Researching a "Desert Rat" - unknown badges - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

amybalcomb · #1 06-06-12, 02:59 PM

I'm new to this forum and I'm trying to research the story of my Grandfather's service within the Desert Rats.

We have found his cap badge of the Royal Tank Regiment and we have a couple of grainy photos, but nothing much else to go on.

We also have an RAC cap badge and epaulette, but more confusingly, two round, green velcro badges that say "GO". Does anyone know what these could mean?

I have applied to the MOD for his war records - hopefully we have enough to go on to get some more information, but it feels like a needle in a haystack. If anyone knows of any good research areas online that cover this subject I would be really grateful for any links.

Looking forward to any assistance!
Amy

Peter Brydon · #2 06-06-12, 03:41 PM

Amy,

If you can post some pictures of the items you may be pleasantly surprised at what you may learn.

Is this like one of the round badges ? It is the sign of 8th Armoured Division.

P.B.

Mike Jackson · #3 06-06-12, 04:14 PM

8 Armd Div certainly narrows the field, but not by enough! He could have served at the time he was in 8 Armd Div in any one of six battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment (RTR):
40 RTR, 41 RTR, 45 RTR, 46 RTR, 47 RTR or 50 RTR.
All these units were formed in the period 1938/1939 (40 RTR and 46 RTR both had a Liverpool connection, 41 RTR had its roots in Manchester, 45 RTR in West Yorkshire, 47 RTR had loose connections to Manchester and 50 RTR had its roots in a cadre from Gloucestershire). This may help.
What would help even more would be the discovery of a small piece (maybe a loop) of coloured ribbon approx 2.5 inch x 1.0 inch. This would permiot the identification of his actual unit.
Mike

Tankie2RTR · #4 06-06-12, 05:55 PM

Hi Amy

Nice to see someone tracing a 'Tankies' history. As Mike says there was 6 Battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment The term Battalion was later dropped in 1945. 8th Armd Div didn't last for long as it was formed in November 1940 and later dispanded in january 1943. It went to North Africa in june 1942 but never went into action as a complete division and its Armoured Regiments were used to bolster up other armoured brigades. The RTR Battalions were later sent to diffrent Armoured Brigades or Divisions. If possible would you be able to post the pictures on here as a picture can bring up more clues to what battalion he was in and what time period.

You mentioned a RAC capbadge as well. Could you discribe it or post a picture of it . As there was 2 types of RAC capbadge in WW2 the first being Brass RAC with Laurels and Kings Crown above which was relaced in late 1941with a White metal mailed fist with RAC at the bottom of the fist and flanking curved arrows with the Kings Crown above.

He might have worn this capbadge while in training to become a RAC soldier before being posted to a RTR Battalion. Or could have gone on later to another RAC regiment that was one of many infantry regiments converted to tanks and didn't retain its old cabadge when becoming armoured regiment and wore the RAC capbadge

I would recommend contacting the Tank Museum at Bovington. Your Grandad would have been there training within his time as RAC soldier. They are very helpful in finding infomation of family members who have served in the Royal Armoured corps. They helped me find some information on a relative who was in the Tank corps in 1918.

Pete

sketchley kid · #5 07-06-12, 02:34 PM

I'm surprised at the use of 'velcro' on the 'GO' badges.....wouldn't have thought it was about at that time....but probably wrong again!!

Mike Jackson · #6 07-06-12, 03:06 PM

Velcro is a company that produced the first commercially marketed fabric hook-and-loop fastener, invented in 1948 by the Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral. De Mestral patented Velcro in 1955, subsequently refining and developing its practical manufacture until its commercial introduction in the late 1950s.

The word Velcro is a portmanteau of the two French words velours ("velvet"), and crochet ("hook"

Any questions?