Uniform Identification

Zamboni

Hi folks,

I was just wondering if anybody could identify the uniform in the attached?

I'm thinking RAF 1940s?

Any details of rank etc would be appreciated.

Thanks

johnny_doyle

Corporal, RAF Regiment sometime after 1945(?)

Zamboni

johnny_doyle wrote: »

Corporal, RAF Regiment sometime after 1945(?)

Thank you very much.
Just doing some family history and came across the uniform.
Much obliged.

ex_infantry man

it does actually say RAF on the flash

tac foley

It actually reads 'RAF REGIMENT'.

tac

johnny_doyle

here's a pic of an RAF Regiment shoulder title

http://www.epicmilitaria.com/shopimages/products/thumbnails/RAF-REGIMENT.jpg

and a pic of an RAF Eagle

http://www.network54.com/Forum/180748/thread/1311410317/Positioning+of+RAF+shoulder+eagles+-+Help!

My understanding was that WW2 RAF battledress had concealed buttons but I'm not 100% on this.

tac foley

johnny_doyle wrote: »

My understanding was that WW2 RAF battledress had concealed buttons but I'm not 100% on this.

Me too - I'm also puzzled by the lanyard - not an item of dress usually associated with any part of the RAF unless it is the whistle of an RAF policeman.

I'll ask the guy just down the street from me - he's a Flt Lt in the Regiment.

Back in a bit.

tac

Back - he's never seen any lanyard worn by members of the RAF Regiment.

johnny_doyle

a couple of the erks on this photo have buttons visible; other have the buttons concealed. A Sgt at the back has a lanyard clearly visible. Some of the officers and the very young looking warrant officer appear to have lanyards.

http://www.rafregiment.net/images/1945%2002%202727%20Lloyds%20cup%20Winners%201944.jpg

tac foley

Well there are two grades of battle dress blouses - the lightweight version has the exposed metal buttons, the heavier-grade, Pattern 37, has concealed buttons.

The apparent youth of the WO is VERY surprising, but them our local cemetery has two Canadian RCAF WO's in it, both were 24 years old when they died in 1944 and '45.

Lanyards, I'm told were worn by staff of training establishments to distinguish the various sub-units within them from each other.

Could be what we are seeing here.

Note that very few of them have the rows of medals that we associate with soldiers of these ranks in 1945... I'll ask Neill what he thinks about that.

tac