1st Rifle Brigade battledress

Discussion in 'General' started by fifleman6925, May 17, 2020.

  1. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

    I am ex 3RGJ wanting to do a 1st Rifle Brigade 1940 pattern battledress set up. I have a few questions on a photo I have seen.
    1. What is the medal ribbon on the battledress?
    2. Has anyone got a picture of a WO2 RB rank patch.
    3. Was the colour of cloth behind the cap badge 'rifle green'?

    Any other information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tony J.
     

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  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Medal ribbon is The Africa Star.
     
  3. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

    Many thanks Owen that solves that question.
     
  4. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    See attached photo of Cpl. Don Gillate's wartime patches (8th Rifle Brigade, but rank patches would be the same in 1RB) and his later Sgt's stripes. Also note: rank stripes in RB were worn only on the right arm! As explained to me by Don, this was done so as not to give away the rank to the enemy, when firing your rifle (a tradition dating back from 18-something). Backing behind the cap badge was rifle green.

    If you want to see some more (8th) Rifle Brigade photos (and I think even one early post-war 1RB), have a look at: Home - 8th Rifle Brigade
     

    Attached Files:

  5. idler

    idler GeneralList

    I think the ribbon should also have the 8th Army '8'. Fairly certain that was issued at the time - will see if I can find the photo that's in my mind.

    It's worth checking up on how berets were worn in the Second World War as opposed to the cold one. The berets generally had bigger crowns which had a big bearing on that.
     
  6. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    Rfn. 'Binnie' Barnes, again 8RB, and sadly killed at Vlierden, Holland, 23 September 1944.
     

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  7. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

    Many thanks. In the Green Jackets we also only wore our rank on the right arm only as per military tradition. I have searched for a WO2 rank picture to no avail however, the pics you have provided give insight their possible design.
     
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  8. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

    Looks like the GS cap however, on another thread it seems some soldiers managed to get hold of the smaller crowned khaki berets
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    You will find some in these photos (for complete version of first photo and more information, see Home - 8th Rifle Brigade), only quite difficult to see details, and especially colours.
    Fruin Group photo - sergeants - a - cut2.jpeg

    Sergeants at Bree 21.1.45.JPG
     
  10. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Motor battalions were authorised khaki berets - like Rfn Barnes - not Caps, GS. Wartime berets had larger crowns than modern ones and, in general, they weren't shaped to extremes like modern ones.
     
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  11. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

    I have noticed the lack of 'shaping' which makes me cringe lol. Authenticity is the key though so no over shaping of the larger crown berets.
     
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  12. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    Certainly not a GS-cap! Members of the Rifle Brigade were issued (I think in 1942) with green berets. I have a 1943 example in my collection. Below a photo, again of Don Gillate (author of "With the 8th Rifle Brigade from Normandy to the Baltic"), holding his Kangol beret, at his wedding in September 1945. I have also attached a photo of an 1RB member (captured in Normandy) showing the backing and a ribbon with - I believe - missing "8".

    35b - Wedding.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

  14. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

    Its interesting that you have said that rifle green berets were issued in WW2. Every picture I have seen seems to show the khaki version.
     
  15. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Oh, god, no! Someone once posted a recent-ish painting of Paras at Arnhem Bridge and it looked like they'd all dropped in from the Falklands.

    Luckily, the Germans thoughtfully took some record shots of some 1 RB POWs from Villers-Bocage - several styles to choose from:

    22 Armd Bde POW Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-720-0303-31%2C_Frankreich%2C_englische_Kriegsgefangene.jpg 22 Armd Bde POW Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-720-0305-25A%2C_Frankreich%2C_englische_Kriegsgefangene.jpg 22 Armd Bde POW Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-720-0305-27A%2C_Frankreich%2C_englische_Kriegsgefangene.jpg 22 Armd Bde POW Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-720-0305-29A%2C_Frankreich%2C_englische_Kriegsgefangene.jpg
     
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  16. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

    Nice pics especially the one showing the BD with RB black buttons on. We did this to our lightweights with No 2 RGJ black buttons.
     
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  17. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

    So what is the green bar under the 'Desert Rat'?
     

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  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Arm of service strip.
    Arm of Service Strips
     
  19. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

  20. fifleman6925

    fifleman6925 Member

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