Bowler hat & brolly formation sign

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by reddevon, Aug 5, 2012.

  1. idler

    idler GeneralList

    In the Morris/Bawdon photo, it looks like the 'bowler and brolly' is on the bonnet of the right hand truck.

    And there's a Lt B G R Bawden transferring from RA to RASC in 1941.

    Just a thought: could his daughter have got the RASC badge confused with the Devons?
     
  2. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    yes by all means copy the pic with the four bikes (look carefully, there is a fourth a the back.
    where do you people get all all this information from.
    Her father definitely was in the Devon's maybe she was unaware he got transferred to the RASC, and yes the cap badges do look very similar from a distance.
    Thank you all very much, now we just need to identify the Bowler Hat and Umbrella symbol.
    Tony
     
  3. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    I'm not aware of a City of London regiment David, although I had the same thought as you? I thought that was the Rifle Brigade (at least their memorial is outside the Bank of England, I think)? County of London Regiments there were two of course, with 22 Armoured Brigade.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  4. londoner

    londoner Member

    Andreas,
    I did not spend a lot of time on it but was relying on the information in the attached pdf.
    I had noted that the lorry in the first photo is a different lorry to the second photo and I do not automatically assume that insignia on vehicles in photos matches service records.
    I also see there was a "Bankers Battalion" which fits the insignia even more but this appears to have been in WW1 only.
    Kind regards, David
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Have you applied for a copy of his service records? All the info you seek will be in them.
     
  6. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Andreas,
    I did not spend a lot of time on it but was relying on the information in the attached pdf.
    I had noted that the lorry in the first photo is a different lorry to the second photo and I do not automatically assume that insignia on vehicles in photos matches service records.
    I also see there was a "Bankers Battalion" which fits the insignia even more but this appears to have been in WW1 only.
    Kind regards, David

    Must remember to have coffee before posting. Thanks for the correction.

    From this he could have been with 1st Royal Fusiliers?

    Axis History Forum • View topic - 1st Royal Fusiliers at Kuneitra,Syria 1941

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Why have we got onto the Fusiliers when we've already established the 1602 AoS sign is for RASC ?
     
  8. londoner

    londoner Member

    Owen, because no one has come up with an answer to the bowler and brolly. Kind regards David
     
  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Did anyone ever find the answer ?
     
  10. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    No Owen, I looked for ages and couldn't find the answer
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Bumping this thread cos I'd like to know the answer to the brolly & bowler question.
     
  12. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    I vaguely remember coming across an annual parade in which some chaps in suits wearing bowlers and carrying umbrellas march in unison with a regimental unit. Not sure what it was all about or why they were there. One of those curious English things I guess ... :)

    Regards ...
     
  13. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    The Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association parade in Hyde Park = Dress Bowler Hats and Umbrellas.
    This dates from the Household Division in WW1

    The undermentioned link shows Prince Harry at the parade wearing a bowler hat
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4769787.stm

    Perhaps this will help
    Diane
     
  14. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Diane,

    Yes that must be the parade, thank you. So there is a possible Calvary association to the sign, although tracking down which regiment may have used it on WW2 vehicles might prove difficult. It could be a false lead as well?

    Regards ...
     
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Maybe a fake sign to confuse the enemy.
    Certainly confused us.
     
  16. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    Certainly the Buffs and the Royal West Kent Old Comrades Associations parade once a year and the officers often wear bowler hats and carry umbrellas. I suspect that many of the old regiments do exactly the same at their annual reunions. Seldom are uniformed troops seen with them (except for a band if one can any longer be found), though doubtless there are other occasions when uniformed troops and the old comrades parade together.

    Chris
     
  17. hendrix17

    hendrix17 Active Member

    I think in the first photo of the 4 m/c the 3rd from left is my grandad. Rasc 105 coy in Italy he was a driver and dispatch rider in '43 on wards.
     
  18. idler

    idler GeneralList

    That would be an amazing coincidence and it's a useful lead to follow up in the meantime.
     
  19. hendrix17

    hendrix17 Active Member

    I have war diaries for 105coy some names are on them. My granddad was Dvr john furnie. First time I saw his name and riding a motorcycle was in the 105 bridge coy 'x'. I can't be sure it's him image.jpg image.jpg
     
  20. CommanderChuff

    CommanderChuff Senior Member

    There was an occassion when the Germans forced a defeated British unit to parade with an assortment of hats and umbrellas. The picture that I remember were of men with ladies hats, bowlers and other assorted headwear. THis was intended to be humilitation of the defeated forces.

    It woudn't surprise me if the British, with their sense of historical value, took up this setback has an unoffical unit sign.

    The Old Contemptiables live on.
     

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