Can you identify this cap badge? Could it be Grenadier Guards? Fusiliers?

I'd be grateful if anyone could help identify the cap badge in the photo of my grandfather, Leonard Ernest William CHAPMAN, born in Romford, Essex, 12 July 1914.

He spoke very little about the war, and I have no service record or number. My application to the Army Personnel Centre was unable to turn up any records. Of the few photos of him in uniform, this is the only one that shows any kind of badge or insignia.

My dad (his son-in-law) seems to think he drove some kind of amphibious vehicle during D-Day. Separately, my grandfather told me he drove a tracked, turretless tank (in training, at least).

Putting those pieces of information together, I thought it might be a Buffalo LVT. I think he might have trained in south Wales and on the Isle of Wight at some point.

All of that could suggest he was in the Royal Army Service Corps, but the RASC cap badges are a different shape, so I don't think he was when this photo was taken.

Trying to compare the badge against images online, the shape looks more like a Grenadier Guards or Fusiliers badge.

From the type of cap, I think the photo was taken before 1943, when the Field Service Cap was replaced by the General Service Cap.

[My grandmother only ever mentioned the war in relation to the Germans - not the Italians or the Japanese, for example - which might be an indication my grandfather served in north-west Europe.]

My grandfather died in December 1991 and none of his surviving relatives know any more than I do about where he served or what he did.

Photo of Leonard Ernest William CHAPMAN [DOB 12 July 1914] Leonard Ernest William Chapman [DOB 12 July 1914] | WW2Talk

 

Welcome to the forum
Did you use this link
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I am sure forum members will try to dig up info for you

 

James,
I can't help with the cap badge, but I notice that Leonard is not wearing any insignia.
So maybe the following is applicable:-

British soldiers wore minimal insignia on their Battle Dress uniforms in the early part of World War II,
particularly from May 1940 until late 1940, due to an Army Council Instruction (ACI) 419 banning
divisional signs to prevent intelligence leaks to the enemy.

His service number would be useful.

 

My money is on Royal Fusiliers.

 

Me too.

Frank

 

Puzzled to find he is no trace, with combination of names, on The National Archives (TNA); that may mean it is being processed. No trace here either.

Has any family member kept his funeral details? Sometimes an obituary can refer to their wartime service; so try the British Newspaper Archive (BNA) for any coverage. Usually available in local public libraries in-person for free.

 

Thanks, David, that's interesting - I have a few other photos of him and none of them show insignia (and he isn't wearing a cap in those, so no badge). Some of them were taken at home as late as summer 1943. His service number would indeed be useful! James

 

That's a good suggestion. Unfortunately, any family members who might remember aren't around any more, and I don't think there was anything in the press. He never talked about the war (and he'd leave the room if there was a war film on TV), so I can't really imagine an obituary would have mentioned his service anyway. Much more likely to have talked about his home life. James

 

That was my first port of call. I requested his records a couple of years ago and they didn't find anything (but all I could give them was his name and DOB).

 

You need to apply on the link provided
Date of birth and death cert required.
Letter states not enough info supplied.

 

Yes, I included the DOB and copy of his death certificate. I don't think it was an online service before, though (and I don't remember it being free). I'll try again, thanks.