This BD blouse is a bit of a mystery. Can anyone shed some light? The badge is 34th Armoured Brigade in Brabant weave, so very late 44 or 45. The shoulder has a yellow and blue RTR type coloured bands. These colours are for 42 RTR as I understand it. However, 42 RTR did not come under command of 34 Armoured Brigade. My research suggest only 9RTR and 7RTR were in 34 Armoured and their colours were not yellow/blue. There is evidence to suggest some RAC units adopted an RTR style shoulder band, and 107 RAC appear to have done so; my sources suggest their colours were orange/blue, however. Perhaps this belonged to a 42RTR veteran, who was allowed to keep his colours after joining 34 Armoured? I would appreciate any help...
That Signaller's badge was very unofficial, and although worn, in their definitive "British Army Trade Badges" Edwards and Langley report that Orderly Sergeants would greatly relish cutting them off.
I don't know about other units but the badge was official in the RA. It was introduced in 1944 under A.C.I. 1236 of 1944. It was worn by wireless operators as opposed to signallers who wore the crossed flags.
I’ve been trying to find out about the shoulder bands and after reading this have. 107 would be orange and blue and I have one at home from someone who was 107.
Hi Matt, Interesting photos. Is the band you show the actual one in the photo (or at least belong to same man)? Can you post the whole picture? The colour bands you show actually look more yellow than orange or perhaps it's my eyes?
It could be an RTR shoulder slide and the orange might well have been red that has faded with age! Any connections with the 8th Royal Tank Regiment perchance?
I believe it will be the one from the photo as it belongs to the person in it. I did original think blue and yellow until I saw the colour band in person.
I don’t think it’s faded from red as it’s too uniform in colour and has been hidden from light for many years. No link to 8 RTR I’m afraid.
