Malta Mid 40's - Fleur de Lys cap badge
 

Hello there,

among my last founds, a photo album of one RN sailor who spent some time in Malta, during/by end of WW2, or shortly after.
Could someone help me please in identifying the regiment of these army men with a fleur de lys cap badge?

Thanks in advance & Best Regards,

JD

The Manchester Regiment.

Manchester Regiment.

Thank you gentlemen for your prompt replies.

Anyone knowing then in what years was this regiment assigned in Malta?

Cheers

Found this in wiki https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Regiment :

“ The 8th (Ardwick) Battalion had been serving alongside the 5th Manchesters in the 127th Brigade of the 42nd Division until 5 May 1940, when the battalion was transferred to Malta and was replaced in the brigade by the 1st Highland Light Infantry, a Regular Army unit.[72] In August, the battalion became part of the Northern Infantry Brigade, later redesignated 2nd Malta Infantry Brigade and, finally, 232nd Infantry Brigade. In late July 1943, the 8th Manchesters was transferred to the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade, part of the 10th Indian Infantry Division, then serving in the Middle East”

Unless I missed something, would this imply that this pic would have been taken between May 40 and July 43? Is this a correct assomption? Based on the quantity of medal ribbons these men wear, I doubt a bit, and wouldn’t be too surprised if this would be an end of / post war pic ??

I believe they are wearing 1949 patten battle dress jackets unless I am mistaken

Regards

Stephen

Steven,

Thanks for your contribution.

By searching on line, on regiment history, found this too, here https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk...ester-regiment :
“ In 1944, following Royal Guard duties at Balmoral, Battalion was posted to Malta November 1945 and remained there until November 1946 when the 5th was disbanded.”

So far, not found track of presence of this regiment in Malta, post ww2, a apart the above extract.

Cheers,

JD

The useful website
http://british-army-units1945on.co.u...-regiment.html
does not show that the Manchester Regiment ever served in Malta.

The khaki berets, austerity pattern battledress and medal ribbons suggest late 1940s. The two officers (?) could have been extra-regimentally employed?

Jon

Hi Jon,

Thanks. The zoom I posted is extracted from a larger group pic, showing a mix of RN sailors & POs, and 13 men from the Manchester Regiment, all dressed in a similar way, mainly NCOs. So I don’t think extra-regimentary assigned & used men.

Cheers,

JD

The 8th (Ardwick)(TA) Bn. certainly served in Malta in WW2.

regards

Looks to be post war by the medal ribbons.

If this can help, attached the full group pic.

Well the chaps in the rear rank are wearing closed neck ww2 jackets and location of map pocket on trousers indicate ww2 patten trousers.
Quite an odd group.lots of medal ribbons being worn I still think post war with adapted collars which happened late and post ww2. Given the amount of medal ribbons worn I would say the same.
Regards
Stephen

Hi Stephen,

these men probably then belong to 5th battalion, and this pic was taken between november 45 and november 46 in Malta, likely too when these two groups RN & army found themselves together at the same shooting field, or during an army vs navy shooting challenge.

Cheers,

JD