172ND FIELD RGT R.A BEJA BATTLE GROUPING
 

Its amazing how a group of badges and bits in an old tin, can give you clues to a soldiers whole service. A few months ago I was lucky enough to pick up at auction ,a small Huntly and palmers iced wafers tin box containing badges ,medals and foreign coins and banknotes. The main attraction was that it contained not one but two Beja Battle badges and a small enamel lapel badge for veterans of the 172nd Rgt royal Artillery. The soldier whom I believe was called W.R.Ayears seemed to have broken the pin off of his first Beja badge and somehow got hold of a second one of these rare badges! There were four pairs of 63rd Infantry division shoulder badges and a vast array of axis currency in the tin. it would seem that on his way through North Africa and up through Italy and the Balkans gunner Ayears had been involved in the capture or processing of many types of Axis Troops! In the tin were three german medals for so called Eastern Peoples troops ,two second class medals and a first class breast star. also there were banknotes from Croatia, Greece, Italy, Germany, Poland, Russia and Wehrmacht military currency. The coinage was even more varied with as well as the already mentioned, coins from Serbia, Albania, Tunisia and Palestine and the cream of the crop, a small aluminium German Army canteen token for a mug of beer. There was also a ticket stub for the BALALAIKA MUSIC HALL with a tax stamp in millimes if anyone knows where that was in ww2? So my question is ,does this trail of axis destruction fit with a member of 172 RA?

Beja Battle badge
 

Absolutely unbelievable - I'm speechless, but have to point out that the six formation signs depicting the Sherwood Forest oak, are actually those of 46 (North Midland) Infantry Division (TA) which served in Algeria, Tunisia and Italy from late 1942 to VE Day and beyond. finally serving in Austria in 1945/46. I have never seen an example of the small 172 Fd Regt RA brooch before - an accurate representation of a 25 Pdr Gun and "UNITED WE STAND". It's probably as rare as the fabled Beja badge. Superb.

Wonderful nearly a Forest of Oak and TWO Beja badges, plus the brooch. :D:D:D:D

Marc

Hello,

The 172nd Field Regiment RA did indeed serve in the 46th (North Midland) Inf. Div from May 1942 to August 1945.

It consisted of 153rd, 154th and 155th Field Batteries.

They served in North Africa from Jan. 1943 to Sept. 1943, then Italy Sept 1943 to March 1944, N. Africa again in March 1943 and then to Palestine a month later until June 1944. Back to North Africa for a month and then to Italy again Sept. 1944 to Jan. 1945. Then Greece until April 1945 and then back to Italy for a month until moving to Austria until Aug. 1945.

regards

beja badges.
 

So the trail of coins makes sense! many thanks for your replies and information. This chap must have seen some interesting service.