161st Recce Reg - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

fearnaught · #1 23-10-15, 04:27 PM

Hi, a bit of a curiosity. I picked this model up this morning. Though I may be wrong, I believe it to be the 161st Recce Reg. If so why would it have an RAC badge on it? I thought they wore The Green Howards badge. Maybe someone could enlighten me? It is a very good wooden model made of oak I think, again I stand to be corrected. Thanks in advance Mike

Mike Jackson · #2 23-10-15, 04:37 PM

Exellent contemporary scratch-built model - Humber Armoured Car?
Poor quality images but they were definitely badged Green Howards, but out of consideration to the RAC, WOs and SNCOs wore the RAC beret badge as a WOs and SNCOs arm badge. It can just be seen here. Mike
161 Regt RAC Green Howards.jpg 161 Regt RAC.01.jpg

fearnaught · #3 23-10-15, 05:03 PM

Hi Mike, thanks for that, maybe it was a presentation piece. The badge is a good quality piece, still traces of high polished silver plate? lugs originally N and S though the lower one has been replaced to fix it to the AC, thanks again Mike

Mike Jackson · #4 23-10-15, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearnaught

Hi Mike, thanks for that, maybe it was a presentation piece. The badge is a good quality piece, still traces of high polished silver plate? lugs originally N and S though the lower one has been replaced to fix it to the AC, thanks again Mike

I believe that the wearing of the RAC badge as described was unique to 161Recce Regt. They had a very frustrating War - apart from one Squadron which was detached and sent to France in July 1944 to replace A Squadron, 43 Inf Div Recce Regt, most of whom were killed when their ship was mined. Although the Green Howards Squadron as they were known fought their first actions badged Green Howards, officialdom caught up with them and by Aug 44 they were in khaki berets with the Recce Corps badge. Mike