Formation patch question

[JerryBB]

A recent pick up, a pre austerity 40 pattern BD, with its original ribbons in place but missing its formation patches. As it has a Burma Star ribbon -and a MC ribbon- I am trying to restore the missing patches and my thoughts lead me to to think that 14th Army is most likely, as it appears to have been shield shaped with a high point in the center as well as on each side, whilst most other shield shaped patches have flat tops, but that for the 14th has the three pointed top.

It has clear signs of 3 removed rank stars under the slip on rank slides.

Any thoughts will be appreciated or other suggestions as to what is likely or possibly to have been on it.

[Old Smelly]

Hi Jerry
Yes, I think you're right, 14th Army seems most likely. Are there any other marks below this?
Lee

[JerryBB]

Hi Lee,

not so clear, but there may have been another patch, but it is so vague that I would hesitate to say that there was something there for certain and no clue as to its shape.

Thanks for chipping in mate.

[Old Smelly]

Thought there could be, I've seen several 14th Army BD with a Div sign as well, not sure if it's a demob thing or wearing the badge of a previous(combat) unit like they did in NWE
Lee

[JerryBB]

Thanks again Lee.

I'll leave it a bit, but at some stage I will get a pair of 14th Army patches to restore to it. A shame it is not named.

[Mike Jackson]

Another plausible option is the less well known sign of 505 LofC District - located at Meiktila from May 45.
505 LofC District.01.jpg

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

Another plausible option is the less well known sign of 505 LofC District - located at Meiktila from May 45.
Attachment 84090

Thanks Mike. A rare patch I imagine, so a less likely candidate and I assume they were also part of 14th Army.

[Mike Jackson]

The size and shape of the 505 LofC District sign was chosen to match the Fourteenth Army sign. So it is likely that being located in Burma it was a component of Fourteenth Army's Rear Areas.

[JerryBB]

Thanks again Mike. The XIV also suggests it was part of 14th Army.

[David Tremain]

Interesting, you can't see any surrounding colour to the major's crown on the slider which might indicate what sort of regiment he was in, i.e. scarlet for artillery. If anything, the paleness could be a faded yellow which would indicate armoured.
David

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by David Tremain

Interesting, you can't see any surrounding colour to the major's crown on the slider which might indicate what sort of regiment he was in, i.e. scarlet for artillery. If anything, the paleness could be a faded yellow which would indicate armoured.
David

Hi David,

by a strange coincidence -or maybe not so strange-, the remains of the stitching from the removed rank stars on the shoulder straps under the slip ons appear to be yellow.

[David Tremain]

I think I know where you mean, but it's hard to see. On the photo it almost looks like dust. However, if you say it's yellow then is it likely that he was in an armoured unit in Burma? Checking with MC winners in the London Gazette who were in an armoured unit would narrow it down a bit, but there were probably still too many to get any closer.

Julian Thompson's book 'The Imperial War Museum Book of the War in Burma 1942-1945' lists the following armoured units:

3rd Carabiniers
25th Dragoons
7th Hussars
116 Regiment, RAC
149 Regiment, RAC
45th Reconnaissance Regiment
2nd Royal Tank Regiment (2RTR)

That should help.
David

[JerryBB]

Thanks David for helping on this and the list of possible armoured units helps a lot, if he was indeed in a tanks unit. The traces of stitching look more yellow than anything else. I can try and take another photograph when I can and see if it shows up any better, especially as we are having all this glorious sunshine.

[David Tremain]

Still looking but have found a handful of MC recipients who served in the 3rd Carabiniers in Burma:

Maj. E.R. Petit
Capt. L.O. Pearce
Lt. W.M.N. Millar
Lt. A. Weir



Nothing yet on the other units. Will keep you posted!
David

[David Tremain]

Jerry, check out this link. There's more info on the guys mentioned in my last posting:
http://www.hut-six.co.uk/WW2data/WO3...d%20India.html

which includes recommendations for MC. I haven't actually looked at the London Gazette entries.

Maj. Edward Ronald Pettit, 9th Lancers, attached 3rd Carabiniers
Capt. Lawrence Ormsley Pearce, Royal Armoured Corps
Lt. William Neil MacDonald, 3rd Carabiniers
Lt. Archibald Weir, 3rd Carabiniers

I suspect it could be either Maj. Pettit or Capt. Pearce, given that Captain's rank stars have been removed and a major's crown up.
Cheers, David