Talk about making your life difficult John.
Well, first off, the two Divisions mentioned were in the Tunisian campaign as I understand it, so not perhaps in what we tend to think of as the Western Desert as such. So, first off, there’s the colour problem as I think some vehicles were in green as opposed to sand (I’m not going to die in a ditch on that one though).
Both Divs then went to Italy via Sicily I believe though the 78th was recalled to Egypt for a short time. The colour problem for Italian theatre vehicles remains though, including camouflage paint schemes.
An estimate of markings would be as follows – more or less L to R as you face the front of the vehicle:
Arm of Service square and number – white on red I should think, probably 55, 56 or 57 depending on seniority within the Brigade, but this is from the laid down scheme of ’44 so may well be adrift.
A vehicle bridge plate.
The Div formation sign – white triangle for 1 Div, yellow and black battleaxe for 78. No Brigade sign unless the Brigades were independent ones, which I don’t think they were, so the Div sign prevails.
The RAC red-white-red sign was also evident on some Infantry carriers just to add to the confusion – see pic below:
(pic for discussion purposes)
Vehicle serial numbers on the sides I should think, possibly an Allied star somewhere but not necessarily, and then the geometric sub-unit markings – if applied - but God knows what they’ll be – you’ll have to find that out from the service record perhaps – but even then – as we both know – individuals can be switched at the drop of a hat (casualties etc) to different Companies. And then the colour, again possibly seniority related.
Best option: Avoid(!)
2nd best option: get your sorry self to the Regimental Museum at the opposite end of the country, in Canterbury – I think.
Good luck(!)
…… the research keeps going …….
