3 RTR B Squadron

Again, according to the WD, it would seem that they held on to the Crocs till March '46, the WD states for that month:

18th 0830; Commencement of Training Conversion of Tank Tradesmen to Sherman Tanks. D&M, Gunnery & Wireless Courses. Class A release of ? ORs.
20th Normal Routine. Disposal Instructions for Churchill “Crocodile” Tanks. 3 R Tks Movement order No. 5. See attached appendix [not attached].
Interesting to see 'Conversion of Tank Tradesmen to Sherman Tanks' , maybe they went back to Shermans, although there's no mention of it anywhere other than that.

 

Thanks, I bet they felt a little short changed, my Dad really rated the Comet, very fast on autobahns, good gun, reliable and low silhouette (unlike the Sherman)
Looking at my Dads post war army letters, generally things seemed comparatively relaxed
Most had German girlfriends and it was difficult to fill the boredom. They certainly had endured a tough 11 months from D Day (apart from the “rest/re -equipment in Poperinge) so deserved a well earned wind down.

 

Well I'm sure you've read what my grandfather had to say about giving up his Comet...not pleased at all! On page 8 of this thread there are some pics of him on guard duty, plus there's also a photo/postcard of him in which he looks to be painting a mural...I wondered if it was an officer's mess somewhere, perhaps Hilsea?

 

Thanks Frank, I’ll take another browse
Have you thought of joining the 3rd RTR Facebook site, not so much WW2 stuff obviously but some interesting stuff always.?

 

Going back to 75 years ago, today:
1400; Bn moves to new area. (leaving Bad Segeberg)
1700; locations: RHQ and HQ Sqn EICHEDE 7672; A Sqn SPRENGE 7568; B Sqn
MULLHAGEN 7471; C Sqn LASBECKDORF 7374.
Which puts them here: Google Maps
Mollhagen (in the WD Mullhagen) is now called Steinburg. It looks like they were held in the area for a while whilst the move to Berlin was being decided, then on 28th, they headed off for Nordestapel.

 

Can anyone identify Charlie's arm badge?






Looks like a specialist's, perhaps this one?



If so, what was it for?

 

11th Armoured Div, charging bull perhaps

 

I agree that it looks like he has an 11th Armoured Div bull up above, and then just below his stripes... well, if that is what looks like a lozenge-shaped WW1 tank that would be a Royal Tank Corps patch, I think. I do think I recognize the side barbette with the gun pointing a little upward. Only it's a different style, cropped close to the emblem instead of a rectangle. on ebay right now there is an apparently Canadian badge which is similar. Do similar British versions exist?

 

British version? Yes, cropped rhomboid shape. Indicates Royal Armoured Corps.

 

The reason I was wondering whether or not it was a specialist badge was that in my grandfather's 24 lancer's 'class portrait', he has the wireless badge in the same position:



..and I wondered if Charlie's indicated a trade, to help with his identification. For example, would a driver or gunner have their own badge? A tank commander? Or did the badge go with the stripes?


Found these on internet:

 

My Dads lozenge patch was the same, there were slight differences in cotton thickness in batches but standard size.

 

So it looks like RTR tankies in general had the RAC badge/patch, except when indicating trade, does anyone have pics of other trade badges?

EDIT: just found this site that sells cloth badges, etc, interesting:
Bob Sims Militaria | Shop

They have the RAC badge, which just indicates 'tank crew'.

 

Item 54807 on Bob Sims site looks pretty good

 

My copy of Badge Backings and Special Embellishments of the British Army by CE Audax tells me that all ranks of the RTR wear as an arm badge the WW1 tank ‘Mother’ on the upper right arm.

 

Looking again at another of the photos taken in Poperinge, you can see that my grandfather also had the 'Mother' arm badge....


So all members of a tank crew wore the same arm badge, irrespective of trade? This must have been something special to RTR, as in his 24 Lancers pic, he has the wireless operator badge.

 

I haven't posted an 'Is-this-Charlie?' post for ages, so here goes.
Could they be the same person?


Oh for some facial-recognition software...

 

well frank there appears to be some similarities between the two 'Is this Charlie' photos, however the earlobes appear to be of different shapes and the neck in the right photo seems slimmer than the one on the left and also the right 'Charlie appears to be slightly taller? what say you?
She

 

Mmmm, maybe this can resolve the matter:



Come on, get classifying!

As for his neck being slimmer....the first pic was taken while they were billetted in Poperinge, hence well-fed (and watered), the second mid-April '45, after a month or so brassing up Germany...so bound to have lost a bit of weight. Earlobe-wise, the pic on the left looks definitely 'oblique-external' to me, but on the right.....

 

Well Frank you have set me a challenge, having studied your ears, I would suggest Virgule ear left Charlie lookalike and Oblique External ear for right Charlie lookalike, what is your opinion on your ears? She

 

Nahh...I reckon they're both oblique-external. Mind you, I'm playing it by ear (groan).