WW2 USA / Allied Forces Headquarter's (AFHQ) Woven Formation Sign

This USA made woven formation sign was worn by both American and British Staff attached to Allied Forces Headquarters. It has some age to it. In very good condition.

Approved for use in May 1943 and still worn when the HQ moved from Algiers to Caserta in Italy in July 1944 until the end of the war.

Davis, B.L. "US Army Cloth Insignia 1941 to Present" (Davis classif...  read more

Code: 66836

WW2 Indian Army - Waziristan District Embroidered Formation Sign

A good WW2 embroidered example - two crossed Waziri Pathans daggers in white on a red square background, removed from uniform.

Waziristan is a mountainous region in northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. It covers some 15,000 square kilometers and is mostly populated by ethnic Pashtuns. It is named after the Wazir tribe.

Cole p119

A134.1  read more

Code: 56523

3rd Indian Armoured Brigade Printed Cloth Formation Sign

Removed from uniform, a smaller 14th Army shield than that usually encountered on a bright yellow background. In good condition and scarce.

Formerly the 254th Indian Armoured Brigade, the renamed 3rd Indian Armoured Brigade was authorised to wear the 14th Army's sign from January 1946.

BoBD (Jon Mills) No 3786 - 3788 for other examples.

Comm PaLi  read more

Code: 67354

WW2 Southern Command Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) Printed Formation Sign

In very good unissued condition.

In 1939 regular troops reporting to Southern Command included 1st Armoured Division, based at Andover and also 8th Royal Tank Regiment.

Comm PaLi  read more

Code: 67218

Cold War 30th (Northumbrian) Printed Cloth Anti-Aircraft (AA) Brigade Royal Artillery Formation Designation Sign Flash Patch Badge

Removed from uniform, a bit grubby from wear but otherwise in good condition.

Raised in Sunderland, County Durham as a key part of the the 2nd and then 7th Anti-Aircraft Divisions. 1st pattern. A few good condition.


BoBD (Mills) No 5427 refers. Worn 1955 - 1960 only.

Comm DaSm  read more

Code: 67527

WW2 Orkney and Shetland Defences (OSDEF) / 227th Independent Infantry Brigade Embroidered Formation Sign

Removed from uniform. Red fouled anchor on a dark blue rectangle. In good condition.

For the former, composed of mainly Ant--Aircraft and Coast Defence Gunners and infantry adopted this nautical design given their close association with the defence of the naval base at Scapa Flow. Cole p105 refers.

For the latter, became part of 15th Infantry Division in Septe...  read more

Code: 61686

WW2 Australian Army Matched Pair of Felt Cloth Flashes Battalion Designation Patches Formation Signs - Forestry Companies

Australian and of WW2 vintage, identified as relating to the Forestry units. Many thanks to Mike who provided the following identification:

Red square on a point on a blue square within a grey border) is for Forestry Companies 1940-1941, Australian Forestry Group 1941-1943 and RAE (Forestry) 1943-1946.

Reference Glyde, K. (1999), "DISTINGUISHING COLOUR PATCHES o...  read more

Code: 66799

WW2 - Red '6' on Dark Blue (20th Anti-Tank Regiment RA) Royal Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division, British Army Embroidered Cloth Formations Sign, Battery / Regimental Designation Flash

Removed from uniform, edges a little raggy but a scarce title, nonetheless. 3rd Division diamond.

The artillery regiments serving with the Third Division were uniquely identified by a system of red on dark blue diamond shaped flashes, the numbers corresponding to the unit serial numbers painted on the vehicles of infantry divisions from 1940. the number 6 being given to the 20t...  read more

Code: 67725

Southern Command (UK) Miscellaneous Units Printed Cloth Formation Sign Flash Patch Designation Badge

In unissued condition. A rare formation sign in this interesting series. Colours bright. It is still unclear which units actually wore this!

BoBD (Jon Mills) No 1102 refers.

Comm DaSm  read more

Code: 68047

WW2 Southern Command (UK) Royal Corps of Signals Embroidered Cloth Formation Sign Flash Patch Designation Badge

In unissued condition. Colours bright, in very good condition. A later issue as worn by ATS units also (see BoBD (Jon Mills) p322 fig 177).

BoBD (Jon Mills) No 1096 refers.

Comm DaSm  read more

Code: 68048