Help to identify photo....SAS?

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E

Elsa

New Member
Hello. I hope I am doing this correctly....I have several photos of my grandad during WW2 and am trying to find out who he served with & where he went.
It's my understanding that he was a paratrooper in the SAS & went to N Africa & Italy. I have (hopefully!) posted one of the pictures of his regiment(?. I also have other photos where he has a winged parachute badge on his arm and others with a red (tinted from his wedding pictures!) with the winged dagger on it.
Looking forward to hearing from anyone who may be able to provide further information - i'm desperate to tell my son all about his extra special great Grandad!.
 
Hi Elsa,
If you could name him and give his Army number and also the image of him wearing the wings etc? That may help with identification.

Regards,

David
 
Hello Tartan23. Sorry for not logging in sooner.
I need to have a think about what to do....on one hand I really want to know all about my grandads particulars during the war, particulary to pass to my own son - to give him a real sense of pride (I don't think that boys have many positive role models & the fact that his great grandad was sas is v special).
Yet on the other hand.... my grandad has NEVER spoken a word about any of it in detail.
He is nearly 91 now & I want to respect his choices & privacy and wouldn't feel comfortable asking him details.

What do other people do in this situation? ?(

My family & I have his dagger badge, his berret & medals & photos show 2 different winged parachutes - one with the wings curved down & the other with them curved up.
 
Pete
Thank very much you for your message, it's really helpful.
I've tried to reply to you and get an error message when I hit send. I will get back to you as soon as I have sorted the problem out.
Best regards
 
Hello Elsa,
This photograph does not seem to be one of the SAS. It could however be his original regiment before he joined the SAS. If you look at the photograph yourself you will see these men are wearing a white rope around their right shoulders. This is a lanyard. These were used to fire artillery guns. So he could have been in the artillery before he joined the SAS. You need to put up on this site a photo of him wearing SAS uniform. My father was in North Africa, Sicily and Italy with the SAS. Are you prepared to send me your Grandfathers name - if so do so at
ggalcock@btinternet.com Graham
 
Hello everyone.
I've been trying to research my grandads uniform - red (maroon) beret, with winged dagger and winged parachute badge on right arm.

I am correct in thinking paras wore red berets & SAS wore biege? In which case why the winged dagger for SAS?

Sorry if the question seems simple or my ignorance has offended. This is the first time I've done any kind or research in this area. I'm thinking it's going to take a long time to be an expert!
 
can see why you would think that but it somthing a little differnt. 1 sas wore beige against orders.

the sas were supposed to wear the marroon when it became part of the airborne. 2 sas adopted the beret from birth. the originals being the men they were refused to adopt it and stuck with thier sand berets.

if he has no wings on his chest it means he is yet to take part in enough combat jumps to earn them. I think it was three you had to survive to get inducted to a cheat set. I may be wrong on the number so dont hold me too it.

if you need any suggestions in your research then I am sure between us we can help you speed things along
 
2sas wore the red beret - that's a little step forward! I got very confused - I knew that paras wear the read beret but wondered why my grandads has the cloth winged dagger badge on it.
Geronimo - thank you for your reply.
 
They all wore Maroon beret,in 1944, as per the version of 'part one orders' of the time, only Paddy Mayne and a few originals/ stalwarts from the desert campaigns wore the sand coloured one.Certainly B sqn 1 SAS wore Maroon on Operation Bulbasket and that was in 1944 and other Sqn's/troop ops at that time elswhere in Europe.I can see why they did not want to change from their sand beret to the new Airborne Forces colour of Maroon....Hope this helps a little and makes it slightly easier for you Elsa?? 1941-44 Sand colour and 1944-45 (within ww2 timeline) Maroon beret, with the odd exception of Paddy and Co being stubborn :]

Regards,

Dave
 
Hello all
I'm sad to share that my granddad died last year aged 92. A sad loss of such a kind & wise person.
Someone from the SAS came to his funeral & I learnt that he was in Africa, Italy, France & Greece. Apparently he did some training in Norway but then got sent to the dessert.
I am more keen than ever to learn about the operations he was involved in during WW2 & feel more confident in sharing his details with anyone that can help out or who is interested.
I'll have a look at how to post a photo & add one of him to the site.
Regards
E
 
Photos are Attached

Can anyone tell me anything about the uniform etc? I've often wondered why the wings on the arm badge are different.
Thanks in advance.
 

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Hi your grad dad was for sure in the SAS, the right picture shows the maroon beret with sas who dares wins badge and the sas parachutists wings on right arm. If you had three operational jumps behind enemy lines you were permitted to wear SAS wings on left breast , this was a true honour only in SAS. Regular para's always wore on left arm.

Given the maroon beret the pics must be taken in 1944/45.

On the left pic is a regular para wing. May be he was already para qualifief before he joined the SAS regiment.

Cheers,
JB


Elsa said:
Can anyone tell me anything about the uniform etc? I've often wondered why the wings on the arm badge are different.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you both for your replies, they're helpful.
It's certainly very difficult to find out details without any information to go on.
I think he was in the army before SAS, I have a photo of his regiment.
I'm happy to share any information that I do find out if anyone is interested.
E
 
Form the photos it would seem he was SAS. But at the time of the photos he had not been on more than 3 missions as he is not wearing his winged badge over his left breast pocket. Graham
 
Hi Elsa,

The photo of your granddad wearing his beret, has a set of SAS wings on the shoulder. During WW2 an SAS soldier who took part in three operations was entitled to wear his SAS wings over his left breast.

In his wedding photo he appears to be wearing the Africa Star medal ribbon. When was your grandfather married ? This would help date the photos.

If you pm me your grandfathers name I will check and see if I have any further details on him.


Best regards,

Ian
 
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