1st January 1944 - the Reconnaissance Corps was absorbed into the Royal Armoured Corps. The RAC was formed in 1939 from former cavalry units, the Royal Tank Regiment and the Territorial Army’s Yeomanry. Although the Recce were very different from normal RAC units, being organised for 'dismounted' action, they used light armoured cars and other vehicles for close reconnaisance. They retained their identity as a Corps within the RAC, including their badges, shoulder titles and arm-of-service strips but gradually changed to the RAC black beret. Dick’s former regiment, the 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance, did not change to the black beret until 4th April 1945.
Dick's Reconnaissance shoulder strips
The British Army List for January 1944 (corrected to 26th December 1943) - the list of serving regular, militia or territorial British Army officers, kept since 1702 and published quarterly during WW2. This page has RK Williams first entry as an Officer (2nd Lieutenant).
(From Recce Mitch's post of 7th June 2013 – see the last thumbnail of Army list for January 1944.)
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