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.
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?
I cant post at moment the photos aren'ti n my possesion, will endeavour to get hold of some soon. Whats a TAC?
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></TD></TR><TR><TD>7th Armoured Division <TABLE cellPadding=2 width=56 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></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>
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.
131 Bde were originally in 44 Home Counties Division before they went to 7th Armoured. Now the 55 would work here as 1/5th Queens were the senior battalion in the lead brigade of that Division. 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I've totally confused thing haven't I?
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.