Hi, could someone please help me with identifying the division from the small snippet of the insignia below. The wearer served in the RASC and first went overseas on or around D-Day. All help gratefully appreciated. Cheers Pete
Not a Division but that looks like Second Army. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30076418 badge, formation, British, Second Army. © IWM (INS 7206)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Similar insigia worn here. RASC title Second Army badge, blue/yellow RASC arm of service strip. http://www.photodetective.co.uk/RASC.html
Originally 54th (East Anglian) Division. According to Cole, they were absorbed into 21st Army Group, Lines of Communication* but one brigade (162nd) remained as an Independent Infantry Brigade within 21st Army and retained the former divisional sign as their badge. Can you date the photo or place the loaction ? * The division became HQ 11th LofC area 21st Army Gp in December 1943
Rich, thanks for your post. I suspect that the photo was taken before D-Day, because he looks younger than in the 2nd Army photo posted above (although this is only gut feel). He was called up in 1942 and, according to the local newspaper, took part in the D-Day landings. After D-Day, he served throughout North Western Europe and witnessed the terrible scenes when Belsen was liberated. After the end of the war, he was posted to Palestine. He was demobbed in July 1946 and committed suicide one month later. His family believe that he never got over what he saw at Belsen. His father was a WW1 vet and a fireman in WW2. All three of his sons served in WW2. Our subject was the youngest son and his father didn't want him to be called up because he was a 'sensitive lad'. In other posts I've named people and provided full photos and names but because of his tragic death, I'm deliberately holding back personal info and the full photos. I'm sure you'll all understand my reasoning. Best regards Pete
Pete, I'm inclined to think that the badge is earlier as I'm not sure that an Independent Infantry Brigade would have had their own permanent RASC Company, wearing brigade insignia (I could be wrong). No problems with not detailing the chap as far as I'm concerned. To be honest, I'm more interested in the vehicles and the insignia...but if you do ever feel able to give more detail, it might go some way towards showing that although they were an exceptional generation, the stresses that many suffered were not recognised at the time.
