Help identifying my Geat Grandads wartime photos.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on these photos. I haven't got many details on the photos , or his service. Looking at his capbadge I can only assume he served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers (but this is only a guess based on what I can see). Apparently the photo of the 5 wearing the battledress tunics was taken in Devon. If anyone has any other suggestions or information it would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Tom

 

Roya Scots Fusiliers, I also see the Y badge of 5th Division, this would make him 2nd Battalion RSF

badge, formation, 5th Infantry Division | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)

 

Many thanks, just looked they have quite a wartime history. Would you have an idea what the white belt would signify? I've also attached another photo, but he is wearing a side cap instead a tam o shanter. Could this be that he possibly transfered into the Scots fusiliers?

 

His name was Alfred Sawyer, originally from Roydon/Nazeing in Essex

 

The other photos look like Royal Artillery to me, checking the RA attestation book I can see the below, which "may" be him - do you have any paperwork with his number that could confirm?

 

I guess the white belt either signifies Military Police or it was a ceremonial occasion. But I might be wrong.

 

I think we have his paybook around, which I can confirm with my grandad. This is very interesting as he did mention once that he served on anti aircraft batteries. Would this mean he was originally artillery and transfered or attached to RSF in 1945 for their service in Germany?

 

Probably white blankcoe MP belt/white courlene parade belt.

 

On the white belt I'm not sure, sometimes units would order equipment scrubbed for parades, in the period just after VE-Day there was quite a lot of "bull" keeping men busy and maintaining discipline. As Jacobr mentions the Military Police wore white equipment

If you have his paybook could you post up some images, it will confirm if the entry I posted relates to him (or not). The S/L on the attestation book shows the person it relates to was posted to a Searchlight Unit, late in the war when Infantry casualties were unsustainable and the need for Air Defence (due to the weakening of the Luftwaffe) was reduced a lot of men were transferred across

 

Does the guy top left on the first photo have the Africa Star ribbon?
As for your question above, yes that would fit in with the RA attestation above, if it is him.
Paybook should have his service number.
Getting his service records would confirm everything.
regards
Robert

 

Is he the Alfred Sawyer in here: (London Gazette p2500)?

 

This looks close: Page 1 UK, WWII, Royal Artillery Tracer Cards, 1939-1948 - Forces War Records
You'd be able to see it with a free trial.

 

Actually it's really kind of readable:

 

I don't think this would be him, he never mentioned being commissioned at all. But thank you for the help.

 

This one stayed with the RA all through and was in the Far East rather than N W Europe

 

This maybe a possibility, but the service number doesn't tie in with the one from the first post? About him transferring to the RSF?

 

Oh OK sorry.
My bad.

 

Nothing to apologise for, just helping any throwing out options

 

It's a shame that most of the people in these photos will go unnamed and nothing known about their service. He didn't really speak much about his service. One thing that I was told, is he came out with a story of how he came face to face with a German soldier, they both agreed to walk away and pretend they never saw each other. Apparently my nan said yeah sure you were probably hiding behind a tree, and he just sat there is silence staring at her

 

Thomas wise, do you know what your Great-Grandad's service number was?
That would really help narrow things down.