Is this a WW2 Royal Engineers Cap Badge?

Hello everyone

I recently purchased this off of ebay as I'm hoping to put together a medal display for my wife's grandfather's medals. He was in the RE during WW2 and I want to make sure that this is the right cap badge before I go any further.

I know that it is a RE badge, but is it contemporary to WW2? I'm presuming so with it being George Regina but I'd welcome opinions/thoughts.

Thanks

Matt

 

Here is a photo of him on his Wedding Day if that helps with the collar badges

 

it most certainly is the RE badge.Just like mine. Though we had bakelite ones. They did not reflect the light in active areas. looks genuine as the leaves are worn from polishing !
Sapper

 

That's great, thanks Brian

 

The RE grenades are worn in the correct place on his collar. But that is an old photo surel?...Remember I am 85
Cheers

 

It is an old photo, it's on his Wedding Day. I've attached the full size image

 

What year Matt? It looks circa 1940ish. War time. Was he a regular? as he is weariing "Waking out kit" The belt is right, having had to polish mine inside and out. The buckle that is !
I see you are associated with the East Yorks. Fine mob. Saw lots of action with them... same Brigade, the Eighth. It was almost traditional that the 8th brigade went first, as they did on Sword on D Day. Grand Lads....
Cheers B

 

One out Brian, 1941!

He was indeed a regular. I never had the honour of meeting him but my Mother In Law tells me that he would never talk about the war. All she knows was that he was a PT instructor at one stage. Imagine our shock therefore when I wrote to the MOD Medals Office to enquire about what medals he was awarded, and they replied with not only the information (1939/45 Star, France & Germany Star, The War Medal, The Defence Medal and a Mention In Dispatches) but the medals themselves as he had never claimed them!

We also have the certificate that I've attached to the end of my post. I really must send off for his service records to find out what he was awarded the Mention in Dispatches for.

 

Yes do that Matt mate. The sappers found that it required a very brave act indeed to get a MID. Why? Because it was always considered part of a Sappers normal duties...Here! I am deadly serious. Nevertheless the RE in my mob, won more gallantry awards than in any other mob, and with far less men than in the infantry battalions
Let me know how you get on?
Cheers B

 

Not so much me Brian but my Grandad, he was in the 2nd Batt East Yorks and went ashore in the first wave on Sword and fought all the way through to Bremen; although he did get wounded on the 27th June 44 at the Chateau De La Londe, sufficiently seriously to be returned back to the UK for a month or so before returning to the front.

 

Yes do that Matt mate. The sappers found that it required a very brave act indeed to get a MID. Why? Because it was always considered part of a Sappers normal duties...Here! I am deadly serious. Nevertheless the RE in my mob, won more gallantry awards than in any other mob, and with far less men than in the infantry battalions
Let me know how you get on?
Cheers B

Brian, I'm off to do it now! I've had the paperwork on my desk for ages so I'll get to it right now

 

The Chateau de la londe. Named by the daily mail as "The bloodiest Square mile in Normandy" It was a shocker, we lost men there, and never found them. They were lost...My best mate, the late Dick Harris was there, as were many of my company.
I have Dicks written recollection of the battle here at my home. Bless His Cotton socks " When my dearest friend died. I got his medals as no one wanted them. Dick served in the Suffolks. along with the E yorks and the S lancs that made up the 8th brigade
Sapper

 

Right, have sent off the necessary documentation for his service records, and have received a standard reply advising me that it is currently taking between 6-8 months to deal with requests for service records, so as and when they arrive I'll update.

As an aside to anyone who is waiting for records, that time scale is about right as I sent off for my Grandad's in February of this year and am still waiting. I sent an email to the MOD enquiring as to my applications progress and was advised that I will have an answer by October.

 

Matt,

It is well worth the wait to see the information that you seek.

Regards
Tom

 

It would be interesting, as I may well have known him. Any idea of what Company he served in????
Cheers sapper

 

It would be interesting, as I may well have known him. Any idea of what Company he served in????
Cheers sapper

Unfortunately not. I'll do a bit more digging whilst I wait for the MOD and if I find anything I'll come back.

 

Matt It sounds rather familiar .What was your grandfathers name? knew some of the E Yorks lads
Sapper

 

Hello again Brian

My Grandad who was in the 2nd Batt East Yorks was James 'Jim' Watts from Sheffield. He was a Corporal on D-Day and a section commander. I think he was in A company but I'll have to double check that. There's a photo of him on my profile page.

My wife's Grandfather who was in the Royal Engineers was George Smith from Boston, Lincolnshire and he was a Sgt. I know that he was a D-Day veteran (courtesy of his obituary notice but I don't know which Beach) and he was by all accounts a big gentle giant!

 

Thanks Matt for posting this thread, and Brian for your answer. I found the exact same badge the other day while going through a box I hadn't been through in a while - and while I know my Dad was RE postwar, I was not aware of any other family member being RE during the war.
Wendy