Northumberland Hussars WW2 Badges & Patches

[Belly]

I’m trying to assemble a collection of insignia to represent my wife's Grandad's unit the Northumberland Hussars (102nd Anti-tank) in WW2 1942 - 1945.

I'm a bit puzzled as to how the NHs would have badged their uniforms as although they were part of the Royal Artillery, they had special dispensation to retain their cap badges and I believe they also had their own Regimental flash (2 shades of blue) as opposed to the Royal Artillery one.

They were attached to several divisions during the war, so assumedly wore the formation badges (or 8th Army patches) as appropriate:

UK 1940-1 - 2nd Armoured Division
Greece 1941 - 1st Armoured Brigade
N Africa 1941-2 - 7th Armoured Division
N Africa 1942-3 - 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
El Alamein 10/42 - 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
Sicily 1943 - 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
UK 1943-4 - 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
D Day 1944 - 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
NW Europe 1944 - 50th (Northumbrian Infantry Division
NW Europe 1944-5 - 15th (Scottish) Division

The only period photo I’ve seen is of a gunner in Nijmegen with the ‘double T’ formation badge for the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, which underneath it looks like he has BOTH the regimental flash for the NH (2 shades of blue) and the regimental flash for the Royal Artillery (Red & Blue). He’s also wearing the ‘NH’ metal shoulder titles.

This image is posted on another forum here:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searchi...34883-a-5.html

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Paul

[sean michael cronin]

Hi Belly, you have a very nice photo even the museum told me they have no WW2 vehicle photos, must have been taken at the end of the war or the censor would have removed the insignia. A NH over Ra flash was recently sold on Ebay for about £50. Cheers Sean.

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by Belly

This image is posted on another forum here:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searchi...34883-a-5.html

Can you post the image here please?

[Belly]

The image of my grandfather-in-law (bottom right with the dog!):

I believe the sign denotes 'A Battery', The 46 refers to the TAC sign carried on their vehicles, 46 being the sign for the Divisional Anti-tank regiment. The photo was taken when they were in 15th Scottish Division as per the lion rampant Div sign.
The flags at the bottom is the naval signal for "engage the enemy more closely".


Unknown soldier in Nijmegen:




Cheers
Paul

[Belly]

Another one:


And my 'artists' impression of the signboard in colour:


If anyone can provide any info at all or period pictures I'd be extremely gratefull!

Cheers
Paul

[tynesideirish]

Paul, Have your pics been removed or did they just not upload?

[Belly]

Not sure what's happening, I can see them above?

[Belly]

HOPEFULLY FIXED NOW! (Not sure what happened, I can see them on my work PC but not my home PC?)

I'm trying to contact the museum too but are waiting for them to get back to me.

Check out my album for more...

Sean - DO you have a picture of the NH over RA flash thatwas recently sold on Ebay?

Cheers
Paul

[sean michael cronin]

Hello Paul, unfortunately I did not save the photo on Ebay, all I can remember was the light/dark blue stripe above the red blue stripe on khaki patch attached to what seemed a genuine period shop or stores note stating 102 Northumberland anti tank. Are you sure the sign in the photo isnt red over blue for the tac sign as I'm sure your aware vehicle battery markings were standard RA but in light/dark blue. By the way your pictures can be seen in your album as can my Northumberland Hussars. Cheers Sean.

[Belly]

Hi Sean
Not totally sure hence my requests for info! I've seen quite a few sources stating that they retained the right to use their colours. For TAC signs this site claims this too:
http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/atk/page59.html

How credible this is though I don't know. One thing I've learnt with WW2, is believe half of what you see nothing of what you here!!

Paul

[tynesideirish]

Originally Posted by Belly

Sean - DO you have a picture of the NH over RA flash thatwas recently sold on Ebay?Cheers
Paul

Paul, I saved it to a file which is on disc. I'll hunt it out and post it, but not tonight!

[sean michael cronin]

Hello Paul, got me terminology wrong. Vehicle sign may have been like this. Cheers Sean.

[sean michael cronin]

Paul had a go at touching up the photo, what do you think. Cheers Sean.

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by tynesideirish

Paul, I saved it to a file which is on disc. I'll hunt it out and post it, but not tonight!

Strange, I was sent the same image (mark on the light blue) on a different background as the flash worn by members of 629th LIGHT ANTI AIRCRAFT REGIMENT RA (The Cambridgeshire Regiment) (TA).

[tynesideirish]

Just out of interest, one of my near neighbours is SSM J.W. Siddle. NH WWll and Escort to the Guidon, on the print of the occassion in 1961.