I have been researching my family history for a few years and i am now looking at recent members that served in WW2. I have a picture of my uncle alfred stretton with his brother norman who served in the coldstream guards. the badge in his beret looks like an artillery collar badge. Alfred was a POW in singapore and I have found his Card which records him as an engineer in the RAF. This is contradictory unless he transfired, I guess the picture is taken after the war as he has his medals. If anyone has an clue what the cap badge is i would very much appreciate any ideas. SM i think he had something to do with AK AK Guns.
Welcome Windsor That cap badge looks like the Royal Engineers badge, which would fit in with what you say. However, what exactly does it say on his POW card, as he is not listed as a RAF POW in the Far East? BTW do you have his service number?
Alfred stretton pow card thanks for the speedy reply, i have attached the pow card to this thread. we do know his date of birth is false the day and month are correct but the year should be 1922. SM
His service number certainly falls within the RAF range for September 1939 - enrollment in Uxbridge. Does this fit in with what you know about him? What is intriguing is that he is not listed in the list of RAF POWs held by the Japanese that I have.
Thanks Kyt I have no other details for him eccept that he escaped from java and was captured by the japs and sent to changi pow camp. I do not know what regiment or service he was in the two bits of info are the pow card and the photograph. he was born in birmingham. I looked in a book at the archives that contained army personel captured by the japs in WW2 and he was not recorded in there either so something is amiss. his full name was alfred frederick george stretton. i have attached a second photo of him in his uniform. thanks for taking the time to reply to this thread. SM
I don't have this book I'm afraid ... but I wonder if he would be mentioned here ! "Unsung Heroes of the RAF - the Far Fast Prisoners of War" (JSBN 1-903172-21-7) It contains a nominal roll of over 6000 RAF and Commonwealth Air Forces FEPOWs giving name and service number, together with countries in which held captive and, for those who did not survive, the date and place of death and the cemetery where buried, or, for those with no known grave, the memorial where commemorated. COFEPOW - The Armed Forces - RAF
Doh, sorry Annie and SM, I should have mentioned that the Stubbs' book is the one that I was referring to when I said I couldn't find his name.
Thank you for the information, i have tride to identify the sholder badge but it is illegable and thats the best it gets. i have been on the web looking at the cap badge and i am certain its a badge worn by the Royal horse artillery as a collar badge. Thanks again. SM quote from the web: Although part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the RHA wore their own cap badge in the Second World War as show above. The 'Grenade' badge on the right is the one worn on the collar of the uniform by all RHA and RA units.
The RE beret badge, as oppossed to the peak cap badge, was identical: ROYAL ENGINEERS Officers Beret Badge
I see what you mean, but are the non officer badges the same as the one in the picture looks like its metal not embroidered cloth. the link shows the badge i was talking about but its not a cap badge. www.btinternet.com/.../orgartillery.htm. so he could have served in any of the 3 regiments i guess. the RAF info is the only real evidence but he is not on your list which is a mystery. thanks for looking. regards stu.
here is a better picture of the badge which is for sale on a web site at Genuine Army Surplus, Camping Equipment, Outdoor Clothing and Walking Boots from Surplus and Outdoors they call it a cap badge, not collar badge. Is it possible he lied about his regiment when he was captured? any idea were to go from here. stu
The right hand man is a Guardsman, Coldstream Guards. The left hand man is wearing, what was often allowed, on his beret, his regimental collar badge. The Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers are practically the same, a grenade (shown as a bomb with a flaming fuse) with the motto below "Ubique" translating into "everywhere" which signified their battle engagements in every theatre and battle. At close inspection it will be found that the R. E. grenade has an extra small curl in the flame. I would say this man appears to be a member of the Royal Engineers. I base this on the fact that he is not wearing the white lanyard on his left shoulder, correct dress for the Royal Artillery. As a member of the Royal Engineers he would wear a navy lanyard on the right shoulder, which is the normal side for all regiments but the Royal Artillery and therefore would be unseen by his position. His shoulder title appears a a similar shade of grey to his uniform, this again would appear to point to the fact that it may be red, the difference would hardly be noticeable in a black and white photograph. On the other hand if he was Royal Artillery it would be navy blue, a shade that would appear quite different and very obvious in this type of picture. He is definitely not dressed as a member of the R.A.F. This is my appraisal of the image, Hope it helps, Cheers Keith (late R.A.) PS. Just had a closer look at the cap badge in question, it appears to be the utility dark brown plastic type on issue for a short period. Both the full R.E. cap badge and the smaller type (collar badge) for use with the beret were issued in this type of plastic, secured in place with bendable flat brass prongs on the back.
Hi "Windsor" Just had another thought, I wonder how efficient the Japanese clerk would be in filling in English details given by a prisoner. This may be the reason for the detail faults. Cheers Keith
Well done Keith. Good to have a knowledgable eye look over such posts. Windsor hasn't been online for a couple of months. If he doesn't pop up soon, it maybe worth just PMing him to let him know there is new information available for him
RAF or RE. Hi Kyt, Wilco and out. Cheers Keith PS. Why am I now designated " Senior Member " someone been checking my age ?
