Silly question time: on the back of a phots of my fathers it says No 2 section (there are five men in this photo including my Dad ) 7 troop A squad How many men were actually in a section,a troop, a squad? thanks Pat
as no one answered your query where it was in the 53 recce thread, I've split it in the hope your query will be noticed & answered. If anyone can answer this relates to Pat's Dad's service in 53 Recce.
Pat First thing is to sort out your question - as the #2 section would apply to Infantry -Three sections = one platoon - should it apply to TEN men - then the FIVE men troop would apply to Armour as being one tank crew of a 15 man troop of three Tanks… So which do you want …? Cheers
Hello Pat, The order of battle or a Recce Regt changed numerous times during the War but I have posted a link below for 1943. A Recce Troop could be as few as 5 vehicles and a section was a sub-unit of a troop so just 2 or 3 vehicles. With 3 men to a vehicle then a section could be as few as 6 men. http://www.britwar.co.uk/index.php/alists/11-ww2lists/ww2listsb/6-dlistbritspecials Kind regards, Will.
As has already been said the organisation changed a great deal over the years and there were several types of section. However if I have got it right No 2 section in a troop would always be a reconnaissance section. Below is correct for 1944 in Europe. Reconnaissance section Armoured car (Humber MkIV) serjeant, driver operator, driver mechanic Light Reconnaissance car (Humber MkIII) corporal, driver operator, driver mechanic Armoured car (Humber MKIV) serjeant, driver operator, driver mechanic Light Reconnaissance car (Humber MkIII) corporal, driver operator, driver mechanic A Troop had a headquarters, three reconnaissance sections plus a section of carriers. Mike PS. The section was organised and trained to operate as two half sections so the photo referred to could well be a half section. Not a silly question just a difficult one.
[sharedmedia=gallery:images:23062] [sharedmedia=gallery:images:23061] [sharedmedia=gallery:images:23059] [sharedmedia=gallery:images:23058] As far as I can see Dad was in R A C ( AO 227/43) Driver Op C 111. You could not ask, it was not allowed. I had to be content with drove a motor bike. There are photos on a Ptarmagen and a M3. Regards Pat
In 1944 the reconnaissance regiments were part of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC). I think when the service record says that your father transferred to the RAC it actually meant that the entire Reconnaissance Corps transferred. Driver Operator was one of the main trades of the reconnaissance section. Each vehicle had one. Mike
Pat, After the war in Europe ended the British occupation forces were issued with captured German cars and motorcycles. Officers got cars suitable for their rank. NCOs got motorcycles. I think the motorcycles you refer to will be the Phanomen and the BMW M3. Both were German Army types and both were used by the British after the war. Several old soldiers I have spoken to have remembered the motorcycles better than anything else. Mike
Another site with information on the organisation of the Reconnaissance Regiments is: http://www.bayonetstrength.me.uk/British/Recce/Inf%20Div%20Recce/British%20Infantry%20Divisional%20Reconnaissance%20Units.htm Tony
I note that we are - one more - being carried away with the Recce units make up etc - when the OP states that the FIVE men were of 7th troop - "A" Squadron indicating to me that he was in an Armoured regiment of the RAC……the RECCE became part of the RAC at a time when we were losing many Tank crews and the replacements were taking too long to train - e.g A Driver/Operator Class 111 had 12 weeks on Driving and Maintenance - Gunnery another 12 weeks and the Wireless took yet another 12 weeks - for Class 11 another four weeks in the Regiment - that's a long time to wait for a crew to be made up- whereas the Recce were half way there… Cheers
