My Uncle

[Tony Wheeler]

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

[Tony Wheeler]

Rob, here's a few pics from the Bulldog Road. Unfortunately no unit signs visible. Can you believe that CMP frontal view? It's like they cropped the TAC plate deliberately!

[hrpearce]

Thanks Tony this help is greatly apreciated.

[Private_collector]

Robert,

Do you have the correct size plates for the unit and 'PASS' sign?

I had a set made here in Gympie, for $24.50 each.

They are the size of 8&1/2" by 9&1/2", which is as Tony Wheeler has stated.
Mind you, he would have made em in 2ft by 2ft if I had asked .

Anyhoo, when I picked mine up, I asked if he was interested in making more and he was happy to do so, if anyone requested. They do take a little time to get right, so I don't begrudge the $$$. I would imagine anyone with metalwork skills & a folder could do same without problem if talented. I'm not, so I bought them instead.

In the photos that Tony W. posted, I suspect they did censor the TAC & bridge plates deliberately. Pity! When I was investigating the correct signage for my vehicle, I scanned through over 200 pages of military regulations and associated BS, before I was able to determine what should be on the unit plate. You are lucky that Tony W saved you all that crap That must be worth a beer some time in the future.
29-46 parade.jpg
Once I thought I had the right sequence of numbers, this photo confirmed that I was on the right track. Note the sign by the parade route. This shows the 29/46 Infantry Batallion being reviewed by a member of British aristocracy. Somewhere in this photo (possibly) would be my Father.
29-46 japan surrenders.jpg
That's him standing with both arms up and the slouch hat in right hand. This photo shows the day they were told Japan had surrendered. I think it was Keith that spotted the CMP in the extreme background. Dad was a driver/mechanic so it was very likely that that was his charge!

It is great that you are considering adding the signage of your uncles unit to your vehicle. Do please post any interesting findings from the requested documents, when they arrive, and of course, photos of the unit plates too.

[hrpearce]

No I don't have the plates yet or the holder, all I have is the angled bracket that bolts to the front of the mudguard to mount it to. There is a batered holder on the tailgate for my body so I will have a go at making my owne. Half the fun is learning new skills.
When I get the papers from the archives I will share.

[hrpearce]

Another Uncle
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Searc...arcode=6118905
click on view digital copy.

[Private_collector]

Hi Robert,

The link didn't work. It gives a 'timed out' message.

Can you cut/paste the info here?
Or download images, if they are scans?

[hrpearce]

I wasn't thinking about having to log on.