CQMS Fogden ( wearing beret) ,9th Royal Sussex,is shown here with four other men. He and two of the others have Royal Sussex Badges but the man in the middle has a different badge on his sleeves. Can anyone suggest which unit he might be from. The photo was likely to have been taken in India about 1943. Any ideas?
I would suggest it's later than 1943 as they have their medal ribbons up. The fellow with beret looks to be a Staff Sergeant and the one wearing a sidecap looks to be a WO2. Why have two of those wearing slouch hats got braid on their hats. Can't say I've seen this before.
We know that some Sussex men, including CQMS Fogden were in other Sussex Btns. which were with BEF, and after Dunkirk were moved to the 9th, later going to India and Burma.There were variations in the slouch hats- I have seen both cloth and braid and mixed. Photo could well be later. Black & white does not show up medal ribbon colours. It was the badges of man in the midddle which puzzled me.
Yes, I can see that now, but I don't recognise the badges on the sleeves of the soldier in the middle, front row.
And I still don't--and it's bothering me! I've been through all the obvious candidates and nothing quite matches.
I know what you're thinking: those two diagonally descending marks--that's what I've been searching for first. But whatever dark 'blob' is above them is too large for any patch I can find.
It is after 1946 as 4 are wearing Burma star ribbon with the 39-45 star The Burma star ribbon was authorised to wear 1946 The 39-45 star ribbon was authorised for wear in 1943.
wtid, well thats another idea......for the badge. Re date, it could be 1946, Royal Sx disbanded that year. That could explain style of hat.Thanks
Dont you mean the 1939 - 1943 Star was authorised for wear in 1943 might be difficult for the 39 - 45 star to be available in 1943 TD
TD yes the 39-43 star and Africa star were both authorised to wear in 43 The (39-43 ribbon then became the 39-45 ribbon) hence why you see photos with them being worn but not together as you could only wear one and a rosette was to be worn if both awarded (the reason why bob rosette is gilt is to distinguish between the Africa ribbon where a silver rosette was to be worn) This was changed in 1946 to allow both stars to be worn and the silver rosette was scrapped for the 39-45 star but the gilt one still kept for the BoB clasp The Africa star had 3 clasps confirmed And the rosette was to be worn with Atlantic, air crew Europe, France and Germany ribbons Pacific and Burma ribbons as neither of the first 3 could be worn together but only the 1st 2 if awarded all 3 (the last was not to be worn) and same as the last 2.
I asked about that patch over on British & Commonwealth Military Badge forum, and got an swift and convincing reply: "10th (Poona) Lines of Communications Area (two Mahratta swords crossed below a circular shield - a black design on a red square)". Cheers, Pat. Edited to remove image kindly provided by Mike Jackson on B&CMB forum (I wasn't sure about copyright, etiquette, etc. so thought I'd play safe. Definitely looks like the same insignia though)
Pat, That is a magnificent result and answers my question. And of course Jitter Party did the same, but you have described it for me. Many thanks.
Somehow missed Jitter Party's post altogether, which comprehensively beat mine to the draw - apologies, JP! A quick Google around only turned up one source, which suggests 110th LOC Area, part of Southern Command (India), was created in May 1944 and from this link it seems (though I don't think it's clear - someone will know, surely) to have been subsumed in a November 1945 reorganisation; if this were the case, then we'd have a time period for the photo I guess. Here's the formation sign from Google images:
