Mine is currently the 'cap badge' of my late fathers Regiment, the 24th Lancers. After spending too much of my life not asking questions - which he probably wouldn't have answered anyway - I asked questions back in the 1990s and ended up as Honorary Secretary of the 24th Lancers Old Comrades Association where I got to meet lots of his old friends, most sadly now departed this World. Hopefully they are now swapping notes in their Tankies Valhalla.
At your request, I recall changing your username from "Wessex Wyvern" to the current "Owen" a few years back. Still one of the more intetesting nicks we've had.
I see to my amazement that I don't seem to have contributed to this thread......well, still here, and still using 'Guy Gibson' ( although it is, of course, a 'still' from The Dam Busters with Richard Todd impersonating Gibson ) . After all these years, Gibson remains to me a fascinating flawed hero of WWII.....
My mum would agree with your comments about Gibson being a flawed hero. She actually knew him and used to take his dog for walks.
my new Avatar: War hero and Survivor of IRIS DJOWSHAN (P 225) , Mahnavi Yekom Ali Barati . 76 mm. main gun , Left: Nav-Ostovar Yekom Ahmad Montaqemi, Gun Commander, Right: Mahnavi Yekom Ali Barati, Gunner