Help with Para DZs Sought...

[SAS1]

Can anyone help ID these three Para DZs? I picked up a couple of dozen the other day which were all 60's and early 70s save for one. But I cant find out what these ones are. Not sure which way they would be worn either so confirmation of that would be appreciated too.

[blackpowder44]

Originally Posted by SAS1

Can anyone help ID these three Para DZs? I picked up a couple of dozen the other day which were all 60's and early 70s save for one. But I cant find out what these ones are. Not sure which way they would be worn either so confirmation of that would be appreciated too.

No1 Para ordnance, shown correctly, No.2 216 para. Signals Sqn worn 1975-1978 pale blue to the top, 3rd. cant find, if I do I will inform. John.

[SAS1]

Thanks john.

I thought No. 2 might be 216, but I have the description of that as pale blue (top) and green, but with a blue central stripe. I'd say this one was black?

[Mike Jackson]

Upper - As worn in 1977 by the Chief Clerk of 216 Para Sigs Sqn prior to the formation of 6 Field Force HQ and Sigs Sqn. Lower- 5 AB Bde Log Bn.
img193.jpg

[Colin S]

The last one shown is in the colours of the Middlesex Yeomanry, which provided the Signals element for 44 Parachute Brigade in the 1960s, but their DZ flash was the white over blue of the Royal Signals with '305' overlaid in red.

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by Colin S

The last one shown is in the colours of the Middlesex Yeomanry, which provided the Signals element for 44 Parachute Brigade in the 1960s, but their DZ flash was the white over blue of the Royal Signals with '305' overlaid in red.

Could it have been a WW2 tropical helmet flash?

[SAS1]

Thanks for the replaies. I had thought the same Mike, but the construction is identical to the two dozen others I got at the same time, including backing.

[Mike Jackson]

Well perhaps it was the Middlesex Yeomanry's DZ flash that preceded the 305 version - a symbol of the Royal Signals re-establishing control over a Yeomanry Regiment which had continued to wear its regimental badge throughout WW2?

[SAS1]

Be very nice if it was. Can anyone confirm?

[John L]

The red/white /green, I show as the 16 Para (Welch).

I am not sure now where I got the "ID" from.

John

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by John L

The red/white /green, I show as the 16 Para (Welch).

I am not sure now where I got the "ID" from.

John

A small rectangular flash - white/red/dark green(divided vertically) was worn by 6Welch in WW1 and by a successor unit, 602 (M) HAA Regt RA (Welch) (TA) post WW2. There may be some obscure realtionship between these - if only the three colours?

[richiejones1]

The third DZ flash looks like a 1970's Para Regt Vigilant Platoon one. It should be red/blue/green same as RHQ but the blue has faded and gone white. I've seen the blue faded white before in several photos. I can recall seeing photos of my mates brother wearing an identical faded DZ flash when he was in the vigilant platoon in the 1970's. At first it looked liked he was wearing an Italian flag on his arm but when I looked closer I could see his colleagues were wearing red/blue/green DZ flashes and others had faded ones like him. Obviously the blue used to make the DZ flashes at that time didn't survive many washes! I've posted a 1970's photo of a vigilant platoon para (not may mates brother) and this shows the blue faded white.

[SAS1]

Thanks for that Richie

Ive had a closer look, but there is little wear, and the edges of the white are also white. So without taking it apart, I'd assume its originally white.

[John L]

Here is mine. The white is white, not faded blue.

the size is 1 3/16 x 2 1/2

John

[SAS1]

Thats the job John. so you confirm its 16th (Welch) Battalion PARA? Would make sense as the red, white and green are the Welsh colours...