Help identifying uniform

Discussion in 'General' started by bunman, Apr 3, 2011.

  1. bunman

    bunman Junior Member

    Hi,

    I am new to this site so apologies if this is not the correct forum for my query.

    The attached photo is of my grandfather and I would like to request help in identifying his uniform - I do not have any information about what regiment he was in (or even whether he was Bristish or American). I believe that he served in North Africa and Italy, certainly during 1943-44.

    It has been suggested that the uniform could be a Staff Officer uniform or a US uniform. Any thoughts from anyone else would be appreciated.

    Many thanks,
    Dan
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    3 pips show he is a British [or Commonwealth] Captain in the army.
    What's his full name , as we can find his date of commision , promotions & units on the London Gazette website.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Dan, welcome to the forum!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  4. bunman

    bunman Junior Member

    Hi Steve, Thanks.

    Hi Owen,

    Thanks for confirming that he is a Capt in the British army. I had thought as much but was questioning it after observations on another thread:
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/airborne/33749-help-needed-arnhem-vets-please-3.html

    My problem is that I know very little about my grandfather, except the following:

    - the photo says "Capt Duglas" on the back
    - my grandfather died (I believe) between May 1944 and Feb 1945
    - I have only been able to find 2 possible Capt Douglas's that fit these dates: John Shewell Douglas, Parachute Regiment & Keith Castellain Douglas, Royal Armoured Division
    - the only things my mum "knows" about her father are:
    -he met my grandmother in North Africa, she was a physiotherapist in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (?) and he may have been a patient
    -they both spent some time in Italy

    Is there anything else that the uniform could tell us? Does the button on the lapel signify anything?

    Thanks,
    Dan
     
  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Can you make a larger scan of it, it's rather small.
     
  6. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Dan,

    The photograph puts him in Rome (Roma) and this wasn't liberated, if my memory serves me right until 6 June 1944 (or similar). So, he must have died therafter.

    Keith Castellain Douglas, Royal Armoured Division, was KIA in France on the 9 June 1944 and so it is unlikely to be him.

    John Shewell Douglas, 11th Bn, Parachute Regiment A.A.C. was KIA at Arnhem, on 21 September 1944; but had he/the 11th Battalion been in N Africa/Italy? I think we need someone with knowledge of the Paras to come to your aid here!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  7. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    It is possible the he served in another unit, before being posted to 11th Para, for this you need the officer list.

    07.03.1942


    commissioned, The Hampshire Regiment [emergency commission]
    26.05.1943


    transferred, Parachute Regiment - Army Air Corps
    (09.1944)


    Second-in-Command, B Company, 11th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem [killed in action
     
  8. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    On page 30 of Who was Who at Arnhem there is a photo of some of the officers of the 11th Btn and if the wording is correct Captain Douglas is third from right in the second row......there does appear to be some resemblence.....
     
  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Dan,

    Hello and welcome to the forum.

    It looks like you are really getting somewhere with your research.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  10. bunman

    bunman Junior Member

    Hello All,

    Many thanks for all of your helpful responses.

    I will try and upload a larger scan later but it is not good enough quality to make out any markings on the lapel button.

    I have had some useful input from others on the Airborne forum and feel that my grandfather was most likely John Shewell Douglas but I am still trying to work out the Italy link as seems the 11 battalion B company did not see action there.

    Airborne Medic,

    Is it possible at all to upload the picture from Who was Who at Arnhem ? I have one other photo which I will upload later (this doesn't have any insignia or other markings).

    Dan
     
  11. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    On first look it appeared to be the button on a staff officers gorget, On closer inspection this is unlikely, the gorget patch is not seen. The 'button' or maybe small badge would probably indicate regiment or other unit. I have blown this picture up but the definition is lost. This is a document search one I think.
     
  12. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Bunman - that button on his lapel is that of a "red tab" fixed below - indicating that he was on the staff of GHQ - somewhere...
    Cheers
     
  13. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    ...I have had some useful input from others on the Airborne forum and feel that my grandfather was most likely John Shewell Douglas but I am still trying to work out the Italy link as seems the 11 battalion B company did not see action there.

    Dan

    Hello Dan,

    Unless Philip posted this as an example, did he not give an insight into why your grandfather was in Italy (below) i.e. he transferred from the Hampshire Regt to the Paras?!

    It is possible the he served in another unit, before being posted to 11th Para, for this you need the officer list.

    07.03.1942

    commissioned, The Hampshire Regiment [emergency commission]
    26.05.1943

    transferred, Parachute Regiment - Army Air Corps
    (09.1944)

    Second-in-Command, B Company, 11th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem [killed in action

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  14. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    On Airborne Assault Para Data - there is listed a Captain John Shewell Douglas BA. His Headstone at Oosterbeek reads - Captain JS Douglas Para Regt ,Army Air Corp. 21 Sept 44 age 23. Many officers transfered whilst wearing para headdress often wore their parent regt uniform - Captain Richard Todd can be seen in photos wearing Para beret with Ox and Bucks uniform.
     
  15. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    On Airborne Assault Para Data - there is listed a Captain John Shewell Douglas BA. His Headstone at Oosterbeek reads - Captain JS Douglas Para Regt ,Army Air Corp. 21 Sept 44 age 23. Many officers transfered whilst wearing para headdress often wore their parent regt uniform - Captain Richard Todd can be seen in photos wearing Para beret with Ox and Bucks uniform.

    Hello Wills,

    I thought Richard Todd was commisioned in the KOYLI and only played the role of John Howard of the O&BLI in the film 'The Longest Day'?!?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  16. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    You are right KOYLI however, Where I went wrong was as one of the first British officers to land on Day Todd met up later with the Ox and Bucks, He did it for real! A lifteime member of the Parachute regiment association. My late father a pre war regular would never watch war films - 'I was there at the rehearsals'
     
  17. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Further to Captain Douglas - his epitaph on the CWGC headstone reads Assiduitate Non Desidia - 'By Industry not Idleness'
     
  18. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Captain Richard Todd Parachute regiment met up with Major John Howard - later as you say he played him in the film. Todds wartime exploits are worth a read.
     
  19. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Captain Richard Todd Parachute regiment met up with Major John Howard - later as you say he played him in the film. Todds wartime exploits are worth a read.
    As we are going a bit off topic this should help clear up the Richard Todd issue,
    ;)
    Quote:
    During the Second World War, Todd joined the British Army receiving a commission in 1941. Initially, he served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry before joining the Parachute Regiment and being assigned to the 7th (Light Infantry) Battalion as part of the British 6th Airborne Division.

    On 6 June 1944, as a captain, he participated in the British Airborne Operation Tonga during the D-Day landings. Capt. Todd was among the first British officers to land in Normandy as part of Operation Overlord. His battalion were reinforcements that parachuted in after glider forces had landed and completed the main assault against Pegasus Bridge near Caen. He later met up with Major John Howard on Pegasus Bridge and helped repulse several German counter attacks.

    As an actor, Todd would later play Howard in the 1962 film The Longest Day.
     
  20. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    It is possible the he served in another unit, before being posted to 11th Para, for this you need the officer list.

    07.03.1942


    commissioned, The Hampshire Regiment [emergency commission]
    26.05.1943


    transferred, Parachute Regiment - Army Air Corps
    (09.1944)


    Second-in-Command, B Company, 11th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem [killed in action

    I think the way that these details have posted from the website is a bit confusing. If you look at the site it reads more like this:

    07.03.1942 commissioned, The Hampshire Regiment [emergency commission]

    26.05.1943 transferred, Parachute Regiment - Army Air Corps

    (09.1944) Second-in-Command, B Company, 11th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem [killed in action])


    This is the website:

    1st British Airborne Division officers -- D

    All the best..........:)
     

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