oversmock: painted sign identification

CN233
INVASION CHIEF WATCHES AIRBORNE TROOPS "RAIN FROM THE SKIES"
GLIDER-BORNE PARATROOPERS EXERCISE, 22 APRIL 1944

 

Here a couple of photos pointed to by Ben. The unit is a 10th Parachute Battalion HQ Platoon captured as they make preparations to jump during Exercise Mush, April 22-24, 1944. Several men in the sequence are identified by Niall Cherry in his book "Desert Rise - Arnhem Descent".




Ben I'm curious about your avatar. Is there a story behind the women standing in the remains of a Horsa fuselage?

Regards ...

 

This one was on Ebay a couple of months ago, I had a bid but with other things on the go I couldn't bid as much as I wanted

 

Hi Cee

for my avatar , it' a picture of my grandmother in a horsa glider in 1945 near Ranville

the other woman in black was "in love " with a british paratrooper of Royal engineers, but unfortunately he was kiled at Arnhem

 

Ben,

Wonderful story and photos, thanks for sharing.

Regards ...

 

Private David Duce, of 9th Parachute Battalion Signal Platoon with sign on the denisonsmock

 

Just to fill in a bit. The men of the 9th Parachute Battalion who took part in the assault on the Merville Battery painted luminous skull and cross bones on the left breast of their smock in order to recognize each other in the dark. Pte. David Duce's sign my have worn off after all he went through before capture or else he was a poor artist? He is standing next to S/Sgt Bill Ridgeway, GPR. Photo taken at the Bonnebosq prison camp.

Regards ...

 

i think it's an other sign just for signal platoon ?

9th Parachute Battalion used a red trianle on oversmock , but glider section used skull and bones on denisonsmock for merville assault

 

Ben,

Ok, that's interesting as it could very well be a stylized Mercury figure. As far as I can see from looking at the 9 Para Signal Platoon photo none of the men wore Royal Corps of Signals insignia. The other man in the comparison is S/Sgt Stan Bone, GPR who piloted a Horsa which was suppose to land at the Battery but came down wide in a wet area to the east. Added another posed photo of the Duce group taken same time at Bonnebosq. The Germans apparently found the whole exercise somewhat amusing.



Regards ...

 

An other oversmock sign with à white cross

 

Hi,

to summarize, here are the tacticals signs visible on pictures or over smock items.



Ben

 

Cpl. Thomas Alfred Smith has (_81789) been identified as the para on the right holding the pigeon carrier container. On his back you can the oversmock with the white squares and assume a red cross; on the twitter his son said he was with 12th Parachute Battalion, so I assume this oversmock is 12 Para.

H 39058

N.B. [23:30] Looking at footage at Transit camp for 5 Para Bde and 12 Para heading for Keevil, the truck numbers correspond with the Chalk Number of the aircraft [167, 168, 170 etc], which are 5 Para Bde HQ but I am leaning towards to the crosses on the smocks being 12 Para.

 

Hi
Just wonder if the 12th Battalion had blue cross as opposed to red to go with their blue shoulder flash? Just a thought.

 

The identification of Cpl. T.A. Smith is quite interesting. Nothing new for brithm but noticed Cpl Smith also shows up in clips placing the pigeon in the container. In the film later he is seen standing in front of a lorry with a pronounced wave pattern on its canvas covering, possibly No. 168. His name is written on the back of his oversmock clearly identifying him.

I thought the cross in that case was created by the 4 light squares (either material or painted on) and was just the underlying oversmock colour if that makes any sense. Not sure really. As Alex mentioned the 12th Battalion had light blue epaulet loops and lanyard.



Regards ....

 

Good afternoon Ben , I’ve been following your posts and back in 2015 you had a thread about Sgt Fear you said he was injured on 11,8,44 that was the day my uncle was killed . I was wondering if you had any details on where he was injured as this would help my search as he was also 7 para regards Brian Hall

 

Dear Brian,

CEE should be able to help as he has a very close link with 7th Para.

 

Thanks Ludo I will message him ,l will keep you up dated on our search should be going back soon regards Brian

 

Cee
The members of the signal platoon of any infantry battalion, para or not, would belong the the infantry regiment and not to the Royal Signals.
Chris

 

Hi Chris,

Thanks, I think that may be the case with regard 9 Para Signal Platoon. Also a PM sent to Brian Hall's inbox.

Regards ..

 

12th battalion had a light blue epaulet loops with "Yorshire" on it. but on pictures it's a large white loop that makes sense with the large white squares of th oversmock. so 5HQ brigade troops??