"Rifle Brigade History" Topic

Hello

Can anyone point me in the right direction for finding out about the unit history of a battalion in the British army during the Second World War.I believe my father joined up with the 70th Bn Rifle Brigade ( young soldiers battalion) in 1942 and was demobbed from The Royal Fusiliers in 1948.

I would love to find out what his chaps got up to.I appreciate this is a bit-off topic, but TMP-ers seem to be a rich font of knowledge.Thanks.

70th battalion wasn't rifle brigade, and was disbanded in October '42, never leaving the UK – really you need to find out his next posting. The Royal Fusiliers had several battalions, of which the 1st and 2nd both saw extensive service, the remainder being territorial I think, so again it'd need narrowing down.

Your best bet is to apply to see his service record here:
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The term 70th Battalion (young soldiers battalion)was a generic one applied to all the training battalions of the front line regiments. As such the Rifle brigade had one associated with it. They ceased to exist when the conscription age changed around 1942. He would therefore have had initial training in the 70th Battn. and then been transferred to a fighting battn.

Thanks Dom, thanks Vaughan,

Very helpful……..I have downloaded the relevant form and will be getting the info I need to get the Service Record.

There seems to be a reference to Royal Artillery so what comes up from all this will be interesting.Looking at Royal Fusiliers' museum they seemed to be Middle East/Italy.

My Aunt (alas departed now) thought that he was wounded at Aramanch, but I thought that was where the Mulberry Harbour was.

Thanks once again.

Very helpful……..I have downloaded the relevant form and will be getting the info I need to get the Service Record.

Definitely the way forward – that should get you enough information to start chasing things down properly. As for the Royal Fusiliers, yes, mainly Mediterranean I think (one battalion at Anzio iirc, and I think the other also served in Italy.) I can't recall them being in NW Europe at all, but of course he could easily have been transferred from another regiment late or post-war – his service history should fill in the major blanks, so that you know which unit histories to look for….

Dom.

PS – Thanks Vaughan – I had no idea that 70th battalion was a "standard" designation as it were – live and learn….

You could try contacting the Rifle Brigade museum in Winchester, they might be able to help. Its also a really good museum to visit if you can.

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Thanks everyone………I've identified most of his insignia, but these are more uncommon.

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I think the shoulder board and rank patch are German.Can any one help on the Viking patch?

The shoulder board is that of an Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) of a medical unit (staff and snake, plus blue waffenfarbe). The rank stripes belong to a Stabsgefreiter (senior corporal on administrative duty). The Viking badge is something I've never seen before, but perhaps might be a German 'arm shield'?