Royal Armoured Corps Insignia, as opposed to that of a constituent regiment?

The next photo is clearly taken somewhere warmer, and I'm guessing Tunis, which 145 Regt helped to liberate. Note the burnt-out 'town hall' type building behind.

The close-up shows Dad sat lower left. All the berret badges appear to be 'WW1 Tank' ones?


The next photo is not very sharp, but it is winter, and the background looks Italian?

The close-up shows Dad sat middle front.


Of more interest is the next one, clearly taken at the same time and location. Showing only the senior NCOs?

In the close-up Dad is standing in the middle. Note the generous helping of Lanyards, again!


More to follow in the next post .............

 

Final photo, and the background looks distinctly 'North-of-England'. Dad is the one in civvies. Is the photo early-War, or late? And as an aside, after Dad retired at age 60 in Newcastle, he was employed part-time by the Vickers Armstrong Tank Works at Scotswood, Newcastle, to train and test their civilian Tank Drivers.





And just to prove that he was at Langholm, here are a few of his wartime sketches.








Many thanks again for your help, and any further info and comments would be gratefully appreciated!

 

Acklington
my final word on this thread is that MY understanding during MY time with the 145th regt. RAC which was from 1943 at Bone in North Africa until I was wounded at San Martino on the Coriano Ridge in Italy in the September of 1944 - did I or any other member of "A" squadron wear anything other than the RAC badge of the mailed fist and two arrows each side of that fist - which was to represent the assault of the fist by the Army Tank regiments and the consequent pursuit through the hole in the line by the Armoured regiments - and at NO time did I nor any other member of "A" squadron wear a red lanyard in Africa NOR Italy and you can take that to the bank !
Cheers

 

Question to the house -Hansard 13 July 1943. Espirt de Corps the Royal Armoured Corp and the wearing of regimental insignia.


Sitting of 13 July 1943 (Hansard)

 

Wills - so what was the question to the house ...?
Cheers

 

A British cavalry officer of the Napoleonic wars - 'The cavalry lend tone to the battlefield, without cavalry warfare would be nothing but a vulgar brawl!'


Sitting of 13 July 1943 (Hansard)

 

Hi Acklington
I have found your picture whilst trawling the net for information on my father. I believe that he may be in your picture 2nd from right, back row. I was wondering if you might be able to enlarge that part of the picture for me like you did for the side your father is in. If it is hom then it may help me to pin point what batallion he was in and then assist my search.

Many thanks in advance.
Caroline
caroline_mandeville@hotmail.com

Hello Tom, I'm delighted to have found someone from my father's regiment.

The first photo is the one that I assume may have been taken in Scotland, prior to the Regiment embarking for North Africa. It certainly doesn't look like North Africa, or even Italy. My father also still looks fairly young. He was in B Squadron, 145 Regiment.


This second view is an enlargement with my father, Sergeant Eric Pain, second from top, lefthand side. Note that the three in the top row all appear to have lanyards, as do many of the others in the whole photo. The berret badges are mainly 'mailed fists', although the man with the glasses has a different badge.


This is the actual tunic that I have, inherited from my father. The forage cap doen't match, but it was found in my former family home. I added the 'West Riding' badge, which was also in my father's possessions.




And finally here is a photo of my father (centre) wearing (I believe) the actual tunic. The photo appears to have been taken in Italy, perhaps in late 1945, or early 1946. By which time he could have been in The Queen's Bays. The other two NCOs have shoulder patches. Dad finished his service as a "W/SQMS".




I hope that you, or other forum members, can help to unravel this 'red lanyard' business. I am starting to wonder if he kept the lanyard from earlier in his service, and then subsequently added it to his final tunic?

Many thanks.

 

Hi Acklington. I've just found this thread, and realise that my father (Sgt 4620171 John Shilton) served with yours in 145RAC. I have a few photos of them together. If you see this post and would like copies, let me know. I have tried to message yous separately. Regards also to Tom Canning (with whom I have corresponded before), if he sees this post.

 

Thanks Owen for the news about Tom, sad though it is. He was quite prolific, and will be very much missed.

 

Following on from the contact from Caroline Mandeville (above), she has confirmed that the "Scottish" group photo (above) was taken at Langholm Lodge, just over the border from Northumberland. Langholm Lodge still exists, and the main building is largely unchanged.

I have amended my original post to confirm this.