Greetings all,

Following my last post and some conversatons with David M - just wanted to clarify when the RA started to wear berets?

Pics I've seen show the side caps for early units 39 to 4 2 and the newer cap FS for the later crews.

This would mean that the Tamiya Quad Drivers have the wrong head gear as my thinking is that they got berets post war.

Any thoughts

Al

Hi Al! Had a look through my library...LOL..According to "The British Soldier"by Jean Bouchery, black berets were worn by some SP Royal Artillery units but it doesn't specify which ones. I would imagine that as the GS cap came in in 43 they were possibly issued that as an alternative.Hope thats some help.

Hi Karl,

It was something I hadn't really thought about as the Tamiya Quad driver has a beret but I think that they had the cap FS for the latter part of the war.

Just wondred when they were issued with beret.

Cheers

Al

Hi Al

A look through the IWM database for shots of Sextons, Archers and M10s proved inconclusive. Some crews appeared to be wearing berets, some were wearing cap, GSs. Mostly it was hard to tell.

Another look through Brayley and Ingram revealed that the Reconnaisance Regiment wore khaki berets (and later RAC black), but didn't help too much on the RA. It did have a nice set of pictures with a side cap in the red and blue colours of the RA though.

All the best

David

Morning David,

Looks like another and/or situation!!! Following the grand picture you sent I'll go for caps GS in Khaki.

Many thanks

Al

Hi Derek,

Thanks very much for that. The question came up when I posted an undate on the two trucks, I staretd to think about drivers for the trucks as I re-decaled them for 11 Armd DIv.

I've changed the unit to 151st (Ayrshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA (TA) who were part of the support artillery for 11 Armd Div and had towed 25pdrs. Thanks for all the useful info from your site.

That's also helpful as I have some work still to do on the FATs so I can switch the headgear at the same time.

Many thanks

Al

Thanks Derek for sorting that out for us. I've built a couple of Tamiya Quads without the question even crossing my mind

This was the IWM photo that came closest to looking like berets

Archer and crew

Judging the colour (well guessing really) was made even more complicated by the contrast with the pixie suits.

David

hi guys,if you want to be accurate,when the Gun crew is in action and firing they would be wearing helmets or nothing at all.even nowadays we wear helmets when we firing.
hope that helps

Hi Gareth,

Don't doubt you, but I've seen pics of them firing with cap FS on, there's always the exception, although you're right generally they would have worn a tin hat.

Cheers

Al