Markings and Insignia for Armour in the BEF

This light Mk VIC ticks almost all of the boxes for markings (but not all!).

Serial T5169.
unit AOS 5 on green = 9th (Queens) Royal Lancers in 2nd Armd Brigade.
0134 (I think) is their embarkation / mobilisation code - other more knowledgeable people will be able to tell you the colours I'm sure.
5 in a (yellow?) disc is the bridge weight class.
Rhino on the mudguard (note there is no oval line around the divisional marking) for 1st Armoured Division.
The circle on the hull probably represents C Squadron, and the 4 the troop although it is unusual to see these on the hull as they are normally on the turret sides.
In other photos this vehicle has a name - KESTREL

what's missing?

Light tanks sometimes had 'SLING HERE' stencilled next to the front lifting hooks.
The white 9" square AFV National Identification marking on the front, although some Mk VICs appear to have one on the rear.
Vehicle Registration Number - which may be obscured on the left hull front as we look at it (or it may be absent)

Shame we don't have a side view of the turret to check for tactical markings, and also a shame we don't have a rear view to check for the VRN plate and rear National Square.

Nick

The VRN should be RMY 523

Cheers
Kevin

 

Press photo taken in the UK. Nice Austin staff car on the left.

Can anyone make out the name on this carrier it seems to end:-

(R?)LINGHAM

But I cannot quite clearly make out the first few letters.

Cheers
Kevin

 

made the photo darker, still can not make it out. ingham. it must have been harder to get out of the carrier in a hurry with that roof on the top.

 

made the photo darker, still can not make it out. ingham. it must have been harder to get out of the carrier in a hurry with that roof on the top.

Thanks for trying that.

Perhaps through a little process of elimination I may have found the answer. Going by the fact that names are nearly always centrally placed and using the drain plug as a guide to the centre of the carrier there are not a lot of letters to the left of those visible. The central letter is N with GHAM to the right and 4 letters to the left. The carrier is from a Gloucestershire Regiment and searching through towns and villages of Gloucestershire one that stands out is ARLINGHAM.
Any thoughts?


Cheers
Kevin

 

yep think you have it. now i look closer i think i can see RL but not the A.

Keith

 

All there is now is to narrow down the Regiment.

Cheers
Kevin

 

The close up of forage cap and collar dogs -The chevrons on the lance corporals tunic are a little odd in this photograph, usually the inner part of the chevron is lighter (white) and the surround khaki. Yet here this looks reversed as in a Light Infantry regiment chevron (yellow surround) yet not dark enough contrast for a Rifle regiment. Unless the Border regt had it's own pattern? There were more regimental variations then.

 

Good shot Bob,

Does anyone have a better shot of the rear turret of GOOD LUCK as the Germans have made a bit of a mess of the tactical sign here. I'm hoping it is a B Coy square but just can't tell from this one!

Nick

Just found another picture of "Good Luck" on eBay:



Jan

 

All there is now is to narrow down the Regiment.

Cheers
Kevin

According to Nigel Watson's tome(s) on Carriers, it was the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars who first suggested the idea of an armoured roof on a carrier, probably as a result of hearing about air attack with the BEF. The AoS number 51 suggests an armoured unit, so it could be them, but both 1 RGH and 2 RGH wre in UK at the time so it could be either.

The problem of getting in and out, as remarked above, plus the overloading of the chassis with the extra weight of the roof, meant that this concept went no further than a few prototypes.

Chris

 

According to Nigel Watson's tome(s) on Carriers, it was the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars who first suggested the idea of an armoured roof on a carrier, probably as a result of hearing about air attack with the BEF. The AoS number 51 suggests an armoured unit, so it could be them, but both 1 RGH and 2 RGH wre in UK at the time so it could be either.

The problem of getting in and out, as remarked above, plus the overloading of the chassis with the extra weight of the roof, meant that this concept went no further than a few prototypes.

Chris

Thanks Chris,

Looking at other 1st and 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussar names I have I would go with the 1st. They ( Valentines ) had town and village names where as the 2nd seemed to use names after the Squadron letter.

Cheers
Kevin

 

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I know it does not have any markings but are there any more photos of this burnt out vickers light tank.
Keith

 

photos from ebay.

 

T2090 reg number EH? 955, has a number 10 on the side. just bought this photo.
Keith

 

Morrisc8 -

Details I currently hold for T-2090 are as follows:

T. 2090 - EHX 955

Lt Tk Mk.VIB built under Contract T/3564 to Vulcan Ltd

Unit U/i at present

Engine No: S/9992

1939/40 - Veh listed - BTM Ledger 623.438(41)WD Nos/8

Not much I am afraid...

Roddy

 

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One more photo that came in the post today, for my collection/book. There is german on the photo, english tank then ??????
Keith

 

Hello all
Does any one know if the 9th Lancers had an Austin 8hp Tourer on strength whilst in France, and if so where the markings were placed?
I ask as i am building some BEF based model dioramas.
Any info, or better still pictures, would be a great help.
I will also be building the new kit of the Vickers MkV1B when it hits the shops (9th L ancers of course).
Many thanks

Malcolm

 

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