Parry Just had another look at your photos and a cold shiver went down my spine. Your Grandad was called up on October 1st 1942. I was called up on October 1st 1942 Snap ! Ron ps Let's have a look at any document (First page of his AB64 would do) that gives his Army Number Ron , where did you do your Basic Training?
Parry Have a look again at my Driving Licences. My Army number was 14300260 Your Grandad's 14294986 I make that a difference of 5274 We both started off in the General Service Corps and so were issued numbers from a "block" of numbers. We both kept our numbers no matter what unit we eventually were finally posted to. Finally, for your info, we were called up on a Thursday, as was common practice in the Army. Owen I started at Bury St.Edmunds The long awaited buff envelope had arrived on our doormat a fortnight before informing me that I had been called up into His Majesty's Army and that I was to report to the Beds and Herts Infantry Training Regiment at Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk. The Army had thoughtfully provided a railway ticket (ominously a single, one way only) and on arriving at Bury St.Edmunds we were met at the station by a three ton lorry, our first acquaintance with this favoured form of military transport. We got to the barrack gates, dismounted and formed up into ragged ranks for identification against a master roll on a clipboard held by a very important looking sergeant. Allocated to various platoon numbers we then marched through the barracks to a series of catcalls coming from young men in denim uniform lining our route. "Go home while you can you stupid b******s!" was but a mild example of what we were subjected to and it was only weeks later that we realised the troops who 'gave us the bird' on our entry into camp had only themselves been in the army for two weeks and that this was a favourite pastime every Thursday lunch time when the new intake arrived at the Depot. On this Thursday however I was not to know about such things and found myself looking around me and absorbing like a piece of blotting paper all the atmosphere of an army camp in wartime. Ron
great collection !, I was interested in the german war merit cross, was there different styles of this award, i ask because i have what looks like one amongst the things my father brought back, it is white metal colour with crossed swords and swastika centre,there is no loop and the reverse of the award is plain and flat with a hinged pin attached,any ideas ?, cheers, John.
You've labelled the Welsh Regiment cap badge as Prince Of Wales badge. Thank you for the correction According to this it looks like he was in Fife & Forfar Yeomanry in 1945. I'm pretty sure I have the cap badge for the Fife and Forfar, I'll take a picture later. Parry Have a look again at my Driving Licences. My Army number was 14300260 Your Grandad's 14294986 I make that a difference of 5274 Does that mean you might have crossed paths at anytime? great collection !, I was interested in the german war merit cross, was there different styles of this award, i ask because i have what looks like one amongst the things my father brought back, it is white metal colour with crossed swords and swastika centre,there is no loop and the reverse of the award is plain and flat with a hinged pin attached,any ideas ?, cheers, John. Thanks for the comment. You might find what your looking for at this link: German War Merit Cross (KvK) Medals
I've just updated the gallery with the Fife & Forfar Yeomanry badges and the Royal Armoured Corps arm badge.
I've uploaded a group photo which sadly didn't have a date or any information on where it was taken. There are a few names on the back though. Group Photo by ~parry on deviantART
Thanks for the comment. You might find what your looking for at this link: German War Merit Cross (KvK) Medals[/quote] many thanks for the link, the version i have is on there !.
Glad you've found it Does anyone have any British group photo's from WW2 that are in colour? I was going to try and add colour to the BNW image I have.
hi Parry If your Grandad was in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry have a look at this link http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-history/6642-1st-2nd-fife-forfar-yeomanry.html i have some stuff on thier from my Grandad. enjoy nick
Just uploaded the picture of the knife World War 2 Knife by ~parry on deviantART I was wondering if anyone could tell me if these colours are correct at all, I have no idea what they are meant to be like... The original black and white version is in the gallery
The knife is an American one, possibly GI issue. It looks like a Ka Bar but doesn't have the 'Bowie' type blade and looks a bit short to be a trench knife. I'm not sure the sheaf goes with that knife in its original form either. What does the Sheaf have marked on it? It looks like USM? I thought at first USMC for Marines but it looks more like a 9. The picture looks great but the caps look a bit too green-Think of Dads Army for a idea of the correct colouring (Maybe Google image) Cheers Andy Ps Calling all ex Soldiers: Look at all those hands in the front row
The knife is an American one, possibly GI issue. It looks like a Ka Bar but doesn't have the 'Bowie' type blade and looks a bit short to be a trench knife. I'm not sure the sheaf goes with that knife in its original form either. What does the Sheaf have marked on it? It looks like USM? I thought at first USMC for Marines but it looks more like a 9. The picture looks great but the caps look a bit too green-Think of Dads Army for a idea of the correct colouring (Maybe Google image) Cheers Andy Ps Calling all ex Soldiers: Look at all those hands in the front row American knife, strange since my Grandad was British (Welsh). I didn't think of Dads Army, great idea! The marking on the Sheaf is U.S M8 then below that is B.M.C.0
