REME RATC parade

[JerryBB]

Part of a group of pics showing an inspection parade of REME RATC from the 50's I think. Also came with 2 pics of them in front of a Centurion tank and 1 of a army pop band, the Skatkats.

[Mike Jackson]

All wearing the formation sign of the RAC Trg Bde:
RAC Trg Bde.jpg

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

All wearing the formation sign of the RAC Trg Bde:
Attachment 74034

Indeed Mike, so did they train the REME at the RAC training unit. Brittons badges have one which they call Royal Armoured Training Corps, which is why I used RATC in the title.

[Mike Jackson]

I think you can ignore RATC as a unit designation. As far as I can determine, the RAC Training Brigade was formed in the early 1950s to coordinate the activities of the four RAC Training Regiments that were in existence in the 1950s - 65 Trg Regt RAC, 66 Trg Regt RAC, 67 Trg Regt RAC and 68 Trg Regt RAC. I was unaware that there was a REME training element within the RAC Trg Bde and surprised to note that the trainees were wearing the Brigade sign. In 18 Trg Bde RA at about the same time the brigade sign was only worn by Permanent Staff.

[JerryBB]

Thanks Mike for the info and I half expected that you would have info on these pictures. I can email them to you if your interested as the originals are bigger than the forum picture hosting allows.

[Postwarden]

The Training Bde would have required a large REME element to exercise their trade on the various AFVs on which training was given.

Surely this is simply a REME unit forming part of the Trg Bde rather than REME under training?

Postwarden

[Mike Jackson]

Good thinking - you're almost certainly correct. Have you evidence of the coloured equilateral triangles that are reported to have been worn to distinguish one RAC Trg Regt from another? The REME on parade seem to be wearing a piece of light coloured ribbon on their epaulettes?
Mike

[grey_green_acorn]

Originally Posted by Postwarden

The Training Bde would have required a large REME element to exercise their trade on the various AFVs on which training was given.

Surely this is simply a REME unit forming part of the Trg Bde rather than REME under training?

Postwarden

Where was 65, 66, 67 and 68 Trg Regt RAC based? If they were all in the Bovington/Lulworth area could these REME soldiers be from 18 Command Workshop REME also based at Bovington?

Tim

[grey_green_acorn]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

Good thinking - you're almost certainly correct. Have you evidence of the coloured equilateral triangles that are reported to have been worn to distinguish one RAC Trg Regt from another? The REME on parade seem to be wearing a piece of light coloured ribbon on their epaulettes?
Mike

Mike,

Close up of the epaulettes - does not seem to be a full piece of ribbon?
Tim

[Mike Jackson]

Tim,
Agreed - but how was that effect achieved?
I'm not sure where the "centre of mass" of the RAC Training Brigade was. In the early 1950's 68 Trg Regt RAC was definitely at Catterick ( and probably 66 and 67 Trg Regts RAC). Wartime RAC Trg Regts were located at Catterick and area (51, 56 and 57), Farnborough and Bovington.
Mike

[Postwarden]

I attach an image of the Training Brigade sign worn with the red triangle of 65 Training Regt.

There was much discussion in the 1950s of the REME wearing some form of dress distinction of the regiment to which they were attached, particularly the Light Aid Detachments who were effectively a permanent part of the regiment with which they served. Could what appears to be a partial ribbon be a cavalry metal shoulder title?

Postwarden

[Mike Jackson]

Once again I think you are right - and it could be sized relative to the REME title. About 32mm I'd say. An expert on cavalry titles of the late 50s (?) could tell us. Another regimental dress distinction - a white lanyard - can be seen in the squad which has just been inspected. And the Royal Scots Greys' berets can be seen even further away.
Mike

[Mike_2817]

Was forming the idea that the REME were in fact a large LAD or more likley a Workshop when reading Post #1

Dress Embelishment was normally the Headress or Lanyard (of which REME do not have)however?

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

Was forming the idea that the REME were in fact a large LAD or more likley a Workshop when reading Post #1

Dress Embelishment was normally the Headress or Lanyard (of which REME do not have)however?

Not sure what you mean Mike?

[Mike_2817]

Which bit?