Hi folks Not sure if this has worked or not but I have tried to attach one of my dad's photos. He has written on the back :- "June '46 Elephant SP" Hopefully somebody with more knowledge about computers than me will be able to do something with it and it helps with your discussions! Cheers Ian
Quadruple Jagdpanthers. I'd suggest uploading the raw image shot - than a PDF which I am not sure people can enhance. SP means Self-propelled gun. Good shot (from what I can make out!)
Thanks for the ID Swiper, so it seems the Jagdpanther were what they were calling Elephants! I have a lot of images to upload but not sure how to do it without making a PDF (I'm a bit thick like that lol)
Hi Ian, If you save the file as ABC ( whatever ) .jpg That might give you a better result. cheers Kevin
Can anyone enlighten me as to what these insignia represent please? I found them in with some of my Dad's RAC flashes. Many thanks guys Ian
Ian, neither ring a bell with me. I guess no pics of him wearing one (first could be Regimental specific but... I've never seen it before.) Any luck with his diary etc?
Wills Some interesting names in your link to 34 AB such as Brig Tetley who was O.C. 25th Tank bde in May '44 - and led them in support of 1st Canadian Division against the Hitler line in the Liri Valley in Italy thus earning the Maple Leaf to wear on their uniforms being a TETLEY he had his family send out enough beer for everyman in the brigade to have one bottle each…..the other was Brig Dawney who took over the 21st Tank bde also in support of the 1st Canadian Div through the Gothic Line battles - all we were given was the Canadian RED patch to wear - and NO beer…. as he didn't have a brewery - both finished up as Generals… cheers
Hi Swiper. I don't think there is a photo of him wearing the flashes but will double check. I thought the first one looks like a Lancer outfit and is the centre design a stylised tank as in the RTR badge do you think?
The tank badge is the Royal Armoured Corps Training Centre, British Army of the Rhine (RAC Training Centre BAOR) so is post war. The star is his trade badge: Driver/Mechanic, Class I or II
Ah!! Thanks Idler, fits perfectly. He was transferred in 1946 to the training regiment at Belsen where he saw out his time until demob and he was of course a Driver/Mechanic throughout. Many thanks for clearing that up! In answer to your question re his diary Swiper. I've managed to trace just about all his journey through France and what battles he was involved in. Got to try the same with Belgium, Netherlands and Germany now which will be harder because I personally know a lot of France he was in so I had a start, never been to the other countries though! . Using the excellent history of the 34th a lot. If only I knew of any of his old comrades but his best mate in the army died just after him.
Hi Andy, thanks ever so much for this. It is fascinating and inspires me to get the rest of the regiment's records. Do you know if there is much more in the records at Kew? Cheers Ian
Hi Ian I only have the 1944 war diary. A quick search shows there are five diaries in total at Kew WO 166/1435 ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS: 147 Regiment 1941 Dec. WO 166/6941 ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS: 147 Regiment. 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 166/11113 147 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps 1943 Jan.-Dec. WO 171/879 147 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/4721 147 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps 1945 Jan.- Oct.
Hi Andy I am sort of retiring at Easter and going to be working only a couple of days a week so I am going to apply for a readers ticket and get myself to Kew Ian
Hi guys For anyone interested I have attached my Dad's log of where he went after landing in Normandy with 147 Regiment RAC. I believe that the names underlined are where he engaged with the enemy. Also in the log is a list of his colleagues killed or wounded in action. Regards
Ian, glad to hear you might take 'the plunge' at Kew - it is a great place. Have a look at this: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/11433-national-archives-kew-tips/?hl=%2Bkew+%2Btips First tips: Get to Kew by Public transport if possible - parking is limited. Take more id than you think you will need in case something isn't accepted. Take spare or rechargeable batteries and SD cards for your camera. Try to get a table near the windows with a photo stand. Don't be afraid to ask staff for advice. Avoid getting on the wrong side of Helga! Let us know how you get on. Forgot to add - check opening hours - closed Monday, open late Tuesdays and Thursdays. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Hi Mike Thanks for the advice and reference to the forum thread, I shall go through that. I was planning going in by train anyway, I'm only an hour away from London. I look forward to meeting Helga, she sounds like my kind of girl !!! Cheers Ian
Well I took the plunge today and went to Kew. I now have photo records of the 147 Reg RAC for 1944 and 1945 so a lot of reading coming up once they are taken off the camera. I must say it was a great experience and the staff could not have been more helpful. Very humbling to actually touch the original documents from 70 years ago.
My father too was with 147 RAC during the same period, on his records it states 34th Tank Brigade (headquarters Squadron) He served with the Brigade from 1943 (?) until april 1945 then transferred to the Royal Scots Greys staying in Germany until 1947.
