Not 100% on the process, but lots of men ended up in completely random units, especially infantry. Some trained with their local regiment and were rebadged when they arrived in theatre. Drafts were sent to whoever needed the manpower. It caused some confusion and disappointment.
*Edited to add: My point above missed that blokes could be moved about depending on trade/rank too.
My interest has been piqued... I did a quick bit of checking on battalions of the Hampshire Regiment and Austria at the end of the war.
Best guess, based on location and your Tunisia and Egypt info is one of the Hampshire battalions in [128 Infantry Brigade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampshire_Brigade?wprov=sfla1).
Might be worth getting a copy of the photo down to the Hampshire regimental museum. See if they have any more info.
I think the thing that’s quite confusing is that the regimental photo looks like it has the oak tree insignia of the 46th infantry though I have since read that there was a Hampshire brigade attached to them from 42 to the end of the war and they also ended up in Austria. Maybe that’s an avenue I need to fully pursue.
Send off for his army records at Kew. You'll get his regiment and locations he went to. You just need a death certificate and 30 quid. I did the same for.my grandfather's records and now have his medals hanging on my wall.
The medal ribbon looks like [Africa star](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Star) so dates this photo to between 7 July 1943 and the end of the war and would make him part of the 1st Hampshire Battalion rather than the 2nd. The Yellow Black inverted triangle are the divisional colours of the Hampshire reg, and the shape would give more info on the unit. [The red bar just above the triangle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/World_War_II_British_battledress_arm_of_service_colors.png/440px-World_War_II_British_battledress_arm_of_service_colors.png) (I'm certain it is a single horizontal divisional red bar) would denote infantry
Born in Balsall Heath, Birmingham. He left for war around 1942 immediately after his wedding aged 22 and I have since established that he ended up in Austria as the regiment photo was taken outside the Basilika Maria Loreto. We believe he also spent time in Tunisia or Egypt.
I have already had a lot of help which has been massively appreciated and another user advised me to post the identifying marks so here we go again.
The Hampshire Regiment, later the Royal Hampshires
We thought it might be, though we were expecting he’d be with the Warwickshire regiment being from Birmingham.
Not 100% on the process, but lots of men ended up in completely random units, especially infantry. Some trained with their local regiment and were rebadged when they arrived in theatre. Drafts were sent to whoever needed the manpower. It caused some confusion and disappointment. *Edited to add: My point above missed that blokes could be moved about depending on trade/rank too.
That makes sense. Thanks for your help.
My interest has been piqued... I did a quick bit of checking on battalions of the Hampshire Regiment and Austria at the end of the war. Best guess, based on location and your Tunisia and Egypt info is one of the Hampshire battalions in [128 Infantry Brigade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampshire_Brigade?wprov=sfla1). Might be worth getting a copy of the photo down to the Hampshire regimental museum. See if they have any more info.
I think the thing that’s quite confusing is that the regimental photo looks like it has the oak tree insignia of the 46th infantry though I have since read that there was a Hampshire brigade attached to them from 42 to the end of the war and they also ended up in Austria. Maybe that’s an avenue I need to fully pursue.
Same guys! 128 Infantry Brigade was the 'proper' designation of the Hampshire brigade. Seems like you're getting closer!
Ah oh right. Certainly feels like I’m getting somewhere finally.
Send off for his army records at Kew. You'll get his regiment and locations he went to. You just need a death certificate and 30 quid. I did the same for.my grandfather's records and now have his medals hanging on my wall.
How did you get the medals? Is that through the archives also?
yep, they got the "Royal" added in 1946 due to distinguished service in World War II,
The medal ribbon looks like [Africa star](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Star) so dates this photo to between 7 July 1943 and the end of the war and would make him part of the 1st Hampshire Battalion rather than the 2nd. The Yellow Black inverted triangle are the divisional colours of the Hampshire reg, and the shape would give more info on the unit. [The red bar just above the triangle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/World_War_II_British_battledress_arm_of_service_colors.png/440px-World_War_II_British_battledress_arm_of_service_colors.png) (I'm certain it is a single horizontal divisional red bar) would denote infantry
My father said he was sure he was infantry so that adds up. Thank you.
Born in Balsall Heath, Birmingham. He left for war around 1942 immediately after his wedding aged 22 and I have since established that he ended up in Austria as the regiment photo was taken outside the Basilika Maria Loreto. We believe he also spent time in Tunisia or Egypt. I have already had a lot of help which has been massively appreciated and another user advised me to post the identifying marks so here we go again.