Help wanted with identifications

[Kieron Hill]

I need help identifying some regimental badges. I picked this
8th Army Service of Thanks Giving and Service
of Thanks Giving for Victory service sheets on ebay.

They're very interesting and one of them has a hand written
note on the reverse:-

"Held at Rivalto near Udine Italy at 9.00am May 1945 in our
camping field with the Alps in the background".

Any ideas what regiments where in/around that area at the
this time?

They both have regimental badges on the covers, some I know
others I do not...any ideas?

I've attached scanned copies of these via file attachments, I
hope they come out.

[Gerry Chester]

Originally posted by kieron hill@Jul 24 2004, 02:34 PM
I need help identifying some regimental badges. I picked this
8th Army Service of Thanks Giving and Service
of Thanks Giving for Victory service sheets on ebay.

They're very interesting and one of them has a hand written
note on the reverse:-

"Held at Rivalto near Udine Italy at 9.00am May 1945 in our
camping field with the Alps in the background".

Any ideas what regiments where in/around that area at the
this time?

They both have regimental badges on the covers, some I know
others I do not...any ideas?

I've attached scanned copies of these via file attachments, I
hope they come out.

Hello Kieron,

Some of the badges, of units with which my Regiment was associated, are in the Gallery.

As the attachment is truncated, please e-mail the two of them to me in order that I may help you further. Made smaller is possible, to vqpnih@msn.com.

The North Irish Horse was located near Udine in May - although I was home in England on LIAP at the time, possibly I may find something in the records about other units in the vicinity for you. Perchance is there name on either piece?

Gerry

[Sgt Pilot Bernard Henson RAFVR]

Yellow Axe on Black Background ~78th Infantry Dvn.UK
HD in Red on Blue/Purple Ground~51st Highland Dvn.UK
Red Quartered Circle on White Ground~4th Infy Dvn.UK
Yellow Trefoil on Red Ground ~8th Indian Dvn.India
Blue Pegasus on Maroon Ground~Airborne Divn.UK
White Female with Seaxe on Red Ground~Polish Divn.
White Shield with Yellow Cross~8th Army
Black Boar on white Ground~30th Army Corps
White Circle & Bar on Red Ground~10th Army Corps
"GO" On Green Ground on Black~8th Armoured Divn
Viking Ship with Red Cross on Black Ground~5th Army Corps
Red Gazelle on White Ground on Red~13th Army Corps~BETFOR
White Triangle on Red Ground~1st Divn.UK

[Gerry Chester]

Following up on Bernard's list:
To the immediate right of 8th Army shield: Royal Canadian 1st Infantry Corps.

Syrena, the Maid of Warsaw, is the insignia of Ander's 2nd Polish Corps. Division signs carried a green fir tree and a red eagle.

Gerry

[Gerry Chester]

With Kieron's permission the cover of 8th Army Service has been reprudced
http://www.geocities.com/vqpvqp/nih/Insign...my-Service.html

If known, please identify any of the nine badges not named. Thank you.

Gerry

[BeppoSapone]

Originally posted by Gerry Chester@Jul 26 2004, 03:42 PM
With Kieron's permission the cover of 8th Army Service has been reprudced
http://www.geocities.com/vqpvqp/nih/Insign...my-Service.html

If known, please identify any of the nine badges not named. Thank you.

Gerry

These Formation Signs are those of units that fought as part of 8th Army at any time, rather than just in Italy.

For example, 44th (Home Counties) Division was disbanded after El Alamein and the 9th Australian Division were back in Australia long before the Allied landings in Italy.

Here are the 'unknown' flashes identified.

LEFT

8) 9th Australian Division - vehicle marking etc, not on uniform. A system of geometrical "colour patches" were what was worn on the actual uniforms. Some of the other signs shown were also vehicle markings eg the Canadians wore plain rectangular "battle patches" - no maple leaf.

13) British - 44th (Home Counties) Division - Oval design represents Kennington Oval.

16) 5th Kresowa Infantry Division, Free Polish Army.

18) Free French Forces

RIGHT

9) 10th Indian Division

10) 1st South African Division

15) 5th Indian Division

16) 2nd South African Division

18) British - 6th Division

Also,

12) is actually the sign of 4th Indian Division rather than the Polish Kresowa Division. Their badge was the Polish Bison identified above.

[Gerry Chester]

Thank you Beppo for filling in the blanks and for the correction. Your comment about Kennington Oval brings back many happy memories of watching my Uncle Frank umpiring test matches - a long time ago!

For the benefit for members who may be interested, here is the updated page:
http://www.geocities.com/vqpvqp/nih/Insign...my-Service.html

Gerry

PS Somewhere I have 1st Army's Service held after the end of hostilities in Tunisia.

[Kieron Hill]

I would just like to say a very big thank you
to everyone that has helped identify the
regimental signs on the service sheets.
Its been very interesting.

Once again thankyou!!!!

Regards

Kieron

[Gerry Chester]

Can anyone help Kieron out with this one?

[BeppoSapone]

Originally posted by Gerry Chester@Jul 27 2004, 12:15 PM
Can anyone help Kieron out with this one?

A bit of "artistic license" has been taken with the two signs, that are not quite "right".

However, the "wavy lines" on a shield was the sign of a Higher Formation -"Headquarters 15th Army Group".

The "Torch of Freedom", is probably supposed to be "HQ Central Meditterranean Force".