Hello Aris,
There seems to be some confusion here regarding the red/white/red sign on the side of the Scout Car. It is not a unit or formation sign. It is not the formation sign for the 1st Canadian Corps. As Mark pointed out, it looks like an AFV Recognition Sign. This was a sign found on many British and Commonwealth Armoured vehicles. Its official use was ended in the spring of 1944, when it was to be replaced by the white American star. However, it continued to be seen on many vehicles long after that. I have seen some pictures of the red/white/red AFV Recognition Sign on British vehicles in Normandy in the summer of 1944.
Below is a picture of the formation sign of 1st Canadian Corps. As you can see, it dose not resemble the sign on the side of the Scout Car. Also, formation signs are usually displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle, and not on the side. The Corps formation signs were only carried by units directly part of the Corps. Units, which were part of Divisions or Brigades under Corps Command would not carry the Corps formation sign, but would use their own Division or Brigade formation signs.
The White Scout Car was often used in Field Artillery Regiments. They were employed as Battery Command Posts and by the Gun Position Officers (GPO). In addition to the Command post crew (officer, signallers and arty techs); they carried the radios and field telephones as well as tech stores (plotting boards, survey equipment, etc.) The Scout Car in the photo looks like it could be in use as a command post and not as a TCV (troop carrying vehicle).
Another reason that I think that it may belong to the Greek Brigade, is the historical context. Troops from the Royal Canadian Regiment were the first to enter Rimini on the 19th of Sept. 1944. However, they were ordered to get out of the city so that the Greeks could “liberate” it. The Greeks only entered Rimini on the 21st of Sept. The following is from the book “The Gothic Line” by Mark Zuehlke:
“The decision that Rimini was to be "liberated" by the Greek brigade was made by Eighth Army and was intended to give this pro-Greek Monarchist unit a morale boost and also to generate support in Greece for the return of the monarchy after that nation's liberation from German occupation. Already, Greece was a focal point for conflict between a Soviet-backed Communist movement and the American-British backed monarchists. The RCR thus fell afoul of political manoeuvring. In fact, the length to which the military went to maintain the illusion that Canadian troops were never inside Rimini was extensive. All records were purged from official histories, except for the RCR'S War Diary, which uses the codename 'Fulmar' for Rimini in its discussion of the orders given to Gregg's company and to 'D' Company prior to the order for those units to withdraw.”
Therefore it made sense that a newsreel shot in Rimini in Sept. 1944, would show the Greeks liberating the city, and would not be showing Canadian troops.
John
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