Hello, I'm trying to trace to which regiment the chap below would belong. Initial research suggests it's a Canadian Artillery unit, though sources conflict on which specific units had that zig-zag diamond patch, and whether the colour bands were Blue/Red/Blue, or Red/Blue/Red. The photo is supposedly my Great Uncle who was not Canadian, but grew up in Ipswich, England. I am aware that some Brits ended up in the units and formations of the Canadian, Australian, Indian air forces and armies. I'm not familiar enough with Cap Badges, but I couldn't find a close enough match for what that might be, nor the campaign/medal ribbons. Difficult to tell from a Black and White photograph, but do any leap out as obvious? Any help, big or small, would be greatly appreciated. Apologies if this isn't the right forum section, some forums have a dedicated unit identification sub-forum which I couldn't find.
Looks like a Royal Artillery cap badge - flaming grenade type. The flash is Canadian - possibly 1st or 2nd Canadian Army Group Royal Artillery. The medal are hard to see but possibly France and Germany Star there? The photo is taken post war most likely - mid to late 1945 (shirt and tie but definitely campaign medals on battledress place this photo in that period). You are correct in thinking that some British units (RA,RE and Pioneers) ended up serving under Canadian command for part or all of the campaign in NW Europe e.g. 10th Medium Regiment RA and 15th Medium Regiment RA. Do you have any documents or further photos/information to help flesh out the details? A name?
Thanks Giberville, If the photo is of who I think it is, then the name is John Henry Patrick Victor Brown (b.1917, d.1983). He and his brother are often listed by only their first two names on military records, so likely just "John Henry" in this case. I've just re-seen that he married in 1943, so I'm going to apply for the marriage certificate and hope that there is an additional detail on there. Other than that I have absolutely no details on his service, other than that he was 'in the army'. If this photo is not of him, then there is nothing on the back of the photo to identify who it actually is unfortunately.
I have applied for service records previously, but I was attempting to narrow my search down and see what I can find out before getting the chequebook out.
Marriage Certificate arrived for John Henry Patrick Victor Brown. It states a Service Number 6012649 Royal Artillery, rank Gunner. Forces War Records has a return for that service number for a J H P V Brown, of a Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, dated 30 September 1945. I'm not sure whether he was in a 'field' RA unit at the time of Marriage in 1943, then was in a HAA after the war ended, or was HAA throughout I will request service record now that I have his service number and see if he was in a Canadian Artillery at any point to match that record to the above photo.
That number shows he originally enlisted into The Essex Regiment 5998001 - 6076000 Army Number Block Allocations
Thank you, I hadn't thought to check the allocations. This makes perfect sense as he grew up in Essex (Southend), and I know his brother was also in the Essex Regiment briefly before joining the RAF. He could have been in one of the Essex Regiment battalions converted to be a Medium Regiment RA (e.g. 11th Medium). I shall post here when I find out