Hi there Trux, Im researching unit TRFs or Tactical Reference Flashes that were worn on Op Overlord (from British, Canadian and US Forces) and remaking them digitally. Im a Graphic Designer and amateur historian so I thought Id force the 2 together. I know some just had names, others had flashes and a few had both. So far I have Army Groups, Divisions and Corps. Next is to go into Regiments. I want to go indepth with this, going into the supporting Air Squadrons and Naval Fleet. The 79th Armoured Division wasn't completely involved with D-Day, I thought it best that they got a mention as elements of the 79th Armoured Division did take part. (Edit: Image has been deleted so I can make room for this project, a corrected version is in comment #24))
LittlFletch, An interesting project and a lot of work. There were a very large number of units involved by land sea and air. Mike
Hi Mike, So far Im finding the US insignia more complicated visually then the British and Canadian insignias. Though the British and Canadians have alot more patchs then the US units. The US units are more like coats of arms then simple colour patches. What is slowing me down is the lack of knowledge on patches. The research you have done so far certainly helps a lot. Even more so with the Landing Craft and embarked units. I plan to put the units on a Normandy map, I may need to play around with scale to fit everything on but visually should look amazing. Fletch
Arm of service marking for 61st Recce was 41 on a green and blue square. This was standard for all Recce Corps units. I hope that this helps Lawrence
Some confusion with the infantry. 151Bde was only DLI. 231Bde was 2nd Devons, 1st Hamps and 1st Dorsets. The Queens were all 131 (Lorried Infantry) Bde of 7th Armd Division. Nice graphics. Lawrence
These look very nice indeed! One slight comment though about the presentation: in your post #86 above, you're using the "map" sequence, with UTAH (West) on the left and SWORD (East) on the right. Incidentally this is also the German's view of the Assault Areas. I would suggest that you show the patches the other way round, which is the Allies' view, with SWORD on the left and UTAH on the right Michel
Nice patches, there. However, 12th KRRC (motor bn of 8th Armd Bde) didn't come ashore until some time after D-Day. I used to know the reason for that, but I am afraid that I have forgotten it.
Some other patches that might be included: 1. Border Regiment (beach group battalion) 2. Hertfordshire Regiment (beach group battalion) 3. RM Armoured Support Regiment 4. 147 RAC (Buffs) (one troop of Crocodiles landed on D-Day, though not engaged) 5. GHQ Liaison Regiment ('Phantom') (one patrol landed with 50th Div) 6. 987th Field Artillery Battalion, US Army (only US Army unit to land on British beaches, equipped with M12 155mm SP guns) 7. Cheshire Regiment (machine guns)
Oh, yes, another thing about the patches... Some of the yeomanry units transferred to the RA were very sensitive about retaining their separate identity within that corps. The Northumberland Hussars were perhaps the most sensitive of all. Whenever possible, the outfit ignored its 'official' designation of 102nd Anti-Tank Regiment.
Ahh see I was going by wiki, I know its not quite as reliable as it should but its a start Well Im going to reorganise the patches anyway because I can't read the labels clearly online (crap TV/Monitor) so Im going to make the patches larger and create a Division/Regiment roster. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings
Clever stuff Owen. That will make it easier for people to find, refer to and add to the very useful material on this thread. I can see it will be a popular and long term project. Mike
Hello Fletch, Per TTH's comment at Message #9, you will find the US 987th Field Artillery Battlion's arm flash at Message #25 in the following link: http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67783&page=2 The 987th were due to land on Gold Beach on D-Day, but didn't actually get ashore until 7 June 1944. The 1/7th and 1/6th Queens were battalions of 50 Div, but not until circa 4 December 1944, when the 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry and 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment (both 50 Div) respectively replaced them in 131st Infantry Brigade, 7th Armoured Division. As Lawrence indicates at Message #6: 151st Infantry Brigade = 6th, 8th and 9th Bns Durham Light Infantry; and 231st Infantry Brigade = 1 Bn Hampshire Regt, 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt and 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt. Best, Steve.
Post #1 The Canadian flag you use is wrong. That wasn't used until 1965. In 1944 it looked like this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Red_Ensign
A full list of the units taking part in Overlord is included in Max Hastings book about Operation Overlord.
Hello Fletch, I've got a list as long as my arm of units under command of 50 Div on D-Day that I could let you have, but it may be more detail than you wanted to go into. PM me if you want the detail... Regarding TTH's Message #9: 1. Border Regiment (beach group battalion)= 6th Bn Border Regiment; 2. Hertfordshire Regiment (beach group battalion)= 2nd Bn Hertfordshire Regiment; 3. RM Armoured Support Regiment = 1st RM Armoured Support Regiment (in Centaurs); and 4. 147 RAC (Buffs) = I believe this should be 141st RAC Regiment (ex-7th Bn The Buffs). Best, Steve.
This is a better source than Hastings: http://niehorster.orbat.com/500_eto/44-06-06_allies.htm (You can click through to lower levels if the unit has a shadow behind it). TRF is a modern construction (Tactical Recognition Flash) - they were simply Formation Signs then. You'll need 1st Canadian Army (the '1' in 21st Army Group). Just a couple of other observations: For contemporary accuracy, British shoulder titles in the majority were "sans serif" in their typeface and should look reasonably plain. The KRRC shoulder title you have has a blue background; it should be rifle green. I have a suspicion that the 2nd Cheshire badge you have is the modern variant worn by the Cheshire Regiment in the 1990s and by one of the battalions of the Mercian Regiment now. But looking very nice thus far, very striking.
Signals wore 'Royal Corps of Signals' shoulder titles, officially at least until September 1944. In practice, most 'Royal Signals' titles seem to be 1945-on. These were my Dad's (the earlier, moth-eaten example is one that has been worn).
