My Grandad (J Elvin) is on the left. The first picture he is with his friend Don Ford. The second picture he is with another pal "Spud" Murphy. They were taken in 1945, after his return to the UK. Should there be any patches on his cap, behind the badge or on the arms? At the time they were taken, I THINK he was in the Dorsetshires. Thanks for any help.
The cap badge certainly looks like the Dorsets' badge. I would say that the first photo is most likely, as you say, taken in 1945. The open collars (which have been pressed), collared shirts, ties and low shoes back that up. The second photo could have been from any time in WW2, though, oddly, the chap on the right seems to be wearing a coloured FS cap - usually worn on nights out, etc.
These are the only other photo's that I have. Can someone show me what the "pips" on his shoulders actually looked like please? The other photo was taken by my Grandad. Unfortunately, I don't know where or when, but it might be of interest to someone?
He would only wear 'pips' if he were an officer. The last photo shows a Lance Corporal in the Royal Artillery (white braided lanyard on the right shoulder). If he was in the Dorsets in North West Europe (as the BD suggests), he would have been in either 43rd Wessex Infantry Division or the 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division, with their respective patches. The last photo shows 'slip-on' titles used earlier in the war.
They're the early-war pattern Khaki slip-on shoulder titles. Presumably Royal Artillery ones, which read simply 'RA'. ETA: Fruitcake has already identified these for you.
