maciek72 | 21 Jul 2017 12:28 p.m. PST |
Examining the photos of British 14th Army soldiers I noticed two things: - they did not carried they entrenchment tools - they did not wear their shoulder patches Do you confirm my observations ? |
uglyfatbloke | 21 Jul 2017 1:11 p.m. PST |
Had n't ever thought of it, but now you mention it I can't specifically recall seeing Div patches in photos. I know I've seen a pic of an Indian soldier with a not-very-military looking shovel hung on his pack, but that's it. |
uglyfatbloke | 21 Jul 2017 1:20 p.m. PST |
Out of about 200 images I've only found one Mac; it's of Havildar Kul Bahadur Gurung VC, but he's very sharply turned out so I think it's not him primed for battle do much as posed for a picture. If it helps my wife's XIV Army Sikhs (28mm ) don't have flashes and they look pretty good! |
maciek72 | 21 Jul 2017 11:39 p.m. PST |
Thanks, @uglyfatbloke, BTW what is Mac ? |
Windy Miller | 22 Jul 2017 3:29 a.m. PST |
In GMF's book Quartered Safe out Here he describes he and his mates sewing on badges when they went on leave to Calcutta so that people would recognise them as fighting troops. The implication is that they didn't wear them in the field. |
uglyfatbloke | 22 Jul 2017 6:42 a.m. PST |
Sorry, I was being lazy…short for Maciek72…good memory Windy; there was some reference lurking at the back of my mind and could n't find it. |
Black Bull | 22 Jul 2017 3:45 p.m. PST |
I have a collection of photos of 10GR there are a few of troops wearing badges in the field one is a 1st Bn soldier with Japanese prisoners the other of Major Mulroney of 3rd Bn inspecting Japanese weapons shortly after the capture of 'Scraggy' july'44,the vast majority don't wear any. Have heard that the ground was either too rocky or too many tree roots for spades it may have been in the Griff Rhys-jones docu about his dad (he served in the West African Div) |
uglyfatbloke | 22 Jul 2017 3:52 p.m. PST |
I've been having a bit of a look around and I've yet to see a pic of a soldier with his entrenching tool- there may be loads of course and I just have n't seen them. |
Windy Miller | 23 Jul 2017 2:11 a.m. PST |
Here's one that clearly shows them being carried. Looks like it was taken mid '45. I hope this link works! link |
uglyfatbloke | 23 Jul 2017 4:30 a.m. PST |
It does indeed – it also brought up a couple of pics I had n't seen before, so many thanks! |
maciek72 | 23 Jul 2017 10:50 p.m. PST |
Many thanks guys. Very informative thread ! |