Unit badge on Tiger tank

[Ed Storey]

So, you don't know when the photographs were taken? What is the source of the photographs? Any idea who is in the two photographs?

[m kenny]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

So, you don't know when the photographs were taken? What is the source of the photographs? Any idea who is in the two photographs?

a)The photo must have been taken 1944-45 as the wreck was moved to the centre of Magny some time in 1945.

b) I can only trace it back to the 1990s book

c) No Idea.

[Ed Storey]

So is it possible then that the photographs were taken when the war was over during the summer of 1945?

[Colin Alford]

In the first image I note the presence of a German reversible winter parka. My understanding is that winter clothing was intended to be issued in the fall and withdrawn from the troops in the spring. If my understanding is correct, then I believe it is very unlikely that the images were taken in August ‘44 (unlikely that German parkas were available for capture at that time). I also note the lack of weapons, personal equipment, and helmets.

Is there mention in the war diary of a trip laid-on to visit former battlefields? Ed may be onto something suggesting that the images might have been taken after the cessation of hostilities. Another possibility might be a small diversion en-route to, or from, a leave centre.

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Colin Alford

In the first image I note the presence of a German reversible winter parka. My understanding is that winter clothing was intended to be issued in the fall and withdrawn from the troops in the spring. If my understanding is correct, then I believe it is very unlikely that the images were taken in August ‘44 (unlikely that German parkas were available for capture at that time). I also note the lack of weapons, personal equipment, and helmets.

Is there mention in the war diary of a trip laid-on to visit former battlefields? Ed may be onto something suggesting that the images might have been taken after the cessation of hostilities. Another possibility might be a small diversion en-route to, or from, a leave centre.

Yes, that is why I kept asking about the source of the two images; as the fellow with the German reversible winter parka and camera, lack of weapons and kit, the other fellow wearing the Denison Smock and that some 3rd Division Regiments returned for tours of the D-Day beaches after VE-Day, all points to the two Tiger photographs being taken in 1945. Therefore given the length of time that tank has been in situ, the marking on the front could be anything from a unit badge to some form of sign as Hanno suggested.

[m kenny]

I think capturing Unit badge is the most likely

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by m kenny

I think capturing Unit badge is the most likely

OK, so what are the details of these two photographs and how do they support your argument that the badge on the Tiger is SD&G?