Scottish unit metal road sign

[aramsay]

Not specifically a badge, but I would appreciate it if someone could advise what unit this sign refers to.

The photo was sent to me by a historian in the German town of Gardelegen, which is North of Magdeburg.

Along the bottom is an upward pointing black arrow, and "B. H. Q."

[Phil2M]

Does BHQ not stand for Brigade Head Quarters?

[Mike Jackson]

Battery HQ, Junior (or fourth) Bty, 54 ATK Regt RA (Glasgow Yeomanry), 52 (L) Inf Div

[badjez]

Taking a semi-educated guess-

The saltire was worn by 52nd (Lowland) Scottish Div, a unit that served in 21st Army Group.

The 46 may well be the designation number of the Divisional sub-unit, most frequently used on vehicles. If correct, '46' relates to the Anti-Tank Regt, RA of an infantry Division. In this case 54th (Queens Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) RA (TA). They served with 52nd Div from 03.09.39. until 31.08.45.

Taking my guesswork a stage further, I would hazzard the letters are for the Battery HQ. Perhaps the red/blue quatering may have indicated which Bty, with other batteries having the red quarter in the top right/ bottom left/ bottom right quarters.

I'm sure Marc Sheriff will provide a better answer though.

Stephen.

[54Bty]

Mike has already done it.

Marc

[badjez]

Thanks Marc. I think Mike and I were both typing at the same time, but my one finger skills resulted in my coming second! I'm glad my theory was born out as correct though.

Stephen.

[Mike Jackson]

Stephen,

Taking my guesswork a stage further, I would hazzard the letters are for the Battery HQ. Perhaps the red/blue quatering may have indicated which Bty, with other batteries having the red quarter in the top right/ bottom left/ bottom right quarters.

The red quartering on blue square: You are correct - going clockwise from upper right (senior battery) to upper left (junior battery in a four battery regiment). Regimental HQ had the conventional red over blue divided horizontally.

Mike

[badjez]

Thanks for explaining Mike. So much still to learn!

Stephen.

[Mike Jackson]

Well, as Marc would agree - "Once a Gunner, always a Gunner"!
Mike

[revdougal]

So which battery is it?
Frederick notes that before being reconstituted on 1 Jan 1947 as an RAC Unit, 214, 215, 295,and 304 Btys had gone into suspended animation on 7 March 1946. Thus it looks like 304 Bty was the junior unit - the one we for which we are looking.

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by revdougal

So which battery is it?
Frederick notes that before being reconstituted on 1 Jan 1947 as an RAC Unit, 214, 215, 295,and 304 Btys had gone into suspended animation on 7 March 1946. Thus it looks like 304 Bty was the junior unit - the one we for which we are looking.

That would seem to be correct. The numbering sequence implies a two phase expansion of the Regiment. 54 ATk Regt was formed in 1938 by the conversion of 101 (QO R Glasgow Yeo) Fd Bde RA (TA).

[ORISKANY]

Originally Posted by aramsay

Not specifically a badge, but I would appreciate it if someone could advise what unit this sign refers to.

The photo was sent to me by a historian in the German town of Gardelegen, which is North of Magdeburg.

Along the bottom is an upward pointing black arrow, and "B. H. Q."

Fascinating stuff. I wonder how many more of these old bits are lying around in the lanes of Europe?