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Messages - Time Runner

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1
Armed Forces / Re: What military uniform? Help, please
« on: Friday 01 March 24 19:37 GMT (UK)  »
Hi everyone,

It's been a while, but I've had something of a breakthrough identifying the shoulder badge in the photo at the beginning of this thread, and I thought I'd share the info here in case it's useful, or simply curious, to anyone else.

The shoulder badge is that of the 7th Indian Infantry Division.

I've managed to discover quite a bit more about the chap since I last posted (yesterday I received a copy of his service record from The National Archives at Kew). He was with the British Royal Artillery's 24 Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment (which was re-designated 24 Anti-Tank Regiment in September 1944 – https://ra39-45.co.uk/units/light-anti-aircraft-anti-tank-regiments/24-light-anti-aircraft-anti-tank-regiment-rata), which means he was part of the Burma campaign.

There's still a great deal more I'd like to find out about him, but I'm much further down the road of un-ignorance than when I started this thread!

Thanks to all of you who set me off in the right direction.

 :)


The badge in question is attached below (source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30071162):

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Armed Forces / Re: What military uniform? Help, please
« on: Sunday 05 November 23 21:51 GMT (UK)  »
I've been away so have only just caught up on these last couple of posts. Andy, you say:
Quote from: Andy J2022 on Saturday 14 October 23 08:52 BST (UK)
Tonepad has already satisfactorily identified the badge as that of the 20th Indian Infantry
Are you convinced? I keep staring at the pic in my original post, and while I do see a resemblance to the raised sword, I also see troubling differences. The badge in the OP isn't vertical, and it seems to have some sort of lobe on the top end.

If I get any confirmation on this from any other source Ill be sure to report back here with the info!

3
Armed Forces / Re: What military uniform? Help, please
« on: Friday 06 October 23 17:58 BST (UK)  »
That's great, Andy, thank you for the leads. There's a lot to dig into (almost all of it new to me), so I'm going to need some time to do some serious research. Thanks again for all your help. It's much appreciated!

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Armed Forces / Re: What military uniform? Help, please
« on: Thursday 05 October 23 10:00 BST (UK)  »
Thanks for your replies, Andy, alan and Nanna, all very interesting. (The jungle warfare info was fascinating, Andy.)

alan, you say that:
Quote from: alan o on Thursday 05 October 23 08:38 BST (UK)
[...] this is the British army [...].
Now, that's a key piece of info, right there! Up until this point in the thread it's not been clear to me if there was a view as to which allied nation this guy was fighting for.

What makes you certain that he's British army, alan?

And more generally, can any of you recommend any further sources that I might use to try and identify him?

5
Armed Forces / Re: What military uniform? Help, please
« on: Wednesday 04 October 23 11:58 BST (UK)  »
Quote from: Andy J2022 on Saturday 30 September 23 10:07 BST (UK)
Yes, that's almost certainly a capbadge on the side. As can be seen from the second photograph, he doesn't have a capbadge on the front of his hat, which reinforces the idea that it's on the side.
Right, thanks, Andy.

Quote from: alan o on Tuesday 03 October 23 18:03 BST (UK)
It will not be a badge but a cloth flash or patch which will designate his unit.
Understood. Thanks, alan. Trying to get my head around the terminology here: when you say "unit", would that be a regiment or something smaller. And also, if it's a "cloth flash or patch" (rather than a badge), would that help to narrow down the army he was part of?

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Armed Forces / Re: What military uniform? Help, please
« on: Friday 29 September 23 10:38 BST (UK)  »
Hmm, yes, I think you're right. The ears certainly speak against them being the same person.

Am I right to think that – on the first two photos – the regimental insignia is pinned to the folded-up flap of the hat?

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Armed Forces / Re: What military uniform? Help, please
« on: Wednesday 27 September 23 12:15 BST (UK)  »
Hi Tony,

Thanks for the reply. I will investigate that badge.

I've found another couple of pics that may help (as you can tell, I'm really in the dark here).

The first is a pic from the same sitting as the original post (though poorer quality), and the second is – possibly – the same man at another time.

8
Armed Forces / Re: What military uniform? Help, please
« on: Wednesday 27 September 23 11:05 BST (UK)  »
Hi Andy,

Thanks for the reply. It's a tricky one, isn't it!

I've attached a detail from the back of the photo, a serial number. I don't know if it's relevant, or simply some photographer's admin (there's also a handwritten personal note, which I haven't included because I was worried that this wasn't the correct section of the forum for it; I understand that Roots Chat has a separate section for dating photos and identifying handwriting...?).

And also, family tradition would suggest that he lived or was stationed at or near, or passed through, East Grinstead, Sussex, England, some time during the first half of 1940. I share this fact with trepidation as it may be a red herring. As I said in my original post, I have very little to go on.

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Armed Forces / What military uniform? Help, please
« on: Wednesday 27 September 23 09:36 BST (UK)  »
Can anyone identify this chap's uniform?

I think it's allied WWII, but it may be earlier (or later if I'm completely lost!).

Family stories would have it that he's an ancestor of mine, but I have little to go on, so any help in identifying his military credentials would be gratefully received.

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