113rd Royal Artillery Field Regiment, 56th Division

[loupie1961]

A recent purchase: what I deem to be a combination sign to the 113rd RA Field Regiment, serving with the 56th Division in WWII. As a matter of fact, the AoS strips should be three, but there is evidence that somebody has removed the bottom one (slight remnants of red thread still visible) for some reason. Is there any other formation that could have adopted Dick Whittington's and TWO AoS strips as a sign? On a second glimpse, I have realised that the AoS strips seem to be RE, NOT RA!!! even more of a mistery, then! Thank you for your attention and all the very best!

[Mike Jackson]

First point. I don't understand why you think these should be RE AoS strips, Generally the cats did not come in facing pairs, so the combination will have been worn on a Gunner's right arm, with red portion of the AoS strip leading.
Second. Logically since there is evidence that the three RA AoS strips were worn by 113 Fd Regt RA as the junior Fd Regt in the Division, it could follow that the intermediate Fd Regt (90 Fd Regt from Dec 40 - Mar 43 and then 65 Fd Regt from Apr 43 to Aug 45) could have copied the same practice and worn two RA AoS strips. The senior regiment (64 Fd Regt from Dec 40 to Aug 45) will have worn one AoS strip.
Third. Why should the third AoS strip apparently have been removed? Possibly he was posted from one regiment to another? Or, the more complex solution - perhaps the single or multiple RA AoS strip reflected not the seniority of the regiment but the seniority of the Brigade to which the regiment was affiliated. Confusion might have resulted when in mid 1943 201 Guards Motor Bde replaced 168 Inf Bde for a few months and later 24 Inf Bde (Guards) joined in Apr 45 to replace 168 Inf Bde again. This Guards presence will almost certainly having resulted in the long-serving Inf Bdes (167 and 169) dropping down the seniority ladder. Mike (confused of Somerset)

[loupie1961]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

First point. I don't understand why you think these should be RE AoS strips, Generally the cats did not come in facing pairs, so the combination will have been worn on a Gunner's right arm, with red portion of the AoS strip leading.
Second. Logically since there is evidence that the three RA AoS strips were worn by 113 Fd Regt RA as the junior Fd Regt in the Division, it could follow that the intermediate Fd Regt (90 Fd Regt from Dec 40 - Mar 43 and then 65 Fd Regt from Apr 43 to Aug 45) could have copied the same practice and worn two RA AoS strips. The senior regiment (64 Fd Regt from Dec 40 to Aug 45) will have worn one AoS strip.
Third. Why should the third AoS strip apparently have been removed? Possibly he was posted from one regiment to another? Or, the more complex solution - perhaps the single or multiple RA AoS strip reflected not the seniority of the regiment but the seniority of the Brigade to which the regiment was affiliated. Confusion might have resulted when in mid 1943 201 Guards Motor Bde replaced 168 Inf Bde for a few months and later 24 Inf Bde (Guards) joined in Apr 45 to replace 168 Inf Bde again. This Guards presence will almost certainly having resulted in the long-serving Inf Bdes (167 and 169) dropping down the seniority ladder. Mike (confused of Somerset)

Oh, my!