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RASC photos

M

Maria Magenta

master brummie
Near the fort small.jpgI've got quite a lot of these.
On the back Dad has written: 'See the ruins of the Fort (something beginning with A) in the background.'

(Looks like Agenda or August!)
 
Maria Magenta said:
View attachment 92976No information, but he has to be an officer, I think.
Click to expand...
Hello Maria,

I doubt that he is an officer. Had he been his badges of rank would be on his epaulettes. He is more likely to have been a sergeant or sergeant major with his stripes hidden by his rolled up sleeves. The title 'Camp Bully' would also fit an NCO rather than a commissioned officer.

Old Boy
 
Old Boy said:
Hello Maria,

I doubt that he is an officer. Had he been his badges of rank would be on his epaulettes. He is more likely to have been a sergeant or sergeant major with his stripes hidden by his rolled up sleeves. The title 'Camp Bully' would also fit an NCO rather than a commissioned officer.

Old Boy
Click to expand...

I can't see any badges of rank at all.
In those days, in working dress, it was usual to wear stripes on a removeable armband.
A warrant officer would wear his rank on his right wrist.
 
The old KD issue Beret, my father said he would have rather died, than wear his anywhere, and in fact every photo we have he is wearing his forage cap.
 
The troops hated those hats, (I think they were called bonnets), they thought they looked like a cow pat. Hence the name "crap hat".
 
It's all the diffferent angles they're worn at that get me!
They all have such characterful faces. There are some refugees from Ealing Comedies there, I'm sure.
maria
 
paul stacey said:
The old KD issue Beret, my father said he would have rather died, than wear his anywhere, and in fact every photo we have he is wearing his forage cap.
Click to expand...

I can`t speak for the RAF or Navy but army uniforms were an ill fitting mess. As soon as i got to Germany i had my BD & number 2 uniform tailored & what a difference it made to feeling smart. My number 2 hat i used to fold down at the sides (like the officers do) & again it made you feel so much smarter. I also got hold of some stuff from a Canadian soldier which looked like a bottle of ink with a little brush, & that would give a great shine to boots & shoes & it didn`t chip or flake.
 
I know what you mean Smudge,Baz, I was very lucky being in the Foot Guards as our No 2's were always tailored after Basic, the bad part was that after L/Sgts rank, (full screw), you had to buy No1's which, if you could not get a second hand one your size, were horrifically expensive. My son referes to all berets not red as "Crap Hats".
 
Maria Magenta said:
It's all the diffferent angles they're worn at that get me!
They all have such characterful faces. There are some refugees from Ealing Comedies there, I'm sure.
maria
Click to expand...

The last group photo, (they're not all RASC are they ?), the Prize for The Daftest Hat I award to the sergeant sitting front right.
(It was a difficult decision though !).
 
maypolebaz said:
The last group photo, (they're not all RASC are they ?), the Prize for The Daftest Hat I award to the sergeant sitting front right.
(It was a difficult decision though !).
Click to expand...

Are they not all RASC? I couldn't make out all the badges. There's nothing written on the back, and dad isn't here now. Could some of them be REME by any chance?
Agree about the hat!!
 
Thinking about it and having had a closer look, it might be that the badges that I thought were from other regiments could, in fact, be the wartime bakelite pattern.
Some of the men don't seem to have a cap badge at all.
 
maypolebaz said:
I can't see any badges of rank at all.
In those days, in working dress, it was usual to wear stripes on a removeable armband.
A warrant officer would wear his rank on his right wrist.
Click to expand...

maypolebaz, thinking about what you and Old Boy said about uniforms, etc. Army hierarchy is fascinating but alien to me, and I don't know a lot about uniform...would an officer never be seen to 'unbend' in terms of uniform, even in the heat? (I know there were tropical whites).
I also wondered whether during the Second World War officers still had batmen, or had that died out?
Sorry if those are silly questions.
maria
 
Looking at photos taken during WW2 Maria I think the relationship between officers and their men was more relaxed than when I was in the army, (1957-1980).
During my time, officers were required to maintain a certain aloofness, although they could still be friendly and they were allways to appear properly dressed.. They were required to set an example, that was the point.
I'm not sure about WW2 but most Gunner officers had batmen right up to the end of National Service.
 
maypolebaz said:
Looking at photos taken during WW2 Maria I think the relationship between officers and their men was more relaxed than when I was in the army, (1957-1980).
During my time, officers were required to maintain a certain aloofness, although they could still be friendly and they were allways to appear properly dressed.. They were required to set an example, that was the point.
I'm not sure about WW2 but most Gunner officers had batmen right up to the end of National Service.
Click to expand...

Thank you, that's interesting.
maria
 
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