Hi everyone, new member here researching my Father's military history...he never spoke of his time in the army which I believe was a common thing. His name was Royce Robert Corden 14381269 and from his set of medals I believe he was part of the 5th Reconnaissance Corps. I have applied for his army record which should be with me in a few weeks. I would be grateful for any information on the 5th Reconnaissance war diaries....I believe he served in Italy, North Africa and France during his time in the Army (enlisted December 1942, transferred to the reserves August 1948). I would also be grateful for any information about his medals/patches and also how I should frame them so that I can pass them onto his granddaughter who he never met...he died of malignant melanoma (probably due to exposure to the intense sunshine during the time he spent in Italy & North Africa) two years before she was born. There was only one ribbon in his box of medals but there are two medal bars which I do not understand. Many thanks for any information.
Hi & welcome Re Medals - Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility - GOV.UK R bars - order of wear (medals and bars always the same) items 1 & 2 they should be the other way round i.e 2&1 I would suggest you find a good local medal dealer/shop and ask them to clean and re ribbon the medals Others more specialised will know about the patches etc. TD
5 Recce places him on the Garigliano crossing on 17 Jan 44 and then at Anzio until the breakout on 23 May 44. I am taking a group to look at both locations on 7-10 Jun 18 if you would like to get your head around what 5 Inf Div got up to. The laurel leaf with the King's crown indicates that he was a Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant - one below Regimental Sergeant Major. He must have been around a while to reach that rank. Regards Frank
Hello and welcome-The war diaries are at the National Archives. I can confirm the Italy campaign ones are quite thick. WO 166/4245 Recce 1941 Feb.-Dec. WO 166/6222 5 Recce 1942 Jan., Feb. WO 169/4081 5 Recce 1942 Mar.- Dec. WO 169/8724 5 Recce 1943 Jan.- Aug. WO 169/8725 5 Recce 1943 Sept.- Dec. WO 170/433 5 Recce 1944 Jan.- June WO 169/15777 5 Recce 1944 July- Dec. WO 169/19929 5 Recce 1945 Jan. WO 171/4146 5 Recce 1945 Feb.- Dec Cheers Andy
Many, many thanks TD, Frank and Andy your information is very helpful. Looking at the info in TD's post I have sorted what his medals and ribbons are, but I am still in the dark regarding No.3 and No.9 patches in the photo's. From what I can gather he was in the Army from 1942-1948 and was promoted to Cpl and then Sgt so the No.10 badges in the photo are a bit of a mystery.....any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi all, Any help identifying the cloth badge No.9 in the photo and the crowns on a red background No.10 in the photo would be grately appreciated. As far as I know my father was a Cpl and then Sgt. I think the cloth badge No.3 is either Radio or Wireless operator. MTIA
Best suggestions for 3 & 9: https://www.kellybadges.co.uk/qualification-badges-army-trade-badges-cloth/20850-circle-with-lightning-flashes---small-red-on-blue--embroidered-army-cloth-trade-badge.html https://www.kellybadges.co.uk/unit-arm-badges-arm-badges-regimental-cloth/2314-light-dragoons---tactical-recognition-flash-whiteblack-diamond--embroidered-regimental-cloth-arm-badge.html
Is the insignia for the Light Dragoons but reading the blurb they only became active in 1990 - Light Dragoons - Wikipedia - so I would assume it would be one of the other earlier regiments, i.e. Arm Badge NCOs – Royal Crest From 15th/19th King's Royal Hussars ORs – South Africa flash From 13th/18th Royal Hussars But I am not sufficiently expert to say if I am right or not TD
Many thanks for your replies Tony56 and TD......very helpful. It looks like the Black/White diamond patch (No.9 in photo) comes from 13th/18th Royal Hussars (thank you TD), a Pathe News clip shows the patch being worn:- Balaclava Day By 13/18 Royal Hussars At Wolfenbuttel The 13th/18th Royal Hussars amalgamated with the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars to form the Light Dragoons in 1992 (who have the same Black/White diamond TRF.....I am not sure that it is worn in the same orientation) The reason I am puzzled about The laurel leaf with the King's crown badges is that he enlisted December 1942, and left August 1948 (transferred to the reserves) and according to his service records he started as Private and was promoted to Cpl May 1945 then to A/V/Sgt May 1946.......there is no mention of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, could he have gained the rank elsewhere e.g. Territorial Army?
If you have his service records then please post them, if not then post them when you have them, that way we may be able to answer that question TD
