The Intelligence Section had to keep the Battalion's mind focused on obtaining intelligence about the enemy, particularly the identity of the infantry/grenadiers and any supporting troops. As forward troops and the first link in the chain, intelligence about the Order of Battle started at Battalion level. The enemy's Order of Battle was an important consideration when Corps and Divisional Commanders prepared their tactical plans.

Identifying enemy units and weapons was the raison d'etre for the Intelligence file started in 1943. It was regularly up-dated with information from 52 (Lowland) Division Intelligence Section and used for briefing the Battalion during training and an aide-memoire when we faced German units.

The alertness of the Battalion's forward troops led to an important enemy identification when a 7th/9th Royal Scots platoon in a defensive position on the River Maas and patrolling towards the river became suspicious of two civilians they suspected of having just crossed the river. They were detained and at Battalion HQ and from a preliminary investigation appeared to be enemy infiltrators. We alerted Division Intelligence they were more than 'just two civilian refugees' and handed them over for expert questioning. They were susequently identified as members of the Brandenburg Sabotage Division, an elite German formation, and the first of their unit captured on our Divisional front. It was an important enemy identification and a feather in the cap for the Battalion's alertness.

German Unit Identification

Regularly briefed by the Brigade Intelligence Officer about the enemy on our front based on Division's knowledge about the German Order of Battle. Reconnaissance missions were flown each day across the Division’s front by a Lysander and enemy movements noted and appraised.  Orders could be received at Battalion for a fighting patrol to bring back prisoners to confirm whether enemy unit changes had occurred. 

52nd Scottish Division Standing Orders for recording data about the capture of specific prisoners required:

Captured Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers would be searched first and all documents taken. We also remove P.o.W.'s shoulder-straps and sent back with the escort; if not wearing one when captured, this would be noted.

My notebook details how we had to handle and treat P.o.Ws; the golden rule was 'Separate - Search - and Send Back Quickly'.

Enemy identification is made through the colour patches they wear indicating arm of service. The panel below shows the colour distinctions.  As infantry we expected to confront greenish uniforms with the white patches of the infantry (grenadiers) or green patches of Panzer grenadiers, and/or the pink patches of armoured personnel when attacked by German 'battle groups' of infantry and/or artillery and tanks.  

If other colour patches were identified, they had to be reported. For example the blue of support troops, red of artillery (possibly forward observation men), black of engineers, the lemon of signallers, maroon of smoke troops.  If they were in the forward areas that was important intelligence.

OFFICERS RANK:		Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) [Smoke Unit] Oberleutnant (Lieutenant) [Tank Regiment] Hauptmann (Captain) [2 Engineer Battalion] Major [14 Infantry Regiment] Oberstleutnant (Lieut-Colonel) [3 Artillery Regiment] Oberst (Colonel)

WARRANT OFFICERS, SERGEANTS, CORPORALS: Piping around shoulder strap indicates arm of service; whilst numerals on button shows Company, Troop or Squadron but these not worn in forward areas.

		Unterfeldwebel (Lance-Sergeant) [6 Medical Unit] Feldwebel or Wachmeister[Sergeant] 1 Company, 3 Engineer Bn		Oberwachtmeister [Squadron Sergeant- Major] 17 Recce Unit   Unteroffizier [Corporal or Bomadier] 3 Artillery Regiment

LANCE-CORPORALS and PRIVATES: Insignia worn on the left sleeve

		Oberschϋtze (Private more than one year's service) Gefreiter (Acting L-Cpl or L-Bdr)		Obergefreiter (L.-Cpl or L.-Bdr) six years service one chevron one star. Stabdgefreiter (Staff L.-Cpl)