Tankers Jacket patches

[42swing]

I just picked up a very nice original tankers Jacket that actually fits me. I was debating sewing on shoulder and rank patches to go with my WLA marked for 15 Corps 28 Recon, but most of the period photos I've looked at don't seem to have patches, or at least patches can't be seen. Now I'm thinking just to leave it alone. What was more common in the field, patches or none? 28 Recon was equipped with WLA's, Jeeps, Greyhounds and Stuarts.

[daveww2]

Look at the Photos of that particular unit and do what they did.

Typically, less is better. Many line combat units removed shoulder and rank patches for obvious reasons - they didn't want the Germans to know who they were OR what rank they were.

David

[42swing]

David,

Thanks much for your reply. I've tried to look at pix from the 28R, most of which are from later in the war. It seems like most don't have patches or are facing the wrong way. Our impression is from the '42/'43 period while the group was still in N. Ireland, but the same issue with the photos then. I can easily see why they would have removed them as you say, but that also argues that in Ireland they probably would have had them on. I'll keep looking.

[Rustman]

I haven't made a study of it. But it seems anecdotally that outer jackets typically didn't have patches. Be they field jackets, tanker jackets, overcoats, HBTs etc. Sure some did, but it seems like most did not. It may have been a matter of expediency and or laziness as those jackets were not worn during an inspection and therefore did not *need* rank. Just a thought on my part.

Matt

[42swing]

Matt,

I like your logic, plus I don't think I want to put holes in an original piece - going to leave it alone.

[Lee Bishop]

Shoulder patches on field jackets is a re-enactor thing for the most part. Most GIs just didn't have them for various reasons.
Think on it, a Division is a huge group of people, and often you'd only ever encounter people from your own Division, so what would be the point for a shoulder patches when most of the GIs you were around would have been wearing the same one as you?