Identify a badge - possible RA air observer?

Discussion in 'WW2 Militaria' started by PackRat, Jan 8, 2021.

  1. RRTB

    RRTB 145 Fd Regt (Berkshire Yeomanry) RA

    I have been fascinated to read all this as my father served with the Berkshire Yeomanry in 145 Fd Regt RA in India/Malaya 1944/45 and subsequently in 178 Fd Regt RA in Java 1945/46. He was an officer, but one of the items I have from his war days includes a poem written by him and a Lance Sergeant Salkeld (who sadly passed away recently). It has been very interesting reading all about the ranks of the RA, especially the Lance Sergeant as it's a rank I have not come across elsewhere.

    Thank you all for your most insightful information.
     
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  2. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    I should say so, his insignia has been identified pretty confidently. Was hoping that the badge might reveal a connection with that aircraft that could take us beyond speculation, but instead it's unexpectedly brought up some interesting stuff about AOPs and RA ranks that was new to me. Many thanks to everyone.
     
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  3. Derek Barton

    Derek Barton Senior Member

    Sheldrake you are of course absolutely right about there only being 1 Svy Sgt in a regiment therefore those in the batteries must have been Lance Sgts. My apologies.
    Derek
     
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  4. Rachael Baker

    Rachael Baker Member

    I'm sorry to sound dense but have we identified him as a serjeant or a BQMS - I got a bit lost! o_O
    P.S. Thanks PackRat for posting.
     
  5. Derek Barton

    Derek Barton Senior Member

    He is a Sergeant Rachael. 3 chevrons with a gun above. A BQMS would be a Staff Sergeant and have a crown above the gun & chevrons.
     
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  6. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    Derek, out of interest, where did “Driver” fit into the ranks of the RA during WW2, did it exist as a separate, individual rank? As you can see here, whilst my grandad’s rank is mainly listed as Gnr, for some dates it is written solely as “Dvr I/C” and on a few occasions as “Gnr (Dvr I/C)”.

    Would I be correct in thinking, however, that despite these variations on his record, his rank during WW2 would have been, simply, Gunner?

    15EE7F73-22A6-48F4-AF1A-4613ABB88055.jpeg D909FF8F-33D8-4F01-AE08-93AEF1C01BBD.jpeg

    And am I correct in thinking he would have worn this badge?

    46A6F6FF-B6EB-455A-806E-8EB345F885CF.jpeg

    Cheers.

    Apologies by the way PackRat, I hope you don’t mind me just slipping in this quick question.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021
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  7. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Plain old sergeant (one step above your GF's lance-sergeant rank). Means we can only really guess at his personal connection with that particular Stinson, unfortunately - but a cracking photo nonetheless!
     
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  8. Derek Barton

    Derek Barton Senior Member

    You are quite right about the rank - just Gunner. I think the driver bit is a throw back to pre-war & WW1 when there were 2 seperate ranks of Gunner & Driver (Driver being a horse team driver). The rank was abolished in 1933 & all drivers became Gunners. The original 1933 order did allow for the designations Driver RA or Driver IC to be placed in brackets after Gunner on official paperwork.
    The badge you show was introduced in 1942, so would have been worn from then as a qualification badge. There is another version without the "IC".
     
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  9. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    Many thanks for clarifying Derek, and apologies again PackRat for the intrusion.
     
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  10. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Dont rush for the exit lads.
    It depends who and what the Driver is driving. Gun Tractors, lorries or other transport it would be a gunner with the required establishment of NCO's amongst them.
    No such thing as everyone doing a particular job is an accepted rank.
    If they are driving a vehicle as part of a Survey team, OP party or a Recce with an officer in charge they would often be a Bombardier, or to put a spanner in the works a corporal.
    The 2 i/c (Major) 67th Field Regt who carried out all the Recce's had the same driver for two years, much to my surprise he was a corporal and was acknowledged as such in his award for Gallantry, when attempting to save casualties in the Survey Jeep which struck a mine when following the Recce Jeep. So I assume he was a signaller attached to RHQ although one of the preparation team was RASC. The Survey Jeep (all of whom were killed) contained three officers (2x CPO and the Survey Officer) was driven by a Bdr/ Surveyor which seemed to be the norm in the Regt.
    This extended to the successors of the 67th. 267 Field Regt OP party Austin Champ was always driven by the officers driver a Bdr.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021
  11. Rachael Baker

    Rachael Baker Member

    Thanks Derek.
     

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