NAAFI B.L.A. BUFFET CARS shoulder title
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Merry Christmas to all Ho Ho Ho:)
I am trying to find a picture of the shoulder title worn by EFI / NAAFI B.L.A. BUFFET CARS staff. I have a line drawing (see attached) but would like a good photo of one either bring worn (clear shot if possible please) or an actual photo of one. I do not know what colour these were. Thanks, engr9266 Jerry |
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I can find nothing about B.L.A Buffet cars and the British Liberation Army was a short lived "unit" Quote:
NAAFI Initially there were concerns about providing 'mobile canteens' : Quote:
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The IWM has a set of photos of NAAFI BUFFET CARS (in Germany) from 1946 but these appear to be staffed by "NAAFI girls". https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205436120 Could it be that the B.L.A BUFFET CARS title was simply a concept/design that was never needed/produced ? . |
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A reference in Hansard to NAAFI buffet cars (13 February 1945).
Tim |
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Attached is a rather poor copy of a copy of an illustration of an actual shoulder title from "Women's War Work With The Army: Additional Notes" by Ernest J. Martin which appeared in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research.
The text reads "In addition to the "Mobile Canteen" designation previously described, a similar one bearing the inscription "B.L.A. Buffet Cars" was worn by female staff serving on leave trains." |
There is also this from January 1945
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205124031 Reads "THE FIRST BRITISH LIBERATION ARMY LEAVE PARTY TO ARRIVE IN BRITAIN FROM NORTH WEST EUROPE, 1 JANUARY 1945" Tim |
First off, I cannot remember where the line drawing came from (old age?) :eek:
Second, thanks for the information supplied. I will keep looking. Jerry engr9266 |
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The line drawing you posted rings a bell, I'm thinking it might have been in an issue of the Formation Sign? Graham |
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"D.DAY MEN HOME ON THE FIRST LEAVE BOAT" "Boarding the train , on route for the port." Unfortunately there is no info about where it was taken , trains were running from Paris to the Ports (first 'leave train' from Milan was 23/7/45) but would they have had NAAFI buffet cars ? Another IWM photo shows : "ATS trained NAAFI girls in Hamburg" It is dated 27/5/45 , shortly after the BLA was redesignated to become the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in August 1945. . |
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Attached is a poor copy of a copy of an illustration for the article "Women's War Work With The Army: Additional Notes" by Ernest J Martin which appeared in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research.
The accompanying note stated "In addition to the "Mobile Canteen" designation previously described, a similar one bearing the inscription "B.L.A. Buffet Cars" was worn by female staff serving on leave trains." |
Graham, I have just dug out my copy of the Formation Sign, issue 281 Jan-Mar 2021 and on page 20 is a picture of the B.L.A. BUFFET CAR shoulder title that I am looking for. How I missed that one I don't know seeing that I had some input in that issue :eek:
Thanks for the info. Jerry |
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Perhaps the new member NAAFI BL&S might have some details ? https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=87837 . |
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Jerry |
Thanks Jerry an interesting article but (being a devil's advocate ;)) I'll keep hunting around for evidence/photos showing it actually being worn.
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There appears to be some confusion about dates , the article says the NAAFI Advance party landed in Normandy on 4th August 1944 , yet other sources state : Quote:
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Also ,the first "leave train" was 1st January 1945 but where did it depart from , and when would the first soldiers be heading home to be demobbed ? So , which of "Europe's railways" had canteen cars , how long did they operate (till May 1945 ??) and how many staff would have worn the title ? More research needed ! :D . |
BLA Badge
There is little evidence in all of the publications from NAAFI (I have in excess of 600) that show or mention this badge. I will say that this could have been a test badge which was never worn or the lovely re-enactor types, making it up as they go along, so people know who they are representing. I will say there are many badges like this, that are not official and weeding them out is tough when all that is available is a drawing or a replica!
If i find hard evidence I will post up and share. If you guys get anything do let me know. (I'm not getting notifications from the forum yet so feel free to contact directly) Sue :) |
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