Formation Signs new finds

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

3 LAA/SL Regt and 71 SL Regt's signs are WW2 (late War in the case of 71 SL Regt I believe). The others are post war, but may also have been worn by units from the same roots during the War.

For example 566 HAA Regt had been 123 LAA Regt and prior to that 31 SL Regt in WW2. 575 LAA Regt had been 149 LAA Regt and prior to that 40 SL Regt in WW2.

It gets very complicated. Mike

Thanks Mike, the lineage sounds a bit drawn out and I appreciate the primer. One can assume that SL units which were critical during the war had faded out of existence in the post war period?
Best
Jack

[irish]

Originally Posted by Peter Brydon

Hello Jack,

Yes, as on this Lt.Cols battledress blouse.

Peter

Thanks Peter, nice looking uniform. Is that your collection decorating the walls in the background?

Jack

[Peter Brydon]

Jack ,
Yes

Peter

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by irish

Thanks Mike, the lineage sounds a bit drawn out and I appreciate the primer. One can assume that SL units which were critical during the war had faded out of existence in the post war period?
Best
Jack

That's about right. Many SL Regts were reroled to LAA Regts - and ironically, in their turn, some LAA units were disbanded or reroled. In at least one case, In Italy, 99 LAA Regt was reroled to be an RASC transport unit (a comment on the paucity of Luftwaffe targets and the appalling roads in the Italian mountains). When they broke up the CO gave them all a cloth badge as a souvenir of their time as Gunners - Yellow or gold wire 99 on a red/blue diamond. Mike

[54Bty]

99th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery

The figure 99 embroidered in gold wire on a red and blue diamond shaped background, with a gold wire inner border, worn in pairs, red to the front.

Authorised by the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Wilkinson Royal Artillery to distinguish the Regiment after their magnificent action during operations in the Cassino area in 1944. Mainly the initiating and maintaining of a battle field smoke screen, using smoke canisters controlled from slit trenches.

The Regiment was formed from the 14th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).

Reference the Regimental digest of service.

Marc

[54Bty]

The owl badge. I have never found any information regarding 71 wearing the badges, however I did find that it was worn by;

76th SEARCH LIGHT REGIMENT RA (TA)

A white Owl in the centre of a diamond vertically divided red and blue. Worn in pairs red to the front. Formed in July 1940 disbanded in March 1945.

Of course I would be interested in any information regarding 71.

Marc

[irish]

Marc, Thanks for that clarification.
Jack