A named grouping of difficult to find British made AFPU (Army Film and Photo Unit) badges

This is a truly very attractive and rare example of a named set of AFPU (Army Film and Photo Unit) badges.and a leather case. This set is named to Sergeant Roy H "Tubby' Palmer. Sergeant Palmer was a photographer within three AFP section, 1, 2 and 5. This small grouping consists of a set of British made embroided AFPU badges and a leather named case.

In early 1942, 30 cameramen were sent to Cairo, Egypt to form AFPU's Number 1 Section. This group, led by Major David MacDonald (a former GPO Film Unit member) first recorded the retreat forced by the German Afrikakorps under General Rommel and then the offensive following the First Battle of El Alamein. It was at the start of the Alamein offensive that Sergeant Billy Jordan MM, skilfully filmed the opening artillery barrage. Footage of the North African campaign was used in the making of Desert Victory which won a best war documentary Academy Award in 1943. During the North African Campaign, the AFPU Number 1 Unit of 32 men, suffered four killed, seven wounded and six captured. Section Number 2 covered the campaigns through Tunisia (from which the 1944 documentary Tunisian Victory was made) and then through the landings on Sicily and Italy.

AFPU Number 5 Section was formed during 1943, of 36 volunteers drawn from various regiments and led by Major Hugh Stewart. AFPU cameramen and photographers accompanied various army units in all theatres of action, including the Commandos, the Chindits, paratroopers, Special Air Service, Special Boat Squadron and the Long Range Desert Group. Ten AFPU members were attached to the main divisions during the Normandy landings in June 1944. Their recordings made during the campaign saw cameramen amongst the first waves ashore and then in the fighting inland. AFPU recorded battles during the Italian campaign and across Western Europe including Monte Casino, Liberation of Paris, Arnhem, the Rhine Crossing and the discovery of Belsen Concentration Camp.

It is possible the Sergeant Palmer was one of the ten members who were assigned to the main Divisions during the early hours of D-Day on the 6th of June. These badges are in a perfect un-issued condition and the leather case have seen some action but is nicely used.

Code: 50898