BEACH REME - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Peter Brydon · #1 10-07-13, 09:52 AM

Crewe British Legion have taken a unit in Crewe Indoor market in which they have on display some items of militaria most of which is on loan from members of the Legion and local families.

One item which I noticed and which I don't think I have seen before was an embroidered title " BEACH REME " has anyone seen other examples of this title ? If not I will see if it is possible to take some photos of the item and post them on the Forum.

P.B.

Mike Jackson · #2 10-07-13, 10:02 AM

Arguably BEACH REME is the rarest of the trio that included SIGNALS and ORDNANCE. I'm trying to find the image that (just) shows BEACH REME being worn on D Day, the wearer taking cover behind a knocked out AVRE. Unless someone beats me to it, I'll post the image when I find it.
Mike

Peter Brydon · #3 10-07-13, 10:10 AM

Thanks Mike,

Will see of I can get permission to photograph the title next time I am at the market.

Peter

Mike Jackson · #4 10-07-13, 10:38 AM

It's the weather to stay on the beach, so here is BEACH SIGNALS being worn:
Beach Signals 1944.jpg

blackpowder44 · #5 10-07-13, 12:11 PM

Here is my example of the Beach REME title. It is sewn onto a VAD nurses sleeping bag, Mike Jackson has seen this sleeping bag. also pictures of my beach signals shoulder title as a follow up to Mikes picture, John.

Mike Jackson · #6 10-07-13, 12:46 PM

To complete the set here's an image of the BEACH ORDNANCE title as issued and being worn:
20120616_Beach Ordnance.01.jpg WO2 Joseph Newall Mitchell RAOC pre-D Day.jpg
(I should be very pleased to learn that there were BEACH CATERING, BEACH PIONEERS etc titles!)

NEMO · #7 10-07-13, 05:17 PM

HI hope this is off interest

Mike Jackson · #8 10-07-13, 05:31 PM

Very good, but only one Rating dressed for the Beach!
Mike

NEMO · #9 10-07-13, 08:20 PM

(I should be very pleased to learn that there were BEACH CATERING, BEACH PIONEERS etc titles!)[/QUOTE]

I having done a lot of study on these titles I suspect .......... they could well be a BEACH ENGINEERS or more probably a BEACH R.A.M.C ????

abolute no proof at all as yet

Mike_2817 · #10 10-07-13, 09:55 PM

Most scarce is of course BEACH MASTER

BEACH PIONEERS wore a helmet with a white painted band, but no spacial title.

All personel carried rations and no catering was planed till off the beach! so no BEACH CATERING

BEACH ENGINEERS - Not come accross it but why not?

BEACH MEDICAL - Ditto - Medical Clearing Stations were set up, but used the RED CROSS only I feel

No indication for BEACH RASC either although some Transport Sections were co-located with Ordnance Ammuntion Companies.

Mike Jackson · #11 11-07-13, 05:20 AM

Perhaps the guidance at the time was that if the word Beach was incorporated in the unit's formal title eg 11 Ordnance Beach Detachment RAOC or 20 Beach Recovery Section REME (both of 5 Beach Group) then the title eg BEACH ORDNANCE, BEACH REME could be procured and worn. For other units, their presence on the beach or indeed in a Beach Group may have been deemed to be transient - hence no special title required or justified. In any case (and in theory) all Army members of the Beach Groups wore the white helmet band and the Beach Groups' formation sign. But see the two images of wearers that I have posted above - one wears the Combined Operations sign and the other LofC 21 Army Group below the appropriate BEACH title.

Mike Jackson · #12 11-07-13, 01:11 PM

It took a bit of finding but the original print of this images shows that the soldier crouching behind the Scammell Breakdown Truck (not AVRE as I stated earlier) with his head near the motorcycle wheel is wearing the title BEACH R.E.M.E. above the Beach Groups sign. I think that the troops to his left are an element of HQ 1 SS Bde.
Beach Group_CB5094 BEME Sword Beach 6June1944.jpg