The sinking of the Laconia

[Peter Brydon]

It seems from previous threads here that many members take an interest in military uniforms as worn in T.V.programmes and films. ( Dads Army being an example ).

Ryans Daughter was on the box over the holiday period and I have always thought the British officers uniform does not look right for the period.

Last night on BBC2 there was a programme called The Sinking of the Laconia and there appeared to be a mish mash of uniforms being worn by M.N. officers aboard the same ship with different rank stripes being worn by the officers and some officers wearing red arm badges. One officer had rank insignia on both his eppaulets and on his cuffs.

I wonder if any members who specialise in Naval insignia can comment and if any collectors of German items have any thoughts on some of the insignia worn on head gear by some of the German submariners ?

P.B.

[Sonofacqms]

Peter, I too was interested in the programme last night, I will watch again to see more of the insignia tonight. I was trying to see what the Army Officer was wearing in the way of formation signs. I presume he was 8th Army, wearing what looked like the Crusader cross on shield. As for the guards for the Italian prisoners, they seemed to have "POLAND" on their uniforms. Again, without close inspection this is difficult to ascertain the validity of insignia for the period.

As for Merchant Navy and Kreigsmarine badges, I have no great interest or knowledge, I have seen in Photos U-boat crew members wearing eidelweiss and swordfish on the sides of their caps, along with the normal eagle and swastika/scrambled egg. As to whether thery wore check shirts is anyones guess.

[BWEF]

Following the two part Alan Bleasedale programme on the Laconia BBC2 broadcast a documentary that interviewed some of the survivors.

According to this documentary some 1,621 passengers died in the sinking. Yet the CWGC list only 15:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_...4004409&mode=1

Anyone know why?

Out of interest, here is a link to the documentary:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ivors_Stories/

Here are links to the two 90 minute episodes of Bleasdale's story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...nia_Episode_1/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...nia_Episode_2/

The BBC only have this available for one week, so be quick if you want to watch.

Also, I am not sure if you can watch if you live outside the UK, but it is worth a try.

[tynesideirish]

Originally Posted by Sonofacqms

I have seen in Photos U-boat crew members wearing eidelweiss and swordfish on the sides of their caps, along with the normal eagle and swastika/scrambled egg. As to whether they wore check shirts is anyones guess.

U boat crew often wore the ships emblem on their caps and there is plenty of evidence of them wearing British Denims and check shirts at sea.

Originally Posted by BWEF

According to this documentary some 1,621 passengers died in the sinking. Yet the CWGC list only 15:

Anyone know why?

They where mainly Italian POW's and a few civilians. Probably correct to say only the Crew and military personnel would be on the CWGC lists.

[BWEF]

Originally Posted by tynesideirish

They where mainly Italian POW's and a few civilians. Probably correct to say only the Crew and military personnel would be on the CWGC lists.

I accept that the Italian POWs would not be mentioned, but where are the crew and the armed forces personnel?

Most of the 15 names given in the link I posted seem to be women and children, and I am sure that there would have been more than 15 passengers killed.

[Gurkha]

The uniforms worn by the Royal Navy in this were very strange, but I'm not a matlow.

[Peter Brydon]

Gurkha,

That was why I started the thread in the first place, as well as what I also thought were rather strange Naval uniforms,the Poles seemed to have cloth shoulder titles on their shirts.

I have never seen British Naval officers wearing Sam Brown belts ( or similar ) with pistol holsters

P.B.

[BWEF]

Originally Posted by BWEF

I accept that the Italian POWs would not be mentioned, but where are the crew and the armed forces personnel?

Most of the 15 names given in the link I posted seem to be women and children, and I am sure that there would have been more than 15 passengers killed.

I have done a minimum of work on this, and suspect that the service personnel may be listed on the El Alamein Memorial.

Certainly this one is:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...sualty=1536290

Here is his story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/lancashi...00/9345212.stm

[Gurkha]

PB
I think, they have modeled the RN on the US navy with added sam brownes all pictures I have seen the navy are wearing 38 patt web belt with holster.
Interesting post

steve

[Stanley_C_Jenkins]

I thought that most of the British Merchant Navy officers were portrayed wearing Cunard uniforms, which look like RN uniforms but have different cap badges (?)

With reference to an earlier remark in this thread, I would agree that the bloke in Ryan's daughter never looked right to me - his tunic has hardly any "skirts" and it is too short (apparently, he was reluctant to do the love scenes with Sarah Miles, perhaps because of her curious methods of skin care, which involve the use of urine for cosmetic purposes).

[grey_green_acorn]

Originally Posted by Stanley_C_Jenkins

I thought that most of the British Merchant Navy officers were portrayed wearing Cunard uniforms, which look like RN uniforms but have different cap badges (?)

With reference to an earlier remark in this thread, I would agree that the bloke in Ryan's daughter never looked right to me - his tunic has hardly any "skirts" and it is too short (apparently, he was reluctant to do the love scenes with Sarah Miles, perhaps because of her curious methods of skin care, which involve the use of urine for cosmetic purposes).

I think the Officer in Ryan's Daughter was wearing the Cap Badge of the Royal Military College (Sandhurst) K&K 1075