Vehicle Markings - Armoured Divisions

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by dbf, Jul 23, 2009.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Anyone have a source for vehicle markings for Armoured Divisions?

    In particular, interested in Guards Armoured Division.

    Thanks,
    D
     
  2. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Here's the Guards Armoured Division sign.

    [​IMG]

    I have some stuff on more divisional signs and other vehicle markings that I can scan for you but you'd have to provide your email addy in a PM.
     
  3. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Is there a source for the vehicle numbers?

    IE:
    [​IMG]
     
  5. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

    The best 'quick guide' is in Fortin's 'British Tanks In Normandy'
    I haven't checked if it is correct though!

    [​IMG]
     
    dbf likes this.
  6. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    dbf likes this.
  7. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Your google-fu runs strong :)
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Good work chaps.
     
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Most excellent!

    Thanks M Kenny and Phil - exactly what I was looking for.
    Za thank you anyway for the offer; it looks like I won't need to prevail upon you.

    Glad that I was correct about "53"; really pleased to learn the others, so I can differentiate. This comes in very handy indeed. Am looking through film footage/pics - my Dad swears he saw himself on tank back in a TV documentary years ago and would really like to find something for him.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2023
  10. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Drew5233 likes this.
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    cheers MK, have you also got 4th Cdn Armd ?
     
  12. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

    cheers MK, have you also got 4th Cdn Armd ?

    Unfortunately the book takes it's title seriously. The Poles and Canadians are missed out.
     
  13. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    ...my Dad swears he saw himself on tank back in a TV documentary years ago and would really like to find something for him.

    That is amazing! What was his reaction? :)
     
  14. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

    If your father 'saw' himself in a documentary then it is 99% certain it was compiled using footage from the IWM Film Library. They have a searchable database where (when known) Units appearing on film are mentioned.

    Imperial War Museum Collections Online Database

    Sample:

    I. LST 406 disgorges detachments from a US Army artillery unit and the 22nd Armoured Brigade onto 'Jig Green' Beach at low tide while a US Navy tank landing craft disembarks British troops (1/7th Queens or Royal Engineers).
    II. Tanks, recovery and engineering equipment and transport belonging to 69th Brigade's supporting assault units are assembled in C13 marshalling camp near Winchester.
    III. Troops receive 24-hour ration packs.
    IV. A rising tide compresses armour, self-propelled artillery, transport and wreckage along 'King Red' Beach. A man is lowered over the side of Sergeant Ginger's infantry landing craft. 56th Brigade troops wade ashore from US Navy landing craft. A sign warns of minefields behind 'King Red'.
    V. A 6th Green Howards soldier gets his hair cut in camp.
    VI. An LCT convoy sails for Normandy.
    VII. The 6th Green Howards takes its first prisoners; these are escorted to the beach. Beach Group sappers probe a ditch behind 'King Red' for mines. A 6th Green Howards carrier has its waterproof skirting removed. The battalion advances inland with several armoured fighting vehicles including a 50th Division Wolverine and several Sextons.

    They are extremely helpful and though the price of copies is steep to you and me WW2 Veterans get a massive discount.
    You can visit and view as many reels as you want for a nominal fee.

    Pathe have an online searchable online film library that uses much of the IWM footage.
    The advantage Pathe has is the film has been digitised and it is of much better quality than the IWM copies
    British Pathe
     
  15. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Za, Have sent you a PM

    M Kenny, thanks already got in touch with IWM by email about pics, footage etc. I baulked at prices, but armed with the knowledge for discount for Veterans, I am a much happier bunny. Hoping to find something online to show to him for his opinion first. Am almost certain I have seen it since, or at least something very similar ...

    Much obliged
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2023
  16. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Di, im sure you have already looked, but have you tried searcing Google-Video ?
     
  17. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    Danger: Attempted Thread Hijack

    I've often groused about the dearth of information concerning the British Army that is available to me here in the States. Looking at the patches, flashes, markings, etc mentioned above has led to wonder about who wore what and how. I see a good bit of talk in the forum about regimental cap insignia, which is and was not in use by US forces, at least in the same manner.

    Which finally brings me to my question. Did all British Army soldiers wear regimental cap/hat insignia and a divisional patch (provided, of course, they were part of a division)? Or did only the "divisional" troops, those of Div HQ, support formations and the like, wear divisional patches?

    If there is a good online read concerning the wearing of British formation insignia, please point me to it?
     
  18. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Jeff

    Scroll up instead of down and have another look at Peter G's British Formation signs.

    I thought this covered the matter , at least as far as the patches, pretty well.

    It is interesting to read:
    I see a good bit of talk in the forum about regimental cap insignia, which is and was not in use by US forces, at least in the same manner.


    I had never given any previous thought to the matter and didn't realise that the US Army did not have the same system as their British counterparts.
    Cheers
    Ron
     
  19. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    Jeff

    Scroll up instead of down and have another look at Peter G's British Formation signs.

    I thought this covered the matter , at least as far as the patches, pretty well.
    I saw those and they are very helpful. I was just wondering under what conditions they divisional patches were worn.

    It is interesting to read:
    I had never given any previous thought to the matter and didn't realise that the US Army did not have the same system as their British counterparts.
    Cheers
    Ron
    US Regimental insignia was called Distinctive Unit Insignia and if available for a given regiment, was usually worn on lapels of Class As. It was not worn on combat apparel, only divisional insignia, and if the soldier was part of division. Other non-divisional formations also had shoulder insignia.

    There were variations in regimental insignia, with the Third Infantry Regiment coming to mind first, with their black & buff-colored belts and the 4th with their shoulder loops. Most others were in the form of a laquered, metal crest pinned to their Class A uniforms. They were not used much after 1942.

    Anyway, what was the criteria for the wearing of unit insignia in the British Army?
     
  20. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Jeff

    Any minute now the Mods are going to descend on us and say "What's all this to do with Vehicle Markings ?" but, what the hell !....... we've got the bit between our teeth so let's continue :)

    You say:
    Anyway, what was the criteria for the wearing of unit insignia in the British Army?

    I don't think there was any criteria as such, it always seemed to me that every unit in the British Army had their own set of rules regarding what they could show and where they could show it.
    I've no doubt that other members will come up with the correct criteria.:rolleyes:

    I thought you might like to see the two badges below.

    The first one is the Regimental cap badge of ny old unit, the IVth Queen's Own Hussars. It is not my original one because I gave that to an old friend of mine, who also served with me, just before he died and I replaced it with another one that I bought online. The smaller badge is what's known as a "Sweetheart Badge" and these used to be bought by servicemen for the girls they left behind. I bought this for my own sweetheart and she wears it annually on the AJEX parade at the cenotaph.

    Finally, you get to see the same cap badge as originally worn and on display at the same AJEX parade
     

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