Royal Berkshire Regt insignia for 1916

[dickiek]

Help needed......

Can anyone on the big wide world of the forum help a friend of mine out, he wants to know about any insignia worn on his uncle's uniform, please see info below.

'My great uncle John McCumskay served with the Royal Berkshire Regt until his death in france in August 1916. as a member of the 5th (Services) Btn I'm trying to obtain any info as regards any 'Colour' Regt / Btn insignia / flashes that may have been worn on SDs, Greatcoat etc during the period of his death'

Cheers

Dickie

[wainfleet]

Dickie

Don't take this as gospel as I don't have my notes handy, but it's unlikely 5 Royal Berks, in 12 Division, were wearing insignia on their tunics at this time, as August 1916 was early days for "battle patches". However, at least two 1st pattern Brodies are known with sacking covers bearing the stencilled 12 Division sign of the Ace of Spades to the rear and regimental badge to the front (IIRC, Royal Berks and Royal West Kents), so it is quite feasible that this soldier would have worn such a helmet. Other than that, I think his uniform would have been plain.

Rgds, W.

[purley]

This is what the 5th Bn insignia looked like but whether this was being used in August 1916 I really don't know but believe they were in use for the opening of the Somme offensive at Ovillers

[dickiek]

Many thanks guys, for all your help on this

Cheers

Dickie