Found the attached photo, taken during Veritable, on the internet. Which unit are these men from. Does anyone recognise the shoulder flash of the medic on the left? More of these pictures can be found here: WW2 RADIO - WW2 RADIO added 44 new photos to the album:... | Facebook
There is another photo of a jeep with the HD sign of 51st Div some of those pics on FB were IDed as 6th KOSB of 15th Div but I'm not so sure Private Beale of the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1 November 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45. © IWM (B 11563)IWM Non Commercial Licence
looks like the brigade indicator to me. chaps on those FB phoos are wearing that square of tartan more like a diamond , based on a corner whereas the IWM photo of 6 KOSB has the square flat on it's base
First Research THIS one is from the CAMERONIANS, BUT no 15th (Scottish) divisional sign. SO this should be 6th or 7th Battalion. 9th Cameronians Sleeve insignia: CAMERONIANS black on dark green shoulder title (1943-1944), or 2" square tartan patch worn on its point (1945). 15th (Scottish) divisional sign See http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2012/helmet-flashes-in-the-british-army Or http://www.cameronians.com/insignia.htm "2" square tartan patch worn on its point (1945)"
Indeed, you're right Owen, this tartan patch belongs to the 6th KOSB Regiment. One of the first units in Germany during Veritable. Together with the 15th (Scottish) divisional sign on their Sleeve http://www.cameronians.com/15th/ukosb.htm
I've been informed that the soldiers on the pictures do not belong to the KOSB, but instead are Cameronians, since they wear the tartan shoulder flash diagonally. That would make them 9th Cameronians, since it is obvious they belong to 15th Scottish Division. The shoulder flashes of the medics on the above photograph are clearly worn diagonally. Since I'm no expert when it comes to shoulder flashes: can anyone of the experts on this forum confirm the above. Are the soldiers depicted Cameronians.
It all depends on the date and location. I've seen this photo on Google Cultural Institute and saved the following screengrab, but can't find it again. I think I can (barely) distinguish the AoS "1234" of 6 Aslt Regt RE just to the right of the first-aid box on the rear plate. The other photos in the series might give us some clue as to the time and place and thus point to the Aslt Sqn. Michel
Drew, I believe it's Feb 1945. This picture belongs to the series of TIME/Life photographs on Veritable. Just like the one I posted in the first post of this thread. To fix the location of these images I'm now looking for a combination of 9th Cameronians and 6 Aslt Regt RE.
This might be the sequence of the images: 1) While medics are bandaging a wounded man, a small group of POWs are escorted back from a ruined farmhouse, which appears to be 'Haus Kreutzfurth'. The other man in the next shell hole unfortunately is beyond any help. It seems like both men became a casualty from a shellburst in the trees. A thick cut-off branch has fallen across the second hole. The man wearing the Balmoral cap could be an officer. 2) A group of infantry men, who are digging in beyond the ditch, watch the scene as the POWs pass by. The same group of soldiers appears on the picture 7) below. 3) The medic has unpacked the dressing and starts bandaging the wounded soldier 4) .. finished the dressing 5) A soldier has come to the assistance of the medics and it seems they are about to lift the wounded man onto the stretcher. 6) The same medics with their wounded somewhat further down the road towards Groesbeek (for the exact location see: VERITABLE: 15th Scottish & 43rd Wessex Divisions in the Reichswald battle (Feb 1945)) 7) A group of soldiers digging in. They seem a bit affected by the incident that just happened. Note the fresh shrapnel marks on the trees. 7) The body of the fallen soldier (may he RIP) has been carefully moved off the road, out of harms way. He carries a stengun which might indicate he was a section leader. Note the wooden fence which is a small bridge railing and is also visible on pictures 1 & 2. 8) Shot of a now empty lane. The real sad thing about the photographs is that the British casualties probably were caused by 'friendly' shellfire. According to a quote of the War Diary of the 9th Cameronians: 8 Feb 45 1300 A Coy commences moving to F.U.P. followed by B & C. The main axis was by this time impassable at one point due to mud and tanks were held up but were still able to give support. 1440 B Coy reported progressing well but own ARTY falling short and number of casualties See for the War Diaries of 15th Scottish adwb's site: http://media.wix.com...f2e3380a100.pdf
I'll have a look but I'm 99.9% sure I only have the 1944 diaries for both units. Nice run of pictures
These photos do look like they were shot around the same time & place. 15 (Scottish) Div was supported by 81 & 284 Aslt Sqns RE (both part of 6 Aslt Regt RE) , but I don't know which Sqn supported which Bde... If a higher res version of the last photo in stolpi's latest post above can be found, it might show the Sqn symbol. Michel
This last AVRE also appears on IWM B14518 here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Campaign_in_North_West_Europe_1944-45_B14518.jpg "Churchill AVRE with Spigot mortar in Kleve, Germany, 12 February 1945." In the higher resolution version (click "original file"), with the eye of the faith one could see a Sqn symbol, just only visible in the form of a very faint vertical rectangle (of which only a part is discernible) between the Besa and the driver's port. This would indicate 284 Aslt Sqn RE. The light colour of the rectangle would also be consistent with the Yellow for 6 Aslt Regt RE. Michel
All the photos in stolpi's post above belong to a 22-photo TimeLife series "British Attack At Nijmegan Feb 45" by George Silk, to be found here (all photos are zoomable): https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/browse/British%20Attack%20At%20Nijmegan?q.openId=8129907598665562501&v.filter=items&v.refine&hl=en Michel