Royal Artillery Formation Badges

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

Silk Embroidered variant - I don't know if they came in facing pairs:

Attachment 46223

Thank you,

We could assume that they did as my printed one goes the other way.

Marc

[437/62 Searchlight]

I know this thread has been dormant for a while, but thought I'd ask if anyone would have an idea of the formation badge worn by 62 SL Bty (Loyal Regiment) Searchlight Regiment R.A. (T.A). 437 battery, H.Q. Preston.

My grandfather was stationed with them in Orkney before transferring to the 4th Maritime Regiment in 1940.

Cheers,
Nanette

[DougSA]

I would also be interested to know if anyone can ID the attached patch?

Any insights appreciated!

[Mike Jackson]

The closest match that I can find is as follows: As at Feb 38: 84 How Bty RA, XI Fd Bde RA. The Battery had been stationed at Bareilly, India since Jan 38. (Source is RA Seniority and Distribution List Feb 38) Mike

[engr9266]

What can you tell us about the following:-

[Mike Jackson]

Very nice examples, especially second and third. John Waring JW1/633: Gibraltar - Anti-Aircraft Units. I think there were three similar signs - same key and rectangular format - the AA Units sign being the least rare. Gibraltar RA Units worn the key on the same shaped rectangle divided diagonally red/blue. 18 Defence Regiment RA wore the key on the same shaped rectangle divided horizontally red over blue. Mike

[charlie962]

If I may tag onto this very interesting display of RA formation signs, can you please help identify this. I have a scribble next to it saying 'Coastal Command RA, Marine Service Flash' but that doesn't seem to bring up any hits when I search.
Charlie

IMG_20161217_0003.jpg IMG_20161217_0005.jpg

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by charlie962

If I may tag onto this very interesting display of RA formation signs, can you please help identify this. I have a scribble next to it saying 'Coastal Command RA, Marine Service Flash' but that doesn't seem to bring up any hits when I search.
Charlie

Attachment 161474 Attachment 161475

It's the regimental flag of 17 LAA Regt RA - I think the CO must have been a keen sailor since the design is also that the RA Yacht Club burgee. But 54 Bty will know chapter and verse.

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by charlie962

If I may tag onto this very interesting display of RA formation signs, can you please help identify this. I have a scribble next to it saying 'Coastal Command RA, Marine Service Flash' but that doesn't seem to bring up any hits when I search.
Charlie

Attachment 161474 Attachment 161475

17th LIGHT ANTI AIRCRAFT REGIMENT RA (TA)

A muzzle loading gun and Crown in gold wire on a blue pennant (Royal Artillery Yacht Club Burgee). Also produced in yellow cotton. Authorised for Battle Dress on the 2nd of December 1944, while in Italy.

Regiment redesignated in 1947 as 517th (Essex) LAA Regt RA (TA).

Marc
(Let me know if not wanted.)

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by 54Bty

17th LIGHT ANTI AIRCRAFT REGIMENT RA (TA)

A muzzle loading gun and Crown in gold wire on a blue pennant (Royal Artillery Yacht Club Burgee). Also produced in yellow cotton. Authorised for Battle Dress on the 2nd of December 1944, while in Italy.

Regiment redesignated in 1947 as 517th (Essex) LAA Regt RA (TA).

Marc
(Let me know if not wanted.)

Marc,
I have a helmet transfer of the same design.
Mike

[Eddie Parks]

Just for fun here are my mother's AA flashes - along with a collection of her badges. She was Battery Captain (BK) of 602 (Mobile) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery RA – an independent battery equipped with 3.7 HAA Guns, the British equivalent of the German 88 – in the rank of Junior Commander (Capt). She remained with them based initially in the Coventry area but later on Hayling Island providing protection for the Overlord build up.

She was demobilized from the ATS on 25th of September 1945 and the following year traveled out to Italy as a Merchant Navy stewardess abroad a troopship. She "jumped ship" in Naples to marry my father “within the lines of the British Army” in Naples on 5 December 1946.

In 1939/40 she was a Fany Trooper in Northern Ireland where she was employed as my father's driver.

[charlie962]

Thanks Mike and Marc,
When you say "Regiment redesignated in 1947 as 517th (Essex) LAA Regt RA (TA)" did the new unit keep the old insignia? Or can I presume the badge is 1944-47 ?
Charlie

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by charlie962

Thanks Mike and Marc,
When you say "Regiment redesignated in 1947 as 517th (Essex) LAA Regt RA (TA)" did the new unit keep the old insignia? Or can I presume the badge is 1944-47 ?
Charlie

Originally only used on steel helmets and vehicles, it was later worn on the Battle Dress, and continued to be worn there by 517.

The 17th were the first TA unit to enter and win 'The Commodore's Trophy of the Royal Artillery Yacht Club' in 1939, hence the design of the badge.

Marc

[Eddie Parks]

Coincidentally my father was 2i/c 17 LAA RA in the Torch landings (Algers).
Eddie

[charlie962]

Marc, In your post 66 you show several Coast Artillery badges. For most the design is obvious. But for the Training Centre, apart from the colours, I don't see the connection with Coast or Training; is there a logic to the design?
Charlie
CoastArty.JPG