derbyshire yeomanry - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

jim a · #1 02-09-10, 06:12 PM

I have just acquired this two piece Derbyshire Yeomanry badge. Although rubbed on the front and having the lugs clipped on the reverse I like the badge. I think the makers mark is jr gaunt london. It's in the middle for size so I'm wondering if it really is a cap or is it a collar... Height approx 36mm width appprox 41mm thanks

jim a · #2 02-09-10, 06:13 PM

GriffMJ · #3 02-09-10, 06:17 PM

Officers collar badge.... or senior ranks

Is there a "P" next to the Gaunt mark?

Officers Cap Badge post WW2

Two Officers collar badges showing different crown designs.

jim a · #4 02-09-10, 06:45 PM

From what I can make out there is no sign of a P anywhere.... thanks Jim

jim a · #5 02-09-10, 06:49 PM

Just noticed that the scroll is blank on the example you posted as a cap which corresponds to mine vs lettered scrolls on the collars.... (you can tell I'm still holding onto the possibity it's a cap not collar)

Alan O · #6 02-09-10, 06:59 PM

The blank scrolls were the earlier versions according to Gaylor.

GriffMJ · #7 02-09-10, 07:04 PM

Hi Jim

DY Officers caps will have "Imperial" or "Twig n leaf" or blank on the central scroll.... depending on what period it belongs to.... pre WW2 will have "Twig 'n' leaf"

The copper loops on your badge tend to indicate collar...

Cold War Collar...

Post 1953 Collars QE2

GriffMJ · #8 07-09-10, 08:33 AM

In front of "Connie" .... one of the Daimler Mk1 Armoured Cars in the three Sabre Troops.

GriffMJ · #9 07-09-10, 11:42 AM

Hi All

This is a question for the "Boffs".....

The 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry was a true "RECCE" Regiment and was designated to the 6th Armoured Division, see the TAC signs below.

1st DY, RECCE Corps

The 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry was a "specialist" Royal Armoured Corps Regiment known as a "BRICK" and then designated as RECCE to the 51st Highland Division (post North Africa) later in WW2...... but not part of the RECCE Corps (still RAC)..... see TAC signs below. {Corrected} 2nd DY were part of the assault on Sword Beach on D-Day in M8 Greyhound ARV's.

2nd DY, RAC

Question:-

Did all the units in the RECCE Corps have to wear the Corps badge during WW2 or would the 1st DY have worn their own? I have pictures of RAC Soldiers in blue berets with RECCE Corps badges..... normally the Recce Corps wore khaki berets with Corps badges?

lettman · #10 07-09-10, 12:58 PM

'The 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry was a true "RECCE" Regiment and was designated to the 6th Armoured Division, see the TAC signs below. 1st DY were part of the assault on Sword Beach on D-Day in M8 Greyhound ARV's.'

Sorry Griff, but neither 1st DY nor 6th Armd Div were anywhere near Normandy in June 1944 -- they were fighting it out against German emplacements along Highway 4, northeast of Rome.

GriffMJ · #11 07-09-10, 01:24 PM

hmmmmm... odd... I have this bit of info in my notes

I will have to find out where thats come from?

I might have got the reference from here:-

John Lloyd James, Sergeant, 3963431, Royal Armoured Corps. John was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. John James, of St. Clears, and the husband of Dilys James, of 7, Corvus Terrace, St. Clears. He enlisted prior to the outbreak of war into the 4th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment (the Carmarthenshire Territorials), and upon the outbreak of war, was transferred into the 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Yeomanry, part of the Royal Armoured Corps. John served in North Africa with the Yeomanry, before their recall to England to train for the invasion of Europe. The Derbyshire Yeomanry landed in Normandy during D-Day, 6 June, 1944. It was, uniquely for a Yeomanry regiment, serving as a divisional Reconnaissance Regiment, attached to 51st (Highland) Division, a task normally undertaken by the regiments of the Reconnaissance Corps. After landing in Normandy, 51st (Highland) Division was moved across Pegasus Bridge to the east bank of the River Orne. There it was to strengthen the bridgehead of the 6th Airborne Division, which had been under extreme pressure since D-Day from 21 Panzer-Division and the freshly-arrived 346 Infanterie-Division. After a disastrous first battle at Breville on 10 June, the division was moved in on the southern flank of the bridgehead and into the already-notorious 'Escoville Triangle'. 'The 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry had a frustrating time, like all the Recce regiments in the British Army, in the bridgehead. Unlike the desert, there was no space to lead, roam, harass and destroy. 2 DY guarded bridges but took part in the bitter fighting for the villages of Escoville and Herouvillette, being employed mainly in an infantry role. In four days, casualties were almost 50, including the CO, Lt Col RH Palmer, but three MCs and four MMs were awarded. John was one of the fifty men of the unit to be killed during this period. He was killed in action on 16 June 1944, aged 29, and is buried at Ranville War Cemetery.

I should have put the D-Day reference under the 2nd DY not the 1st DY