2nd AIRLANDING ANTI-TANK ARTILLERY:QUESTION

[tynesideirish]

Apart from the photo previously used in Peters book amongst others and a couple of early small photo's. All others including formal Battery pictures show the AT bty's wearing standard ROYAL ARTILLERY titles.

Interest only: From the source mentioned previously. The 1 Airlanding LAA Bty wore ROUGH RIDERS for the course of the war, even when attached to SAS Brigade.

[54Bty]

From my own research:

223rd ANTI-TANK BATTERY ROYAL ARTILLERY (TA)

The 56th (King’s Own) Anti Tank Regiment RA (TA), with 221, 222, 223, and 224 Batteries, was formed in 1938 by the conversion of the 4th Battalion, The King’s Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (TA). As part of the 56th the Battery went to France with the British Expeditionary Force, and participated in the fighting withdrawal and evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940. On return to England the Battery was reformed, becoming independent in July 1940, and assigned to the 31st Independent Infantry Brigade. In November 1941 the Brigade became part of the 1st Airborne Division.

During this time a shoulder designation consisting of the words ANTI TANK BATTERY embroidered in red onto a dark blue background, was unofficially worn at the top of both sleeves of the best Battle Dress Blouse. On the 27th of June 1942 the Battery was officially designated as the 1st Air Landing Anti Tank Battery RA, within the 1st Air Landing Anti Tank Regiment RA. The shoulder designation was then changed to ANTI TANK ARTILLERY. During its short existence the Battery took part in the Airborne Landings on Sicily in July 1943, the Campaign in Italy during September 1943, and Operation “Market” as part of the Air Landing Brigade which fought at Arnhem in September 1944 and subsequent withdrawal across the Rhine. In August 1944 the Battery returned to Europe by sea, to fight alongside the US 501st Airborne Infantry through Holland, returning to England in October. Leave, training and cancelled operations continued until the Battery departed for the liberation of Norway in 1945. The Battery was finally disbanded in 1946. During December 1942 the designation was removed and replaced with normal Royal Artillery titles.

and

1st AIR LANDING ANTI TANK REGIMENT RA

On the 27th of June 1942 the 223rd (Independent) Anti Tank Battery RA, was officially designated as the 1st Air Landing Anti Tank Battery RA, within the 1st Air Landing Anti Tank Regiment RA. It was then that the shoulder designation of the words ANTI TANK ARTILLERY embroidered in red into a dark blue background was unofficially worn at the top of both sleeves of the best Battle Dress Blouse.

NOTE: Both the badges have rounded ends and have serif text, not one of the men I had contact with produced any other type of badge. The badges shown belonged to the Battery Commander.

[tynesideirish]

Well 54Bty, thanks for clearing that up.
So worn on Best BD so not in combat dress. That's why never* seen in the usual photos (ie, Capt Henry Bear after swimming the Rhine.).

If anyone has the connections to sort out the tangled web of Royal Artillery unofficial insignia it's you.

* What did Bond say about never?

[NEMO]

HI there ,
the RA ANTI-TANKS cloth titles is a good original example in every way the white backing cloth is correct but the big clue is the lettering the individual stitches of the letters ,they have an unusual contruction and if you run your finger over them they have a distinct raised feel to them and the distinct colouring that has prooved ( so far ) too difficult to reproduce.

My own very strong belief is that many of these un / semi official cloth titles LIGHT TANK SQUADRON , ANTI TANKS etc etc were worn far more often than collectors realise , many were `taken down ` in 1942-43 but some men / units continued to wear them on best / walking out uniform again this may have taken place around the time the individual left the services and wore the titles on his ` home coming ` bd .
Luc is bang on when he states

" there are regulations and there is practise "

there is too much of the
` this would never be allowed the R.S.M would have a fit if he saw that been worn ` etc
Regulations on dress and insignia were often broken inparticular in special ist forces .

Regarding the ` Airborne ` strip after the order to remove them in 1944 some men continued to wear them to the wars end and after , if this was unit choice or just done by individuals again may be on best bd i can not say but they were even worn by the Indian Airborne In the far east despite what has been written else where .
regards ,Nemo.

[NEMO]

AN original RA ANTI-TANK title , notice the distinct colour of the wording and the raised shape of the letters ,regards ,Nemo

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by NEMO

AN original RA ANTI-TANK title , notice the distinct colour of the wording and the raised shape of the letters ,regards ,Nemo

OK, so who is wearing it?

[Luc]

Originally Posted by 54Bty

OK, so who is wearing it?

It is a picture of a BD blouse also sporting airborne insignia.
Is there any proof that the RA Anti Tank was worn by the airborne troops other than Nemo's blouse?

[JON188]

I have in my collection a pair of (WORN) said titles that I won at auction in 2020.
The items I won came straight from the great niece of the deceased.

His name is J.D. Skaife-D'Ingerthorpe RA.
I have in theatre made wings, Pegasus etc
He took place in the South of France Invasion, was in Greece and Palestine.

Therefore the pattern NEMO alludes to were certainly worn. When however......