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I am looking for sources to determine the patches/badges which would have been worn by infantry of 2d Bn RWF during 1918, under 115th Bde.
The 115th Bde badge was evidently square, but what color?
Suggestions about what would appear on helmet, coat back, sleeves for the organization. (I am not talking about service badges, etc), just what would ID the soldier as being from that unit during that time.
Thanks in advance.
Hello Duke.
The 38th (Welsh) Division Had as a Div sign a Welsh Dragon.On the 29th of April1915 the 43rd Division was re-numbered the 38th and at the same time it's infantry Brigades become the 113th 114th and 115th. the senior Brigade comprised 4 battalions of the RWF and, with the exception of one that was formed from Welshmen living in London, were recruited throughout north Wales, In the Rhondda valleys two Battalions were raised; another Glamorganshire Battalion was formed in Swansea, and these, together with a fourth from the County of Carmarthen provided 114 Brigade.-all Welsh Regiment. In the last Brigade, one Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, two from the South Wales Borderers, and a fourth from the Welsh Regiment at Cardiff made up the orbat The 38th Div spent the early months of 1916 training for trench warfare the 15th Batt RWF were the first in the Division to attackthe enemy's lines. in 1916 the 38th Division were ordered to take Mametz Wood. But this is a long story. Also many changes of title and divisions took p-lace in Kitchener's Army.
Regards RBD info comes from Kitchener's Army by Ray Westlake
Hello Duke,
Re the movement of Divisions and Brigades during the Great War. Here is an example of 2/RWF movements.
In August 1915 the 2nd were in Portland.
On the 11/8/1914 they landed at Rouen as a lines of communication troops.
on the 27/8/1914 they were attached to 19th Inf Bde, which was not allocated to a Division but was under independant command at this time.
on the 12/10/ 1914 they were transferred to Brigade to the 6th Division.
on the 31/5/1915 they were transferred with Brigade to 27th Division.
On the 19/8/1915 they were tranferred with Brigade to 2nd Division.
On the 22/11/1915 thet were transferred to 115 Brigade (38th Welsh) division.
See what I mean?
Regards RBD
Hello Duke,
I have found a few more badges for your info. I will list them for you. the numbers in brackets refer to brigades and divisions.
1/6th batt(158 /53)the sign for this unit was a square hallf black (Top) and white on the bottom, the same style was worn on the sleeve but it was oblong in shape.
8th Batt (40/13)this was a square red on top and bnotom, with a black centre worn on both sides of helmet,attachede to pugarees, and worn on both sleeves.
9th Batt(58/19) A triangle with a yellow edge and green in the centre.
1th Batt 62/22) this was the normal epaulette shape and was yellow with a black strip just below the b ottom of the square end of the epaulette.
13th batt this was a red triangle apex 1 inch both seams of both sleeves.
14th batt (113/ 38) a pale red triangle,
15th batt this was a yellow triangle worn mid way between shoulder and elbow.
16th batt this was a green triangle.
17th batt (115/38) this was a pale red square worn midway between shoulder and elbow.
19th batt(119/40)this was a square red on top and dark blue beneath worn on upper part of arm (1917)
24th batt ( 231/74) this was a green and white oblong shape with ghreen on the top and worn on the sleeve. the same pattern but a square was worn on the helmet.
The 10th batt battalion H.Q. wore purple shpulder straps,: A coy wore blue,
B coy yellow,C & D companies wore green,the 13th 14th 15th and 16th wre a collar badge in place of a the cap badge,
The officers of the 19th battalion wore two strips of ribbon on the sleeve the upper red the lower blue How ever these signs may have changed under certain circumstances?
Regards RBD
Looks like the Pale Red Square between elbow and shoulderis what I need. Thanks much.
Any ideas on whether they would have at times had the square on the helmet?