Quote:
Originally Posted by hrpearce
Posting at Discharge- 14 Field Company. How would this be depicted on a vehicle?  |
Hi again Rob,
Your question has prompted me to renew my efforts to come to grips with vehicle numbering systems, as detailed in Stephen Taubert's 477 page paper on the subject! Thankfully this time I seem to be getting a bit further than previous attempts.
Here are some excerpts concerning units assigned to L. of C. Areas (Line of Communication) which pertain to your uncle's unit while engaged in construction works on the Wau-Bulldog Road during 1943.
System of Vehicle Marking
January, 1943
5. FORMATION SIGN
(e) L of C Areas will not have a sign. Vehicles belonging to a L of C unit will have letters denoting the L of C Area to which the unit belongs placed in block letters on the lower part of the plate bearing the unit serial number and colour background.
6. UNIT SIGN
(c) (iii) L of C units will have a white horizontal bar, 2” deep, across the bottom of the plate, in the centre of which will be placed the letters denoting the L of C Area to which the unit belongs. The following letters will be used by L of C Areas
Queensland L of C Area … “Q”
N.S.W. L of C Area … “N”
Victoria. L of C Area … “V”
etc.
New Guinea L of C Area … “NG”
Appendix "R" - Unit signs to be used by L. of C. Areas
Arm Unit Unit Serial No. Background
Engrs A Fd Coy 373 blue
A Fd Coy 352 blue
A Fd Coy 428 blue
Hence the 2/14 Fd. Coy. would have no formation sign while on the Bulldog Road, and their unit sign would be in the format shown in the diagram below. The background would be blue, with the letter Q replaced by NG, and the unit serial no. 415 replaced by either 373, 352, or 428.
Note that three Unit Serial Numbers were reserved for Field Companies, to allow for up to three Field Companies in a L. of C. Area (as there would be in a full Division). Unfortunately I haven't yet figured out on what basis they were allocated, so I don't know which number would have been allocated to 2/14 Fd. Coy.
Confusing isn't it!
Cheers,
Tony