|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
odd dress, April 1943
Not much to go on here, but the odd variety of dress here is instriguing. I know the date is May 1943, in Tunisia. Presumably these men are from the tank unit that knocked out this Tiger?
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
The Tiger looks fairly intact, but seems to have suffered some major trauma as the cupola appears to be missing completely (internal explosion, perhaps?) - maybe a wreck being inspected after Operation Ochsenkopf - The Battle of Sidi Nsir/Hunts Gap in Feb/Mar 1943 (the Germans lost 19 Tigers there)?
Dress-wise - it's all pretty standard 'non-standard' attire for North Africa, I think. It looks like everything is an issue item - a variety of shirts, jumpers, KD shorts/trousers, hose tops, overall trousers, a greatcoat & a bit of battledress - perhaps a somewhat unusual combination of some items, but it was known to get quite chilly at times in the desert theatre for which 'uniform' KD was probably inadequate. The only head-dress on display is the FS cap (although the chap to the right of the barrel seems to be wearing his 'side-cap' sideways), so that probably suggests that most of the men aren't tankies, although the chap on the far right-hand-side might have a dark coloured FS cap that could be cavalry. With the fairly large cap badge on display (chap with the greatcoat) & the 'work-wear', could they be Royal Engineers tasked with moving/salvaging the wreck?
__________________
My badges: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...p?albumid=1262 My photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pyewipe...7626677519670/ |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Yes, I see what you are saying.
This might help: an image of two soldiers taken in front of the same Tiger, although at a different time |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Army Film & Photographic Unit.
regards
__________________
Simon Butterworth Manchester Regiment Collector Rank, Prize & Trade Badges British & Commonwealth Artillery Badges |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
A super photograph, I certainly would not want to be on the receiving end of one of those.
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks - you mean just the two soldiers holding the ammunition, or also the soldiers atop the tank?
|
#7
|
||||
|
||||
The Bays wore FS caps until mid 1946 and 9th. Lancers as late as 47...
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
The soldiers holding the ammunition both appear to wear the AFPU badge.
|
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
The Bays at least did have a circular cap badge like the one shown in the original photo as well, and were in theatre, so definitely a possibility. I think I still favour Engineers though, as their badge is a bit more of a 'lump' (no offence intended to any passing RE...) compared to the slightly more 'open' Bays badge. The men could also of course belong to a mix of units, all come just to check out the new tank.
__________________
My badges: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...p?albumid=1262 My photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pyewipe...7626677519670/ |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Could they be from any of: Lothians & Border Horse; 17/21st Lancers; or 16/5th Lancers? They were the units operating in this area in April, although the photo was taken after the campaign.
|
#11
|
||||
|
||||
Bays...my old Regiment..
|
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Bays again...
|
|
|