vehicle id

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by james130, Jul 26, 2008.

  1. james130

    james130 Junior Member

    Can anyone tell me what, if anything the number 55 means on the back of a ww2 miltary vehicle? Am trying to ID my grandfathers unit from his photo's.
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Yup it's a tac sign see here.
    Denote which battalion in which brigade of the formation.

    Infantry Division Vehicle Markings


    Can you post a photo?
    Are there any other markings?
    A Divisional sign perhaps?
     
  3. james130

    james130 Junior Member

    I cant post at moment the photos aren'ti n my possesion, will endeavour to get hold of some soon. Whats a TAC?
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Sorry a tactical sign.
    Allows your side to work out who is who but confuses anyone else.
    EDIT: And I confused myself.
    Everything below is utter rubbish!
    I think i've confused things even more.
    DOH!!!

    55 will be for senior battalion in the Brigade.
    So IF as we think it was a Queen's Regimant battalion in the Desert Rats that would make it the 1/5th Bn Queen's Regiment.
    Click that link in the earlier post & it explains who it all works for different units.

    But I think he might be in 2/5th Queens as you said he was in Iraq.
    169th (London) Brigade on 28th November 1940, joining 56th (London) Division, with which they then served in Iraq, Palestine, Egypt and Libya (1942-43) and Italy (1943 - 45) until the end of the war.


    Infantry Regiments Page

    Can you look for a Desert Rat or Black Cat badge on the other side to the 55 sign?
    Italy - Page 2


    <TABLE cellPadding=0 width=79 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=75>[​IMG]</TD></TR><TR><TD>7th Armoured Division


    <TABLE cellPadding=2 width=56 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[​IMG]</TD></TR><TR><TD>56th (London)



    </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


    </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
    <TABLE cellPadding=2 width=56 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>



    </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
     
  5. james130

    james130 Junior Member

    Tx for your help Owen I will look on the photos for further markings. I know he definitely was Queens because he has a photo of him in unifrom with the lamb and lance symbol on it and he also had a pin cushion thing with that symbol on it. I know also that he was a chef/cook. I guess they were still soldiers first.
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  7. james130

    james130 Junior Member

    Dont worry I was already confused anyhow, The thing is you said 1/5th weren't in Iraq and he has some of his photos labelled Iraq. Unfortunately most of the others are unlabelled. Looking at the places the 2/5th were seems to fit better with the stories my mum was told, like S.Africa, India and Iraq. I'm still confused about him being in Tel Aviv and Tripoli though.
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Best thing to do is see if you can borrow the photos and post them up here.
    Looking forward to it.
     
  9. james130

    james130 Junior Member

    will do. cheers
     

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