Identifying my family's WW2 Insignia

This is my first post here so I hope I've put it in the correct place - apologies if not. I'm writing my family history and have a photograph of my father and his 3 brothers taken in 1941 at a wedding. They are, left to right, Jack, Bill (my father), Ben and Emrys. I know that my father was in the REME and went out to India as part of the XIV Army. His brother Jack served in Iraq, I believe as part of the Eighth Army. Can anyone tell me any more about them from the insignia seen in the photograph please? My father must be in dress uniform as all other photos we have of him show him in combat uniform with REME insignia.

Very grateful for any help, thanks
Simon

 

Hi, others will help with the insignia I'm sure..... the best thing to do is to apply for their service records. In the meantime, can you give a little more info on their full names, years and places of birth / death... would help to trace info.

 

Service records is the way to go date of birth and death cert only required you dont require his service number.


Apply for the records of someone who's deceased
You can apply for a copy of someone else’s service records if any of the following apply:

• you’re their immediate next of kin, for example their spouse or parent
• you’ve got consent from their immediate next of kin
• you have a general research interest - you’ll only have access to limited information, unless they died more than 25 years ago

You need to know the person’s full name, date of birth

Get a copy of military service records

 

Hi, .
Jack is John Emlyn Phillips born 1910 in Ferndale, Wales
Ben is Benjamin David Phillips born 1907 in Penboyr, Wales (but lived his life in Ferndale and Ton Pentre)
Emrys is Thomas Emrys Phillips born 1918 (we think) in Ferndale, Wales

That's all I know. I've already written off for my father's service records.
Many thanks.

 

I'm going to open the bidding with 'Royal Artillery' for your dad.

REME was formed in late 1942 so he would have been transferred in from wherever he was. If you haven't got his service records you really need to apply for them from the MoD

 

good show my dad was born in Ferndale in 1912

 

Probably Royal Engineers prior to REME..... he always was in 'engineering'

I have applied for my father's service records but believe they'll take weeks to come. For the brothers, I was just hoping that someone might identify their insignia. I really only need a sentence or two on each as it's my father's service I'm drilling down into.

 

OP has also posted in GWF & followed my advice to post here.

Steve

 

That was my first thought with the collar dogs but the cap badge didn't look circular enough. The sidecap and tunic colours might also have something to say.

 

Brother on (our) right - Welsh Regt? Going by badges (Pow feathers, distinctive scroll on collar dogs); however, there are a number of quite similarly-badged units.

 

Possible death records for your uncles, you will need these details if applying for records:-

First name(s) BENJAMIN DAVID
Last name PHILLIPS
Gender Male
Birth day 19
Birth month 9
Birth year 1907
Age -
Death quarter 2
Death year 1983
District Pontypridd
County Glamorganshire
Volume 27
Page 1198
Country Wales

First name(s) JOHN EMLYN
Last name PHILLIPS
Gender Male
Birth day 27
Birth month 8
Birth year 1910
Age -
Death quarter 3
Death year 1982
District Sefton North
County Lancashire
Volume 37
Page 0233
Country England

First name(s) THOMAS EMRYS
Last name PHILLIPS
Gender Male
Birth day 31
Birth month 12
Birth year 1917
Age -
Death quarter 4
Death year 1977
District Pontypridd
County Glamorganshire
Volume 27
Page 1362
Country Wales

 

Thanks. The first two look right but I don't think Emrys was born in 1917.... his older sister was definitely born in 1917 and they weren't twins. I really appreciate you looking but please don't spend time on the 3 brothers other than maybe advising on their regiments based on their insignia. I'm only pursuing my father in detail and I've already sent for his service records. I just wanted to caption the photograph with the brothers' regiments. Maybe my cousins will pursue their fathers in more detail. But, as I say, many thanks.

 

2 results for information - are you sure he was Thomas Emrys and not Emrys Thomas???

All England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Emrys Thomas Phillips 28 Mar 1918 Dec 1998 Neath and Port Talbot West Glamorgan

Thomas Emrys Phillips 31 Dec 1917 Oct 1977 Oct-Nov-Dec Pontypridd Mid Glamorgan

TD