Royal Scots Greys kitbag – J. Brown 3127821

Original WWII Royal Scots Greys kitbag, named to J. Brown with the army number 3127821, a wartime service number. The kitbag is dyed black, which could indicate that Brown served in the Royal Scots Greys’ armored unit, part of the 4th Armoured Brigade. WD stamped Z.

The Greys joined the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943, landing at Salerno. Following the liberation of Naples, they returned to England to prepare for D-Day in June 1944. Fierce tank battles were fought around Caen before the German defence of Normandy crumbled. The Greys traversed Belgium and Holland, advancing into Germany as part of Operation Veritable. After heavy fighting in the Reichswald, they crossed the Rhine in March 1945. The Greys’ war ended at Wismar on the Baltic where they were the first British troops to meet the Soviets in May.