Duncan,

I've been researching No 1 Indep Coy, Seaforths for approximately 12 months as my father served in the unit as a conscript from Feb 1944 until Mar 1945. I believe that your father was in the Royal Scots. I've gleaned quite a lot of information about the unit from the National Archives, the Highlanders Regimental Museum and the British Library.

Once we've established contact, I'll email a photo of him to you. Regrettably, it's the only photo I have of anyone in the Coy.

I'd very much like to have a copy of the photograph you mention and also any information you have on the Coy and you father's service in it.

When my research is completed, I'll only be too pleased to let you have a copy of my write up which I'm producing for the Highlanders Museum. I was prompted to complete the research when inbvestigating my father's wartime service and was told by RHQ The Highlanders that the Seaforths never served on the Faroe Isalands!

Regards,
Maj (Retd) Tony Barnes

Tony,

Do you have any reference to the units stationed in the Faroes during the war and their insignia?

I'm trying to find out if it might be worth collecting, but haven't much to go on.

I jknow there is a Faroe Islands Force formation sign, the one with the bird.

Also, the 49th West Riding formation sign, and the Lovat Scouts cap badge and titles, but that is about it.

Regards,
Morten Rasmussen,
Copenhagen

Hi,

I now have quite a lot of information on the units which formed the Faroe Islands Force (FIF) 1940 - 45. I can send you images of their cap badges but some of them would not be of the design used in the 1940s. This is because cap badges which depict the British Royal Crown and a Royal cipher will be of the current design introduced in 1952/3 when Queen Elizabeth II (EIIR) succeeded her deceased father King George VI (GVIR) If you want images of the 1940s badges, you may be able to get them by going on a cap badge collector’s website, eg http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/ I’ve used this website myself and members have been very helpful.

With regard to formation signs, there is only the one which depicts a black and white bird (an oyster catcher) on a light blue/dark blue background. Units of 49 (West Riding) Division did not serve on the Faroe Islands but they did serve in Iceland, hence the division’s polar bear formation sign. The only other signs I am aware of are FIF vehicle tactical signs, eg a black square with a white 30 for HQ FIF, red square with a white 26 for the infantry unit.

Please let me know if I can help you any further. If you’re interested in the FIF’s order of battle, I can send you one. If you would like the order of battle details, please tell me if you understand British Army abbreviations as the units listed will have their titles abbreviated. If you’re not familiar with British military abbreviations, I can spell the unit titles in full but this will obviously take me longer!

I am now researching the whole of the FIF, not just my father's unit. I aim to publish an illustrated booklet on the FIF during winter 2011/12 when I should have completed my research. I also intend visiting the Faroes Islands in 2011 as part of my research.

Regards,

Tony Barnes

Thank you for the swift reply.

Abbreviations will be fine. If you have any pics I can chase the period original badges on e-Bay and various other sites.
I you need any help in reseachin the topic, I might be able to assist with any sources that may be located in Denmark. That would require a bit more discussion, but let me know if this has any interest. Ultimately, I would be interested in any info on units based in Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland during the war, and in Denmark after the liberation. I have only seen images of 6th ABN DIV in various locations on the island of Sealand.

Regards,
Morten Rasmussen

Morten,

I have been able to produce two documents for you which should be of interest; one listing the FIF units and dates they were stationed on the Faroes and one of images of the cap badges of all the regiments and corps which served in the FIF. The badges shown are those which were worn in WW2, ie when King George VI was still alive and before the Royal Signals and REME changed their badges in 1947.

As both documents are in Word 97 – 2003 format it will be easier for me to email them to you as attachments rather than through the http://www.absoluteastronomy.com website. If you agree with this suggestion, please send me your email address direct to me at barnes41@btinternet.com.

A book which may be of interest to you which contains information about Iceland and the Faroes in WW2 is ‘The Northern Isles at War -The North Atlantic Front’ (2003) by J Miller. (It is available to buy on the Internet)

Thank you for your offer of possible assistance in researching the FIF from Danish sources. I will bear this in mind if I do have any unanswered questions. My research to date has been carried out at the National Archives, the British Library and some of the museums of those regiments and corps which served in the FIF. I still need to contact about five military museums and will need to visit the National Archives at least once again.

As the FI was a relatively minor theatre of war, there is not a lot of information available on it. Quite a few articles were written about the Lovat Scouts tour of duty on the islands but little else about the other units which followed them – a further three other infantry regiments sent units to the FI in addition to the artillery regiments, engineer units etc.

Best wishes,

Tony Barnes.