Help Please! ID a capbadge.

[indigo_prime]

A friend is trying to trace some family history and came across this photo of a relation. The only thing he knows is that the shoulder flash is 2nd Division, 14th Army (Far East), quite possibly while they were in Burma (a la Wingate and the Chindits).

Its the best wuality picture he can get Im afraid, but any squinty eyed historians that are able to make out the cap badge............all help is appreciated!

I_P

[retrobob]

A friend is trying to trace some family history and came across this photo of a relation. The only thing he knows is that the shoulder flash is 2nd Division, 14th Army (Far East), quite possibly while they were in Burma (a la Wingate and the Chindits).

Its the best wuality picture he can get Im afraid, but any squinty eyed historians that are able to make out the cap badge............all help is appreciated!

I_P
From here it looks like the Gloucestershire Regt.From the beret and shirt I think that the picture is from the 1950's not WW2

[panzrman]

Looks like a Recce badge to me.

[Ed Robinson]

WW2
Reconnaissance Corps raised in Jan 1941. Disbanded in Aug 1946.

[The Saint]

IP

He is a member of the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment. As part of the Royal Armoured Corps, Recces wore a black beret.

The 2nd Infantry Division was sent to India in 1942 and fought in Kohima, and the Burma campaign until VJ Day.

May be your friend could start a query on the Burma Star Association site
http://www.burmastar.org.uk/

Cheers
Eric

[indigo_prime]

Cheers for the replies guys. I found a Recce Corps Capbadge after I had put the post in and the outline of the badge seems to match closer than any other that I can find for the other units that were part of that Div.

[London Boy]

Hello Indigo, the crossed keys are those of the 2nd Infantry Divison.
However, the cap badge is Royal Artillery, if you blow it up (click on it
once) you can clearly see the wheel in the middle and the curving banner below and that is Royal Artillery.

And as such he would have been in one of the following Artillery units that were part of the 2nd Infantry Divison:


HQ Royal Artillery
10th Field Regiment, RA
16th Field Regiment, RA
18th Field Regiment, RA
Here's some more details about the 2nd Infantry Divison
http://home.tiscali.nl/wd16h/Most%20original%2016H/2nd%20infantry%20division.doc


-------------------------------
Per Ardua
Ex of II (Field) Squadron Airborne - RAF Regiment

[Royal]

Hello Indigo, the crossed keys are those of the 2nd Infantry Divison.
However, the cap badge is Royal Artillery, if you blow it up (click on it
once) you can clearly see the wheel in the middle and the curving banner below and that is Royal Artillery.

And as such he would have been in one of the following Artillery units that were part of the 2nd Infantry Divison:


HQ Royal Artillery
10th Field Regiment, RA
16th Field Regiment, RA
18th Field Regiment, RA
Here's some more details about the 2nd Infantry Divison
http://home.tiscali.nl/wd16h/Most%20original%2016H/2nd%20infantry%20division.doc


-------------------------------
Per Ardua
Ex of II (Field) Squadron Airborne - RAF Regiment

No, it's the Recce Corps.

If you blow it up you can clearly see the 'fir tree' lightning flashes and the spear.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/35/images/112938669013750506835_1.jpg

You must have been to one of the School of I's Recce courses as II Sqn, surely p-)

[indigo_prime]

Again guys thanks for the replies. With a little bit of digging in some more boxes, my friend can now confirm that it is indeed 2nd Recce Regt and the capbadge is the Recce Corps.

I knew it wasnt artillery (should have said!) as I was a gunner myself for nearly 8 years before moving to AGC(SPS)...(and wish I hadnt!).

The scrolls on the sides of the cap badge were the main feature I had to try and identify it as many capbadges scroll round, rather than straight up the sides as the Recce Corps one does.

On another note, my buddy is off to Loos in April to see the spot where his great grandfather was killed in action. He was able to get a hold of the trench map for the period of the action there and after sending me an image I was able to overlay it onto google earth and match it almost exactly to the same area. Considering they didnt have GPS or satellites in those days, its pretty darn close to the accuracy of the modern day map for scale etc. Probably less than 10feet out at most over an area about 1.5km x 1km!

[London Boy]

No, it's the Recce Corps.

If you blow it up you can clearly see the 'fir tree' lightning flashes and the spear.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/35/images/112938669013750506835_1.jpg

You must have been to one of the School of I's Recce courses as II Sqn, surely p-)


I need glasses then p-)