This was recently sent to me by Roddy de Normann. Does anyone have any photos that would confirm name and number location? It comes from their War Diary at TNA...WO 170/838. cheers Kevin
Well, here's a photo of Maryland, a B Sqn Sherman in Egypt from Yeomen Yeomen, their history. No number visible, I'm afraid. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=96619&stc=1&d=1357249941 There's nothing identifiable on any other of their tank pics. I've glimpsed a mention of Compton Wynyates and its stablemates Compton Scorpion and Compton Verney all serving with 4 tp C Sqn in June 1944.
And there's a reference to a Washington in the context of one of the tanks they left behind in Italy! If that's the full set, do I get a prize?
Another wish Grant-ed - Chicago: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=96622&stc=1&d=1357251608
Shame can't make out the name. A Sherman tank of 'B' Squadron, Warwickshire Yeomanry, passing Indian infantry in Frisa, 14 December 1943. THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1943. © IWM (NA 9810)IWM Non Commercial Licence
And there's a reference to a Washington in the context of one of the tanks they left behind in Italy! If that's the full set, do I get a prize? Hi Andy, Yep! Cigar to the man with the names. It is just a shame that the names cannot be tied to the numbers. At least it completes B Squadron. cheers Kevin
I know it is on 0% help to the thread but couldnt help myself doing a Now to that IWM pic I posted. Best view I could do with Streetview. https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Frisa&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GBfficial&client=firefox-a&channel=rcs&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&sa=N&tab=wl
And there's a reference to a Washington in the context of one of the tanks they left behind in Italy! If that's the full set, do I get a prize? And for a special prize! What was their AoS whilst in Italy. I have them as 67 on green whilst in the desert. cheers Kevin
My educated guess would be 175, maybe on blue over brown? Pitt's Royal Wilts: The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 1920-1945 has two thumbnail pics of what must be assumed to be their Shermans in Italy. One clearly carries 17? on its rear. The other is shows what is almost certainly the middle '7' after a probable top of a '1' and before something that's wider than a '1'. There is a June 1942 list for an Army Tank Brigade, issued by GHQ MEF, in Hodges & Taylor's British Military Markings 1939-1945 that has battalion serials as 173-175 on Blue/Brown, horizontal (there is the merest hint of a horizontal split in the R Wilts Yeo photo, but no Army bar). The Warwickshire Yeomanry ought to be the junior battalion/regiment, hence the 175. The brigade was still styled 'Armoured' in Italy but they appear to have been employed in a 'Tank' manner, so it's almost logical. Also, 33 Armd Bde's regiments in Normandy initially carried the same serials 173-175, though Bde HQ was 172, not 171. Incidentally, Platt's The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 1907-1967 has a photo of a Sherman on the dustjacket that appears to be named CORSAIR. Half the number is visible but I can't reliably make out any of the digits. And finally: '67' for Warks Yeo in the desert is confirmed by a photo of one of their trucks in Yeoman Yeoman.
Armoured Acorn has this for 9th Armd Bde. http://www.armouredacorn.com/Reference/BAM/9th%20Armd%20Bde%20-complete.pdf Warkwicks had 67 then from May '44 it was 53. How reliable is this ?
Good find. I would say 'researched' > 'educated guess'. However, bearing in mind the photos in question are a massive 60x40mm, the poor frontal view really doesn't look like a 52; or it could be stowage! The other annoying detail is that the AoS Serials are on the 'wrong' side... http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=96631&stc=1&d=1357293634
I had a look in my copy of Pitt's Royal Wilts too, not the best quality pics are they? That left hand pic. Isn't that the 'white horse' rather than a number ?
Good news and bad news: Warpaint Vol 3 includes this shot: IWN NA 6490 IWM adds that it is Reggio 3 Sep 1943. It can't be 9 Armd Bde as they were in Palestine on this date and yet to receive their Shermans. It does confirm the use of the 17X series in Italy, though. I will resist the urge to try to identify the unit for the time being...
Contact the Regt Museum & ask for a larger copy of this photo. History Contacts similar pic here. chap says Father-in-law's Dad was Warwickshire Yeomanry. Dragon's 1/35 El Alamein Sherman MkII - Sherman Single Type Group Build - Britmodeller.com
That left hand pic. Isn't that the 'white horse' rather than a number ? I think you're right on that one.
Armoured Acorn has this for 9th Armd Bde. http://www.armouredacorn.com/Reference/BAM/9th%20Armd%20Bde%20-complete.pdf Warkwicks had 67 then from May '44 it was 53. How reliable is this ? So do you think that the 67 would have been in red rather than green then? cheers Kevin
So do you think that the 67 would have been in red rather than green then? cheers Kevin I wouldnt like to say without seeing some primary sources . That Amoured Acorn site is very good but I dont know how accurate his info is.
Peter Gudgin's With Churchills to War: 48th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment at War 1939-45 has a photo/caption that identifies its serial as 174 on horizontal yellow over red in 1944. As the intermediate battalion in 21 Tk Bde, 12 R Tks and 145 RAC ought to be 173 and 175 respectively.
Hi, I have just joined the group. My Father was in the Warwickshire Yeomanry in North Africa and Italy and I have some photos of his tanks and squadron if you would like me to share them.