1 SSM Battery patch

I've snatched this photo from another forum. Thought to be something worn on a jacket. Definitely not a uniform piece.

My mate was REME with Missiles..

1st surface to surface missile battery - Honest John Missiles.

His Reply:
I would guess unofficial as there isn't a 1st battery RA !! Well made though.

I agree also.
Alan

alan8376 wrote:

1st surface to surface missile battery - Honest John Missiles.

I would like to get a hold of Hardrations for this. Can we ping other members in our messages?

The 1st SSM Battery patch is (as is Dan M) CANADIAN
https://ruhrmemories.com/military/4-cibg/delinghofen-forts/fort-prince-of-wales/fort-prince-of-wales-1-ssm-bty/.

(https://rca-arc.org/heritage/customs-and-traditions)

Unfortunately, what ever else they achieve, REME guys have never attained a title as experts on RA/RHA Batteries.

Your mate will be devastated to know that 1 (The Blazers) Battery RA
is part of 14 Regiment RA, though it was never one of the Missile Batteries.
https://www.facebook.com/1stBtyRA/
(On 1 August  1779 (244 years ago)  the Battery was formed in Woolwich as Capt Scott’s Company, 1st Battalion RA).  

Missile Batteries (firing HJ Rockets) were included in 24, 39 and 50 Missile Regiments starting from 1959 (24 Regt (and Brum) in Nienburg).

1 SSM Bty taken from para 218 of Chapter 2 to Standing Orders for The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery* – Volume 1 (History, Organization & Heritage)

*Designation wef 27 May 1997.

"The (Canadian) Gunner contribution to NATO also included, from 1960 to 1970, 1st Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM) Battery RCA equipped with four MGR1B 762-mm “Honest John” rocket launchers. The Honest John was a tactical nuclear weapon system capable of carrying a warhead with selectable yields up to forty kilotons to a range of thirtynine kms. United States authorities held the warheads which would be released to the Battery in the event of a Warsaw Pact attack. 2nd SSM Battery, RCA in Shilo (Manitoba) trained replacements and reinforcements for 1 SSM Battery - Canada’s atomic Gunners. "

Current Regiments/Batteries (Annex A to Chap 3) 1 Bty is found here:
Reserve Order of Battle:
Title: 30th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA / 30e Régiment d'artillerie de campagne,
ARC
Abbreviation: 30 Fd Regt RCA / 30 RAC ARC
at Ottawa
including 1st, 2nd, 25th Batteries.

Annex D:
Formed: 30th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA 9 May 1905

ist Field Battery RCA at Ottawa 9 May 1905.

https://rca-arc.org/30th-field-artillery-regiment-rca/

THAT PATCH was not ever worn by any member of the SSM Bty I know of. I served in both Bty.'s from 63 to 69. We would never put the Union Jack on it. It always had 3 maple leaves and crossed rockets. Colors could vary. A very simple design.

And this is what it was all about.



https://i.servimg.com/u/f61/12/23/35/46/file0010.jpg

Another great photograph, Ross. Thanks,

Incidentally, that Union Jack on the patch is the one in the upper quadrant of the Red Ensign. The patch represents a Red Ensign crossed with the RCA camp flag.

I've no idea where that patch came from Dan. But in my 6 years attached to both SSM Bty.'s I never saw a patch like that. Somebody's idea I think who never served with Bty.'s

Hardrations wrote:

I've no idea where that patch came from Dan. But in my 6 years attached to both SSM Bty.'s I never saw a patch like that. Somebody's idea I think who never served with Bty.'s

My dad (J.W. Griffith) had a leather jacket with both patches shown but the crossed rockets with 1 was original obviously, not 85 reunion.
He took the patches off for some reunion to get copies made?? in the 80s, I believe. hmmm, interesting now that I see the reunion patch. He went to a couple over the years and was a member of the Eastern Ontario Gunners Association for some time.
The jacket came from a shop in Winnipeg and my dad was on the boat for the last ship-borne deployment of the CAF in Dec of '61. On Alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis with HE warheads (not yet Nuke-certified), he told me once that they had a life-expectancy of 3 missiles fired if shooting started.
I would like to add a photo of the patches I have and it includes the jacket label.
cheers, Jim G.

Dan M wrote:

I've snatched this photo from another forum. Thought to be something worn on a jacket. Definitely not a uniform piece.

Hello Dan, can I ask what forum you saw the patch on?
thanks, Jim G.

I think I saw that patch on a group of SSM Bty postings recently in the 3 RCHA site on FaceBook. I think individuals made patches of their design. Also, the patch in this posting shows it as 1st SSM Bty. The two Btys. were always referred to as 1 SSM Bty RCA and 2 SSM (Trg.) Bty RCA. Also, Canada did not serve under the Union Jack flag, although we were part of the BAOR. It was either the Red Ensign or Maple Leaf from 65 on. Pretty sure this was someone's idea who wasn't paying attention. Also, let's be clear. I was attached to RC Sigs Sec. of my 7 years in Germany, my 4 years with 1 SSM Bty RCA was the best. The picture is of the last parade in 1970.

thanks, I posted a pic on FB group 3 RCHA and then a reply to one of your comments there but it would not post and then I got the msg that I was not welcome.
let me know if my pic showing patches is still on the thread, I could not post it here. The "how to post images" link does not work for me.
cheers, Jim G.

I tried that too. Yesterday, saved the photo to my SSM file from 3 RCHA F.B. but it wouldn't allow me to post it here either. Ah well, life will go on.