BEF Artillery Markings

I think this is a NZRA truck from one of the batteries of 6 Field Regt.
To my eyes the lower bar looks like it might be yellow which would make this a vehicle from 30 Battery but it could just as easily be green or light blue.

 

Just found another one on eBay:



Jan

 

No marks/signs on guns, how to spike a gun, and 2nd photo is of 18/25 pdrs from a different angle from the first one i put up.

Keith

 

Just bought this off Ebay original neg/photo of morris Quad + 18/25 pdr Guns ?, near the beach with 9 on back of Morris, looks like flats on far right, not a lot to go on to ID. click on photo to enlarge.
Keith

 

Snap!

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=70950&d=1325186541
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=41682&d=1291581943

See here and here on the Dunkirk Operation Dynamo Evacuation Beaches thread.

 

Just bought this off Ebay original neg/photo of morris Quad + 18/25 pdr Guns ?, near the beach with 9 on back of Morris, looks like flats on far right, not a lot to go on to ID. click on photo to enlarge.
Keith

Great picture Keith. Note the mix of 18/25 pounders and the one 18 pounder attached to the Quad. With no visible Corps formation sign, it is not clear to which regiment the Quad with the AoS 9 belongs. The candidates are 27 and 97 Army Field Regiments but both regiments had 25 pounders. It needs a bit more research I think.

Andrew

 

Would the location suggest one Corps or the other?

 

Would the location suggest one Corps or the other?
You would hope so wouldn't you? The trouble is both seem to have been nearby - unless I am misreading the diaries. It will just take a bit more research I guess.

Happy New Year by the way to all who are looking in today.

Cheers

Andrew

 

One more photo . I wonder if they used parts from them, tyres ect or sent them back for scrap.
Keith

 

Keith

Are those 6inch 26cwt howitzers, or spiked 60 pounders with the barrels blown off? Interesting pic either way!

Chris

 

I'd say they are 6" 26 cwt Howitzers based upon the longer draft connector used when being towed by Scammell R100's. The 60 Pdr was hooked onto the limber for towing and didn't have that type of draft connector.

Neil

 

I'd say they are 6" 26 cwt Howitzers based upon the longer draft connector used when being towed by Scammell R100's. The 60 Pdr was hooked onto the limber for towing and didn't have that type of draft connector.

Neil

I agree they are 6inch 26cwt howitzers and apparently they were used to equip several regular German artillery regiments so they did not all go for scrap.

Andrew

 

Thanks guys

Chris

 

I have been trying to find some pattern to the use of these signs based on those units that have been positively identified but there does not seem to be any sort of pattern either by unit type or formation.

Also, I want to add a page to my site showing what has been discovered so far. I would appreciate any comments you may have on this new page before it goes live. At present it can only be accessed by using the direct link below. When live it will be available through a link on my Tactical Signs page which mentions the system and points out that it is based on photos and research by members of this forum with a link to this article.

I also intend to add those signs that have been identified to specific units. I will probably do this by adding them to the Formations page alongside the relevant unit. Please let me have any comments regarding this page.

RA 39-45 Markings

 

I have been trying to find some pattern to the use of these signs based on those units that have been positively identified but there does not seem to be any sort of pattern either by unit type or formation.

Also, I want to add a page to my site showing what has been discovered so far. I would appreciate any comments you may have on this new page before it goes live. At present it can only be accessed by using the direct link below. When live it will be available through a link on my Tactical Signs page which mentions the system and points out that it is based on photos and research by members of this forum with a link to this article.

I also intend to add those signs that have been identified to specific units. I will probably do this by adding them to the Formations page alongside the relevant unit. Please let me have any comments regarding this page.

RA 39-45 Markings

Hi Derek

Looks like a good summary. I wish I had more to add to what has already been posted. It is extremely difficult to find any material on this subject. Jeffrey Plowman's book on the 2nd New Zealand Division looks to be the best indication of a representative system but I have not been able to find a copy of the original letter page upon which it is based. I haven't seen the Northern Ireland source either.

I haven't given up on the subject though as more and more photographs are coming to light and I think there must be some documentary evidence hidden away at the IWM, National Archives or Firepower.

Cheers

Andrew

 

A short run of stills from British Pathé - Location is difficult, they seem to be out of context.







..and the reason for posting it. The AoS '20' with Corps bar and what looks like the 1 Corps sign to the left of it, suggesting 52nd LAA Regt.

 

I think I am right that the "Pathe" stills are from a sequence of the entry into Belgium, once hostilities had started.

As for the location, all I can offer is "a border post, between france and Belgium".

George.

 

Two more photos arrived today, 1st photo shows some guns spiked and one has a white square on front sheld + Dunkirk . and last photo is the back of the 1st photo dated 28 8 40. They look new to me as the tyres look good. 2nd photo of british gun + ammo + SMLE. photos in my collection.
Keith


They are all 18/25pdrs, and amazingly the first evidence I have seen of the split trail version in use by the BEF in France 39/40.

They are distinctive in having a less deep top folding upper shield, and the "wings" at the sides of the main shield, which also include a handle.

I really thought that none of these went to France, but again, this has just proven how wrong "assumptions" can be.

Thanks
George.

 

Welcome to the forum George. The Pathé clip is indeed captioned as a border crossing and the presence of the Police there might confirm that. I found a lack of continuity with the images showing the damaged buildings in the other frames. A look-up is needed in the 52LAA diary.

 

The diary isn't very good. On the 10th May it says RHQ opened at Duitsen Broek Grid Ref 264480.

Does that help?

Welcome to the forum George. The Pathé clip is indeed captioned as a border crossing and the presence of the Police there might confirm that. I found a lack of continuity with the images showing the damaged buildings in the other frames. A look-up is needed in the 52LAA diary.