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  #1  
Old 19-08-17, 02:43 PM
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Default RCS officer's uniform

Good afternoon,

I have received this morning this uniform of a Captain of the Royal Signals. Captain in 1960 on the trousers, Major in 1968 in the jacket but with captain rank pips. Could you have some details about this officer ? With the uniform, a pair of puttees, I think. No longer worn in the 1960's ?

Regards
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  #2  
Old 19-08-17, 04:00 PM
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The short puttees were worn in the 1970s and into the late 80s. They replaced canvas gaiters worn with battledress.
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Old 19-08-17, 04:14 PM
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In the Army List for September 1964 he is shown as a Royal Signals Quarter-Master.

P.B.
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Old 19-08-17, 04:53 PM
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Thank you for these precisions. How do you explain the label with major rank on a captain jacket ?
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Old 19-08-17, 05:12 PM
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He might have joined the T.A. after his regular service when there was not a vacancy for a Major and have had to revert to the rank of Captain, I did wonder if the mention of Manchester on the label might have suggested a Territorial connection,unfortunately I dont have any modern Army Lists to be able to check.

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  #6  
Old 19-08-17, 06:37 PM
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I agree with Peter here.
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  #7  
Old 19-08-17, 07:37 PM
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Post-War and into the sixties, puttees, worn short with hose-tops were also worn as standard tropical dress.

The puttees shown are other ranks' issue, officers' puttees as supplied by Moss Bros but probably made by Fox, were a noticeably lighter shade although I don't suppose anyone would be too worried if officers wore ORs issue puttees with temperate combat clothing.

Even allowing for the chinstrap to have ridden up slightly, the badge seems to be rather low for a presumably ex-RSM to be wearing. Are those other lug holes visible on the cap?
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Old 19-08-17, 09:04 PM
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Yes indeed, a hole on each side of the Jimmy.
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Old 20-08-17, 07:58 AM
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Ian Kelly had a link to a history ( which he had written ) of what was basically the Territorial Royal Signals units of the the North West on his website. From memory the history contained a number of lists of officers who had served at various times in various units. The link no longer appears to be on his website and the only mention I can find of the history is here:

http://archive.is/ZOPuq

Unfortunately I do not appear to get beyond the various headings in the link and whilst I was hoping to check if Captain/ Major Johnstone was mentioned in the history, in the circumstances I cannot.

I bump into Ian Kelly regularly and if I can remember I will ask him if the name means anything to him.

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Old 21-08-17, 08:14 AM
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What is odd it the absence of at least one medal ribbon. I would have expected him to have had at least the LS&GC. If was he serving as a Late Entry officer in 1960 then he would have been old enough for service in WW2.

It could have been that he did not get the LS&GC due to a regimental entry as a junior soldier or he the ribbons might have been removed later on.
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Old 21-08-17, 08:19 AM
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What is odd it the absence of at least one medal ribbon. I would have expected him to have had at least the LS&GC. If was he serving as a Late Entry officer in 1960 then he would have been old enough for service in WW2.

It could have been that he did not get the LS&GC due to a regimental entry as a junior soldier or he the ribbons might have been removed later on.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/7979


He actually made Lt Col in 1972 and retired in 1975 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/7900 This would give him a birth date of 1920 so would have been in WW2.

I would add that the uniform may well have been made for Lt Col Johnston but subsequently sold and worn by a TA officer hence the incorrect insignia. The HQ Mess in Blandford runs a used uniform store for just this purpose. I don't believe the hat to be his as it is from another regt with the badge substituted. What are the buttons on the chin strap? Again likely to be a TA officer's second-hand hat.

Last edited by Alan O; 21-08-17 at 08:26 AM.
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  #12  
Old 21-08-17, 05:53 PM
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Thank you for all these details. The buttons are RCS ones. I send a picture of the inside of the cap. May be it can help to date it.
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