British specialist units photos

[BILLY-WIZZ]

Hi Good morning , I have been collecting and researching british and commonwealth specialist units for about 18 years nowc ( I feel the term special forces is misused or over used when talking about these units and is really a modern day term ? )
I beleve that no collection is complete with out a ` back up ` file of period photos no matter what you collect be it german Alpine troops , U.S marines , Russian Airforce etc these period images are superb for learning lessons on how and what kit uniforms insignia was worn often going against regulations and normal practice.
I would like to show a few here , quality is a bit poor as they are old copies of the originals , i hope hey are of interest , please feel free to add your own regards ,Michael.
IMAGE /1
SGT JAMES ` JIMMY` LUND
HQ COMPANY 2ND BATT - PARACHUTE REGT
TAKEN PRISONER AT ARNHEM , appears to be wearing a U.S war aide shirt.

[BILLY-WIZZ]

IMAGE /2
CPL ( later sgt ) NORMAN ANTWHISTLE from Middlesbourough
IST batt: BORDER REGT.
Fought at Arnhem , wounded but avoided capture took part in the evacuation back across the river Rhine ( information i have is that he actually swam back but have not confirmed this )
Nice to see a metal ` trained signaler` qualification badge been worn instead of the more common cloth type ? comments welcome .

IMAGE 3
PTE DOUGLAS BROWN ( In bush hat )
A/ COMPANY
22ND INDEPENDENT PARACHUTE COMPANY -PATHFINDERS
He took part in the Normandy drop and help mark the landing zone for the main force ,was later wounded in the head and later the leg ,the scars can be seen all down the right side of his face.
Photo is taken 1945 in the far east , his pal is serving in 7 para , as can be seen by the two inch square green patch worn behind the capbadge to represent this units light infantry origins.
Iwas told by two seperate veterans of 7 PARA that the original batch of green cloth used for the first lot of cap badge backings was infact cut from a ` spare` roll of snooker table cloth that was ` sat doing nothing `in the NAFFI but have never been able to confirm this .

Ade ... think you should do a thread on the role of the pathfinder units ?

IMAGE / 4
Poor quality Image does throw up some nice points .
sgt JOSEPH WINDLE GLIDER PILOT REGT A.A.C

Flew a glider at Anhem and whilst fighting in the ground role was captured and made P.O.W
He had also flown a glider o the Normandy operations.
JOSEPH had joined his local territorial batt: the Duke of Wellingtons in the late 1930`s served with the B.E.F in France in 1940 and was evacuated back through Dunkirk ,all in all he saw a lot of service .

This photo is taken after 1946 in Palastine whilst serving with the divisonal signals he is turned out in `best` BD ready for a night down town , just look at that pressed open collar BD and the razor creases in his pants.
He is wearing
marroon airbone forces beret with the new pattern Royal Signals capbadge.
Glider pilot qualification wings
Royal signals cloth shoulder titles
Parachute qualification wing .
wireless trained cloth badge ( the circle and lightning bolts square patch not the crossed flags for some reason ?)
Cpls rank chevrons high lighted with white blanco for a smarter appearance .


Not sure how common and for how long a guy could wear both para and glider trained wings at the same time ? does any one know please ?
Im thinking more regarding the glider wings if you were qualified did you wear them till your service in the army was up no matter what or did you have to ` refresh` your training every year like with the para wings ? feel free to comment , kind regards ,Michael.