Identify regiment

[rmarsden]

Canadian photo Rome 1944. Yellow over green hackle.

[Staffsyeoman]

Black Watch, I'd say? Why is it Canadian? No Canadian Army qualified for the Africa Star?

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by Staffsyeoman

Black Watch, I'd say? Why is it Canadian? No Canadian Army qualified for the Africa Star?

No Canadian Army units per se but, Canadians officers and nco's attached to British units were entitled to the Africa star.....most served with 1st Army if I'm not mistaken

Jo.
An arrangement was made for the immediate attachment to the First Army of 78 officers and 63 non-commissioned officers, who reached Algiers early in January 1943. They were treated as though they had been normal British reinforcements, and were "posted" to appropriate units. That is to say, a Canadian infantry Captain or Major might (and often did) find himself commanding a company of a British battalion; a Canadian medical officer might be placed in charge of a section of a Field Ambulance of the R.A.M.C.; while a Sergeant of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals might be found performing the responsible duties of his rank in a Brigade Signal Section. At the time when these Canadians arrived, the First Army was hard pressed. It consisted, essentially, of only two British divisions, the 78th Infantry Division and the 6th Armoured Division. Most of the Canadians were assigned to these formations, and they saw plenty of service, for there were many casualties to be replaced. At one point an infantry unit of the 6th Armoured Division had a Canadian second-in-command and three Canadian company commanders.

Further groups of Canadians were subsequently dispatched to Africa, the procedure continuing until the end of the campaign. In all, 201 officers and 147 N.C.Os. were sent out for three-month periods, and what they learned was invaluable. However sound mere training may be, there is no final substitute for battle experience. These men, returning to England, brought a most useful leaven of such experience to the Canadian Army. The active manner in which they had been employed was reflected in their losses. Fourteen officers and 11 other ranks (nco's !!!) became casualties during the North African campaign. Four officers and four other ranks (nco's !!!) lost their lives.

From;Col.C.P.Stacey, The Italian Campaign

[REMEVMBEA1]

Originally Posted by Staffsyeoman

Black Watch, I'd say? Why is it Canadian? No Canadian Army qualified for the Africa Star?

Surely Black Watch wore a red hackle.

[irishhorse]

With those shoulder slides was thinking South African. In reality I thing they are more red, look at the red colour of the medal ribbon.

[Peter Brydon]

As we have discussed before in connection with coloured photos that were originally monochrome, could there be some artistic licence in the colours ?


P.B.

[Staffsyeoman]

That's what I was thinking, to be honest.

[Alan O]

If it was B+W then I would immediately have said Black Watch too. The colours may be artistic licence.

[grumpy]

I am knowledgeable regarding orthochromatic film abberations* around the Great War period, but have no visibility of WW II film behaviour ......... I am sure it was different. Do we have any collective wisdom please?

*original red/orange/yellow render very dark, even black

green renders mid grey

blue renders pale grey

BUT texture and the mount of black or white [pastel] in the colour of the original will skew the above.

[Bill A]

This can be added to the analysis. It was not the practice of Canadian troops in Italy to wear that style of slip-on. Only officers wore rank slip-ons, while all ranks wore brassards/armlets to show regimental / corps affiliation.

[BWEF]

Could it be a South African wearing their orange slip ons?

The First City/Cape Town Highlanders were in 12th Motorised Brigade in 6th South African Armoured Division, and were in the Rome area at the time the photo was taken.

Over to the South Africans....

[BWEF]

I just followed up on that idea and confirm that the man in question is a South African in the First City/Cape Town Highlanders:

"During WW2 the FC/CTH wore the Green and Gold Hackle and were nicknamed "the Budgies".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_City_Regiment

[rmarsden]

Thanks to all who contributed. I bought the photo from a Canadian dealer thinking it was BW only when I received it I noticed the colour of the hackle.
Ron.