Surveyor RA

[buttonhole badge]

What does a Surveyor do in the RA and what trade badge do they wear ?

[Luc]

An "S" within a wreath was worn on the lower arm, a brass version also exists. His job would be to assess the traverse of a piece of artillery so it would hit the target.

[buttonhole badge]

When did this item cease to be worn, or is it still ?

[Luc]

I assume it became obsolete when they changed from battle dress to DPM?

[Postwarden]

Robin Hodges' book British Army Badges published in 2005 says that a Surveyor's badge was then authorised but no longer issued.

I'm sure 54 Bty will know the answer.

Jon

[grumpy]

Originally Posted by Postwarden

Robin Hodges' book British Army Badges published in 2005 says that a Surveyor's badge was then authorised but no longer issued.

I'm sure 54 Bty will know the answer.

Jon

If he does it needs to include why a man in a Great War infantry photo wears the badge.

[gunner687]

During WW2 there were 3 badges worn. Surveyor RA Class 2 & 3 wore the S in a wreath as shown. Surveyor RA Class 1 wore a crown above this and Battery Surveyors wore an S without the wreath.
Surveyors RA were employed in Survey Regiments and usually worked at Corps level providing accurate fix and line to each RA regiment in their area. Battery Surveyors worked at regimental level and carried the accurate fix and line forward to their batteries.
Those who worked in the command posts predicting the data required for the guns to hit the target were known as Specialists.
Post war the Battery Surveyors became Regimental Surveyors and the Specialists became Battery Surveyors. Battery Surveyors also were responsible for providing the initial fix and line for the battery and providing OP Assistants.