Gents I have been corresponding with Neil Craig on the subject, repeated references link 854 to both 373 Co and 226 Co. The symbol on the truck doors of vehicles bearing AOS 854 is 2 letter Ts one inverted, however a famous picture of one carrying a Buffalo toward the Rhine has 2 before the Ts and a 26 after the Ts , consequently this symbol and the AOS 854 have been link to 226 Co; In The National Archives index against 226 Co throughout the latter half of WW2 they are a general transport Co in Italy. Another Diamond T with the same TT marking in a Buffalo carrying convoy just has the Ts and but else where on the cab side a number which appears to be 1/20 or possibly 1/30 Neil has suggested to me these could be unit identifiers for the vehicles; i.e. 2 26 = 2 platoon truck 26, with 1/20 or 30 being 1 platoon vehicle 20 or 30 . I think Neil has hit the nail on the head with this one, but can anyone else make an input to our thoughts on this subject. regards Ted
Ted I think we can say pretty categorically that the tank transporter in the first of your photos belongs to 373 Coy. The Ts on the door are backed up by the date of the photo (21 Mar 1945). In the War Diary of 373 Coy for this date, it mentions that they supplied 90 transporters to move the LVTs of 4 R Tks. It is known that 373 Coy consisted of three transport platoons, so I would agree with Neil Craig. You state that the unit serial number is 854. I have blown up the IWM picture as much as I can and all I can vaguely see is the 4. Can I ask where you got the 854 from?! Dave
Can't find any reference to 854 AOS numbers in the Malcom Bellis book. 860 and 862 are Tank Transport Coys in 21st Army Group. but no unit numbers. The chalk marks on the bumper and probably loading serials. They used something similar on D Day. Lawrence
I once saw a pic of it but I cannot find the pic now, several kit manufacturers have used 854 for 373 and I recall when Matchbox first produced the kit they claimed to have done extensive research and they linked the 2 TTs to 373. I was of the understanding that most if not all 21st Army groups TT coys were in the 85 or 86 series. : I cannot claim either of this is sound primary research material, but I am happy that 854 sits with 373 Co or am I clutching at stores and giving too much credence to the model manufacturers ? . Ted
I first saw the 854 AoS on the Star Decals sheet for the 1/35 NWE Diamond T's with the 2TT26 and labeled as the 373 Coy RASC. I'm satisfied enough to go with it for my model. However, I am still dubious about my thoughts on the 2/26 possibly being a platoon number and vehicle number. My reasons are two-fold. Firstly, I thought platoons were identified with a letter rather than a numeral and secondly, the photo above showing a 1/- - could possibly be a three digit number and not two after the slash. As platoons consisted of 30 vehicles, it could only be two digits and as it was not a clear photo, I thought it may be a 20 or 30 number. I think some clearer or additional photos or some learned input would be very welcome in this case. Thanks Ted for posting this. Cheers, Neil
Well as usually happens, one finds the photo he/she is looking for after the fact and in this case it was hiding in plain sight. I hesitate to show it here as it is protected by copyright but it is also in the Squadron Signal book on the M19-M20 TT and shows a damaged hard cab tractor clearly marked with the AoS 854 and the T/Inverted T on the door with a 1 before and an 8 afterward. Interestingly, it also says it is with the 18th TT Coy. I think I am on more solid ground with the Platoon/Vehicle Number theory. Cheers, Neil
Neil Well done! I am pleased that you have managed to find the photo! I will look out for the book........ I have got extracts from the War Diaries of several of the Tk Tptr Coys in 21 AG, and have just had a look through them. Interestingly, the following platoons are mentioned:- 15 Coy (TT) - A, B, C Pls 372 Coy (TT) - A, B, C Pls 388 Coy (TT) - A, B, C Pls 451 Coy (TT) - A, B, C Pls 545 Coy (TT) - A, B Pls only 546 Coy (TT) - A, B, C Pls BUT ...........373 Coy (TT) - 1, 2, 3 Pls !! There is only one mention in what I have, but it makes me also believe that the door markings are platoon and vehicle numbers. Dave
Great stuff Dave....thanks for posting. So, it seems then that the photo above with the soft cab is also with the 373 Coy, 1 Plt. I may just have to do mine up as this one. It looks for all the world to me to be 1/20....any other opinions? Cheers, Neil
I think that it must be 1/20. Conceivably it could be 1/211 but then our theory goes down the drain! Dave
Wouldn't it be nice to know the AoS numbers assigned to each TT Coy as outlined by Dave above! Cheers, Neil
Hi Neil, I have just come across this site. My Father served in the RASC from 43/47 I noticed you had listed the 545 coy he was posted to this coy in 47. I have a few photos of the diamond t's. I will post a few. There is one photo back in the day, and one more recent. I will look out some more. Rob.
Robert Thanks for posting your father's pictures. Unfortunately the 'old' photo is very blurred, but the Diamond T appears to have a marking on the door. This looks like the squadron marking of 388 Tk Tptr Coy RASC, which is attached. Did your father serve in this company? Do you know the date of the photo? I would be most interested to see any more of your father's photos that show vehicles of the RASC! Dave
Hi Dave thanks for your reply, I have a few more photos of Dad and his service days, they are still in boxes from when we moved. Soon as I can I will dig them out and post the them. Regards Rob.
Rob Thanks for sharing your fathers's service record. Obviously he did not serve in 388 Coy, but there is certainly an interesting variety of units! I hope that you find some more vehicle photos in the boxes! Dave
Gerry The 1945 War Diary of 388 Coy RASC (Tk Tptr) can be found at the National Achives ref WO 171/6267. I can send you most of this War Diary if you wish and will drop you a message........ Dave
Hello Dave.....a bit of a longshot here but I am modelling an Albion CX24S from a photo of one with a Higgins boat load and showing the marking for the 372 TT Coy. I noted with interest you have extracts of the War Diaries for the 372nd and would it be possible to get a link or copies that I can determine which parent unit it was. I'm thinking 2nd Army based upon the shield on the left mudguard in a close-up but Dick Harley thinks it may the the 21st AG possibly. Another view shows the 372nd man/tank badge but carrying plant and with an AoS of 861. I am trying to determine the correct AoS and formation patch for this model with the Higgins boat. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers, Neil