53rd Div D-Day plus insignia/AoS

Hi chaps

I normally use this as a guide but not sure if it's flawed (I got it from some French website ages ago).



Can someone confirm the Btn's and Brigades in order of seniority please?

I was also shown this from some book...is it correct I don't recognise that form of AoS and the white formation badge???



Cheers in advance

Smudge

 

"Danger Will Robinson! Danger!"

From much experience on this matter I can attest to it being an absolute minefield.

Barclay is accurate but his dates of the new adoption are not (a topic in of itself), similarly what insignia was used in theatre is debated.

Also the above AOS broadly follows the adoption of a particular type of Divisional/Brigade title in around 1943. The W was never in white on BD (I believe all this stems from more Bouchery screw ups). It did appear in white on vehicles for a short period after introduction (but how many vehicles and all that is speculation etc).

 

Thanks; doesn't highlight which were Senior brigades etc? Any idea?

 

Thanks Swiper; I think the web site I got the info from was influenced by the Bouchery book. He also buggered up the 49th, showing the Hallamshire's has being in the Middle Brigade

Any idea which Brigades were Senior etc?

 

Correct.

I favour Ben Kite's Stout Hearts as a comprehensive introduction to the British Army in Normandy etc, covers kit etc well above anyone else.

 

I thought so too but don't want to assume that, what with Brigade's coming and going from time to time

 

Seniority might have been [mis]applied on the basis of when a unit or formation joined its parent. I believe we established something like this amongst 3 Div's RE units with the senior Fd Coy being allotted the junior AoS as johnny-come-latelies to the Div.

 

This may to totally unrelated to the question but I always assumed that they were assigned within a brigade according to the Regular Army's Order of Precedence

The 'Handbook on the British Army 1943' says;
"Each regiment received a number as it was formed, the number indicating the age and seniority of the regiment (in many cases actually a regiment of one battalion)."
Although it continues;
"These numbers no longer have any significance except from a historical and sentimental point of view"

So within the Infantry of the line The Royal Scots are the most senior infantry regiment, then the Queens Royal Regiment, The Buffs, King's Own Royal Regiment etc down to the A & SH and the Rifle Brigade propping up the bottom.
There's a similar system for Cavalry and yeomanry regiments etc and I'm sure I've seen rules for precedence of other corps, units and how they all fit together.