earlier rough serge rather than the later smoother pattern, which is also of a darker shade.

Brian, Your R.E. Sgt was a member of the Territorial Force hence the two numbers and his number's 162 & 477144 indicates he served with the Cheshire Field Coy, Welsh Divisional Engineers, which later became 1st Field Coy(Cheshire). In 1917 all members of the Territorial Force were renumbered and their old four figure numbers discarded and new six figure ones issued. In the case of the R.E.(T.F.) under Army Council Instruction 2243 and the 1st Field Coy(Cheshire) were allotted a number range 446001 - 448000. Transfers during the Great War were common place hence more than one unit on many Medal Index Cards. Regimental numbering is dealt with in detail in Queens(Victoria)Regulations, Kings Regulations, Militia Regulations, Special Reserve Regulations, Volunteer Force Regulations, Territorial Force Regulations, Army Council Instructions and Army Orders, but many people find it a daunting subject to tackle although the guide lines given by these regulations are easy enough to follow. Those collectors who find numbering hard to grasp are usually ex-Army lads, whose number followed them throughout there careers and they find it difficult to understand that this didn't happen in the Army of 1881 through to 1920. Your number changed whenever you moved unit. In 1920 a new regimental block numbering system was introduced and under this system your number moved with you during transfer. This numbering system remained in place until the 1960's when the current general numbering was introduced. Also don't be fooled into thinking the word "Corps", is used soley by none fighting units. You'll find in KR's reference to a "Corps" relating to infantry units i.e. the Northumberland Fusiliers would be regarded as an Infantry Corps. Graham.