welch or what?

[candelabre]

Hi

some days ago I obtained a British BD Blouse at a street market
in eastern London, size 10, made by The Rego Bros.Ltd 1940
I`m in doubt of the badges as it has Welch Regiment badge and a
granate-shaped badge, rank Captain, red traid left on both sleves for Arms of Service stripes and regimental flashes which now missing , it`s clear to see,It has been there.
In my opinion the Black Granade might belong to a Battaliion of the Royal
Scotts Fusiliers and no Welch regiment,
No Black lights do not affect, sewing tread seems old, and all needs a cleaning-
went with a German II WW Red Cross Jacket without any marking left
What about the Badges on the BD ??

[grey_green_acorn]

The red "W" is the formation badge of the 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division landed in Normandy in late June 1944 and fought at Odon, Caen, Falaise and on through the Rhineland to the Rhine. Divisional Infantry included non Welsh Battalions and of course officers on the Divisional HQ staff could be from almost any Regiment including the RSF.
The RSF WW2 battle honours include Odon, Falaise and the Rhine.......
I leave it to the RSF experts to comment further. Your BD could be a good un!

[candelabre]

Hi Mate
Thank`s for the information, I was looking in the book of H.Cole:Formation Badges of WW II and "The British Soldier Vol I" by french Buchery(Edition
Historie et Colection,British Edit.) last one has the "Grenade" shaped badge
as 6.btl.Scotts Fusiliers, so that`as far as I am recently.
thank you very much...

[Unknownsoldier]

Heres the 53rd's OOB:

Order of battle 1944-45

71st Infantry Brigade

* 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (until 26 August 1944)
* 1st Battalion, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
* 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
* 4th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (from 26 August 1944)

158th Infantry Brigade

* 4th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (until 26 August 1944)
* 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (until 26 August 1944)
* 7th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
* 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment (from 26 August 1944)
* 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (from 26 August 1944)

160th Infantry Brigade

* 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
* 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment (until 26 August 1944)
* 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment
* 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (from 26 August 1944)

Divisional Troops

* 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment (Machine-Gun Regiment)
* 53rd Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps
* 81st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
* 83rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
* 133rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
* 71st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
* 244th Field Company, Royal Engineers
* 282nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
* 555th Field Company, Royal Engineers

However it also says: "Due to the casualties suffered by the division in Normandy and the acute lack of infantry reinforcements, some of its battalions were replaced" ; Barclay, C.N., The History of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the Second World War, Wm. Clowes & Sons, 1956. pp.58-70

[grey_green_acorn]

6 RSF were in 15th (Scottish) Division in Normandy but there is a reference to the Bn also being in 53rd (Welsh) Division for a few days in July 1944. However, unlikely to have resulted in a change of Divisional formation badge as they returned to 15 Div! Is there a name in the battledress blouse? RSF enthusiasts please help!

[erracht]

No RSF Bns in 53rd Div to my knowledge; only Scottish infantry therein was 1st HLI. 1st RSF was in 29 Bde/36th Div (Burma), 2nd Bn in17 Bde/5th Div, 4/5th Bn in 155 Bde/52nd (Lowland) Div, 6th Bn in 44 Bde/15th (Scottish) Div, and 11th Bn in 147 Bde/49th Div.

[grey_green_acorn]

Originally Posted by erracht

No RSF Bns in 53rd Div to my knowledge; only Scottish infantry therein was 1st HLI. 1st RSF was in 29 Bde/36th Div (Burma), 2nd Bn in17 Bde/5th Div, 4/5th Bn in 155 Bde/52nd (Lowland) Div, 6th Bn in 44 Bde/15th (Scottish) Div, and 11th Bn in 147 Bde/49th Div.

My reference:
The 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers joined the 44th (Lowland) Infantry Brigade on 28 December 1942 and served there until it was disbanded on 31 August 1945.
For three days during the fighting for Caen (8 July through 11 July 1944), the 44th Infantry Brigade was temporarily transferred from the 15th (Scottish) to the 53rd (Welsh) Division.

http://www.cameronians.com/15th/ursf.htm

However no change of Divisional Formation Badge would have resulted so I would still suggest a 6RSF officer on the staff of 53rd Welsh Division!