Pte Walter Harris Photo - Queen's Regiment

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by bulldogfogg, Jan 27, 2007.

  1. bulldogfogg

    bulldogfogg Junior Member

    Just got this photo from a relative of mine, can the forum put some info on this for me....... medals, cap badge etc

    Regards

    Tracey
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  3. 52nd Airborne

    52nd Airborne Green Jacket Brat

    Sorry I can't assist you with identifiying the regiment, I can't clearly see the cap badge or the shoulder flash. The top medals are as follows from left to right:
    • 1939-1945 Star
    • Africa Star
    • Italy Star
    • France & Germany Star
    • Defence Medal
    • War Medal 1939-1945
    I hope this helps.
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Could it be the Lamb and Flag of Queen's Regt?
    http://www.btinternet.com/~ian.a.paterson/Badges/Infantry/QueensRoyalRegtbadge.jpg
    Part of 7th Armd Div?

    The badge on his photo looks flat at the bottom like theirs.
    Their shoulder flash said QUEENS

    BBC - WW2 People's War - Changing use of language: Queen's Royal (West Surrey) Regiment

    During the war, I was in the Queen’s Royal (West Surrey) Regiment. We wore shoulder flashes marked ‘Queen’s’

    The Medal ribbon he had is for his Africa Star with 8 on it to denote service with 8thArmy.
    Africa Star - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    An '8' is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote this bar


    The Africa Star, British Second World War Campaign Medal.
     
  5. 52nd Airborne

    52nd Airborne Green Jacket Brat

    Interesting D-Day note on the Queens.

    The naval officer in charge of the Mulberry Harbour had his HQ on HMS Despatch. The Anti Aircraft Guns were manned by men from the Queens Regiment. It was the first time in 280 years that naval guns were manned by Soldiers, then it had been the Queens Regiment and now again in 1944 it was the Queens Regiment.
     
  6. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    I don't think it's Queen's - do you have an uncropped version of his photo? Part of a shoulder title is just visible - I am wondering if more is visible on the original?
     
  7. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

    Interesting D-Day note on the Queens.

    The naval officer in charge of the Mulberry Harbour had his HQ on HMS Despatch. The Anti Aircraft Guns were manned by men from the Queens Regiment. It was the first time in 280 years that naval guns were manned by Soldiers, then it had been the Queens Regiment and now again in 1944 it was the Queens Regiment.

    Does that mean that the Maritime Regiments (Royal Artillary) weren't manning "naval" guns? What constitutes a naval gun, in light of this thread? I know the served on Defensively Equiped Merchant Ships (DEMS), but I take it these don't count as "naval guns"?

    I really must find out more about naval warfare - it's my weakest subject.:eek:
     
  8. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

    Is this the same Walter Harris discussed back in 2005? Link
     
  9. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Looks to be wearing a Balmoral? Scottish regiment?
     
  10. bulldogfogg

    bulldogfogg Junior Member

    Got an update for you all....... he indeed was Queens
     
  11. 52nd Airborne

    52nd Airborne Green Jacket Brat

    Does that mean that the Maritime Regiments (Royal Artillary) weren't manning "naval" guns? What constitutes a naval gun, in light of this thread? I know the served on Defensively Equiped Merchant Ships (DEMS), but I take it these don't count as "naval guns"?

    I haven't a clue, I just remember reading a reference about it in a book on D-Day sometime ago.


    I really must find out more about naval warfare - it's my weakest subject.

    And mine!
     
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Got an update for you all....... he indeed was Queens
    YES!!!!
    I feel very smug now. :)
     
  13. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Hmm... I am still not sure he is wearing a Queen's Regiment badge in that photo. The badge looks to have a seperate or detached upper section. It may just be the angle of the shot, but... what's the source for him being with the Queen's? Discharge papers?
     
  14. bulldogfogg

    bulldogfogg Junior Member

    Thank you very much for the feedback so far very much appreciated. Now that i have ascertained that he was Queens, could anyone tell me where the 1/5th Queens served from 39 - 46 ?

    Tracey
     
  15. bulldogfogg

    bulldogfogg Junior Member

    Paul,

    Yes his army records turned up yesterday and im still ploughing through them. He was RA (TA) for 117 days and then travelled to Bermondsey to join the Queens
     
  16. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I used to know some Queens near Bermondsey ;)


    I'll get me coat.
     
  17. bulldogfogg

    bulldogfogg Junior Member

    .... dont forget your handbag
     
  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Thank you very much for the feedback so far very much appreciated. Now that i have ascertained that he was Queens, could anyone tell me where the 1/5th Queens served from 39 - 46 ?

    Tracey
    Tracey,
    1/5th Queen's were for some of their time in 7th Armoured Division. The Desert Rats.

    List of units that served in the Desert Rats - 7th Armoured Division

    1/5th Battalion: When war was declared in September 1939 the 1/5th Bn. was part of 131st Infantry Brigade, 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division stationed in Guildford, Surrey. It soon moved to Sussex to guard vulnerable points, before later serving with the rest of the Brigade and Division in the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). There the Battalion was in action in France on the Escaut Canal from 16th to 21st May and again in Strazeele on 27th to 28th May before withdrawing in good order to Dunkirk. While on the Escaut the first DCM of the war was won by Sergeant (later Major) Wynn. Here, too, the DSO was awarded to Major Lord Sysonby. After being evacuated at Dunkirk back to the UK, the Battalion reformed at Oxford on 6th June 1940 and was employed on coastal defence initially in the Wash area, and in 1941 in Kent where a number of casualties were sustained from enemy bombing. With the rest of the Brigade and Division it arrived in North Africa in July 1942 and took part in the Battle of Alam Halfa before joining 7th Armoured Division for the battle of El Alamein. It the remained with the Division throughout the North African Campaign, in Italy, Normandy and in Northern Europe until the end of the war. In November 1944 when the 1/6th and 1/7th Bn. were disbanded men from these battalions joined it to replace the casualties suffered in the Bocage and the break out into France and Belgium.
    When 7th Armoured Division entered Hamburg on 3rd May 1943, the Battalion hoisted the Regimental Flag on the Town. Finally, the Battalion played a leading part in the Victory Parade in Berlin, marching past Churchill and Montgomery with bayonets fixed and colours flying to the rousing strains of the Regimental March 'Braganza'


    Infantry Regiments Page
     
  19. bulldogfogg

    bulldogfogg Junior Member

    Owen

    Thank you very much for this, most interesting.

    Regards

    Tracey
     
  20. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Tracey, can you post his Service Record on here so we can have a look ?
     

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