Divisional insignia of the British Army

Formation signs at the division level were first introduced in the British Army in the First World War. They were intended (initially) as a security measure to avoid displaying the division's designation in the clear. They were used on vehicles, sign posts and notice boards and were increasingly, but not universally, worn on uniform as the War progressed. Discontinued by the regular army after 1918, only a few Territorial divisions continued to wear them before 1939. Reintroduced officially in late 1940 in the Second World War, divisional formation signs were much more prevalent on uniforms and were taken up by many other formations, independent brigades, corps, armies, overseas and home commands, military districts and lines of communication areas. The sign could be based on many things, geometry (simple or more complex), heraldry, regional or historical associations, a pun, the role of the division or a combination.

Until 1916, unit names were written on vehicles, notice boards and camp flags, when an order to end this insecure practice was given to adopt a 'device, mark or sign' particular to that division. Initially only a few divisions wore the division sign as a badge on clothing, including some which had been wearing one before the order. This practice became more widespread, especially in 1918 but not universal.^[1] The 43rd, 44th and 45th Divisions (all first line territorial) were sent to India to relieve the regular army there and did not adopt division insignia, as did numbers of second line territorial and home service divisions.^[2]

Battle Patches were distinct signs used at the battalion level as a means of identification on the battlefield, although some continued the scheme to include company and even platoon signs. Consisting of relatively simple shapes and colours they were introduced by Kitchener's Army troops in 1915 and could follow a divisional or brigade scheme or be based on the regimental colours or insignia. They were worn on the sleeves, the back of the tunic or painted on the helmet.^[1] (Examples: 23rd Division and 50th (Northumbrian) Division.)

• 
  Guards Division^[3]
• 
  1st Division^[4]
• 
  2nd Division^[5]
• 
  3rd Division^[6]
• 
  4th Division^[7]
• 
  5th Division^[8]
• 
  6th Division^[7]
• 
  7th Division^[7]
• 
  8th Division^[9]
• 
  9th (Scottish) Division^[10]
• 
  10th (Irish) Division^[10]
• 
  11th (Northern) Division^[5]
• 
  12th (Eastern) Division^[7]
• 
  13th (Western) Division^[11]
• 
  14th (Light) Division^[8]
• 
  15th (Scottish) Division^[12]
• 
  16th (Irish) Division^[13]
• 
  17th (Northern) Division^[13]
• 
  18th (Eastern) Division^[14]
• 
  19th (Western) Division^[15]
• 
  20th (Light) Division^[16]
• 
  21st Division^[16]
• 
  22nd Division^[17]
• 
  23rd Division^[4]
• 
  24th Division^[18]
• 
  25th Division^[19]
  Uniform patch.
• 
  25th Division^[12]
  Vehicle sign.
• 
  26th Division^[18]
• 
  27th Division^[18]
• 
  28th Division^[18]
• 
  29th Division^[20]
• 
  30th Division^[20]
• 
  31st Division^[21]
  First pattern.
• 
  32nd Division^[22]
• 
  33rd Division^[22]
• 
  34th Division^[23]
• 
  35th Division^[22]
• 
  36th (Ulster) Division^[8]
• 
  37th Division^[24]
• 
  38th (Welsh) Infantry Division^[22]
• 
  39th Division^[12]
• 
  40th Division^[25]
• 
  41st Division^[19]
• 
  42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division^[12]
• 
  46th (North Midland) Division^[23]
• 
  47th (1/2nd London) Division^[19]
• 
  48th (South Midland) Division^[26]
• 
  49th (West Riding) Infantry Division^[26]
• 
  50th (Northumbrian) Division^[26]
• 
  51st (Highland) Division^[27]
• 
  52nd (Lowland) Division^[4]
• 
  53rd (Welsh) Division^[27]
• 
  54th Division^[28]
• 
  55th (West Lancashire) Division^[29]
• 
  56th (London) Infantry Division^[23]
• 
  57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division^[28]
• 
  59th (2nd North Midland) Division^[23]
• 
  60th (2/2nd London) Division^[28]
• 
  61st (2nd South Midland) Division^[19]
• 
  62nd (2nd West Riding) Division^[5]
• 
  63rd (Royal Naval) Division^[12]
• 
  66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division^[23]
• 
  74th (Yeomanry) Division^[12]
• 
  75th Division^[28]

• 
  1st Cavalry Division^[30]
• 
  2nd Cavalry Division^[31]
• 
  3rd Cavalry Division^[32]

• 
  14th Indian Division^[33]
• 
  15th Indian Division^[34]
• 
  17th Indian Division^[35]
• 
  18th Indian Division^[36]

Canadian divisions used simple colour oblongs as division signs. Each infantry battalion was shown by a colour and shape combination worn above the division sign, green, red or blue for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd brigades in each division and a circle, triangle, half circle or square for each battalion in the brigade. Other marks were used for brigade and division headquarters, machine gun and mortar units.^[37] The 5th Canadian division was broken up for reinforcements before being fully formed and would have had a burgundy–purple colour patch.^[38]

Australian formation signs used a system whereby the shape of the sign identified the division and the colour-shape combination within the particular unit, with 15 combinations for the infantry alone in each division. The Australian division signs shown below are those for the division headquarters. Infantry intended for a 6th Australian Division was used instead for reinforcements, those infantry battalions used an upright oval.^[39]

• 
  1st Canadian Division^[37]
• 
  2nd Canadian Division^[37]
• 
  3rd Canadian Division^[37]
• 
  4th Canadian Division^[37]

• 
  1st Australian Division^[40]
  First pattern 1916–1917.
• 
  1st Australian Division^[41]
  Second pattern 1917–1919.
• 
  2nd Australian Division^[42]
• 
  3rd Australian Division^[43]
• 
  4th Australian Division^[44]
• 
  5th Australian Division^[45]

The use of divisional signs on uniform was discontinued by the regular army after the First World War, although when reformed in 1920, some territorial divisions continued to wear the signs they had adopted previously.^[46] By the start of the Second World War, the British Army prohibited all identifying marks on its Battle Dress uniforms save for drab (black or white on khaki) regimental or corps (branch) slip-on titles, and even these were not to be worn in the field. In May 1940 an order (Army Council Instruction (ACI) 419) was issued banning division signs worn on uniforms, even though some were in use on vehicles in France.^[47] Some infantry battalions in France had even started wearing battle patches in a similar manner to their First World War antecedents.^[48]

In September 1940 ACI 419 was replaced with ACI 1118, and division signs were permitted to be worn on uniform below the shoulder title. Below this was worn an 'arm of service' stripe (2 inches (5.1 cm) by 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm)) showing the relevant corps colour (for example Artillery, red and blue, Service Corps, yellow and blue, RAMC dark cherry, and so on, see right). Battalion specific or general regimental patches, in addition to the shoulder title, could also be worn below the arm of service stripe, but the cost of these had to be borne from regimental funds, not the War Office.^[49]

Until D-Day these signs were only to be displayed or worn in Britain, if a division went overseas all formation markings had to be removed from vehicles (tactical signs excepted) and uniforms. This order was obeyed to varying degrees in various theatres of war. However, 21st Army Group formations wore their signs when they went to France.^[50]

The signs shown below were used as vehicle signs and worn on uniform (except where noted). The short-lived 7th Infantry Division did not have a formation sign and that for the 66th Division was designed but never used. Those for the 12th and 23rd divisions were worn by a small number of troops left behind in Britain. In the British Army, ACI 1118 specified that the design for the formation sign should be approved by the general officer commanding the formation and reported to the War Office.^[51] A further order of December 1941 (ACI 2587) specified the material of the uniform patch as printed cotton (ordnance issue), this replaced the embroidered felt (or fulled wool) or metal badges used previously. In other theatres the uniform patch could be made from a variety of materials including printed or woven cotton, woven silk, leather or metal embroidered felt (or fulled wool).^[52]

• 
  1st Infantry Division
  First pattern^[53]
• 
  1st Infantry Division
  Second pattern
• 
  2nd Infantry Division^[53]
• 
  3rd Infantry Division Vehicle Sign in France 1940.^[54]
• 
  3rd Infantry Division.^[53]
• 
  4th Infantry Division
  First pattern.^[55]
• 
  4th Infantry Division
  Second pattern^[55]
• 
  5th Infantry Division^[55]
• 
  6th Infantry Division^[55]
• 
  8th Infantry Division^[56]
• 
  9th (Highland) Infantry Division^[56]
  Variant in white metal.
• 
  12th (Eastern) Infantry Division^[56]
• 
  15th (Scottish) Infantry Division, 1st pattern.^[57]
• 
  15th (Scottish) Infantry Division, 2nd pattern.^[58]
• 
  18th Infantry Division^[58]
• 
  23rd (Northumbrian) Division^[59]
• 
  36th Infantry Division^[59]
• 
  38th (Welsh) Infantry Division^[59]
• 
  42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division^[60]
  Up to late 1941.
• 
  43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division^[60]
• 
  44th (Home Counties) Division^[61]
• 
  45th Infantry Division^[61]
• 
  46th Infantry Division^[61]
• 
  47th (London) Infantry Division^[62]
• 
  48th (South Midland) Infantry Division^[62]
• 
  49th (West Riding) Infantry Division^[63]
  Early War
• 
  49th (West Riding) Infantry Division^[63]
  Second Pattern
• 
  49th (West Riding) Infantry Division^[63]
  Final Design
• 
  50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division^[63]
• 
  51st (Highland) Division.
  Unofficial uniform insignia worn in France 1940.^[64]
• 
  51st (Highland) Division^[65]
• 
  52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division^[65]
• 
  53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division^[66]
• 
  54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division^[66]
• 
  55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division vehicle sign^[66]
• 
  55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division, uniform sign^[66]
• 
  56th (London) Infantry Division^[67]
• 
  59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division^[67]
• 
  61st Infantry Division^[67]
• 
  66th Division^[67]
• 
  70th Infantry Division^[68]
• 
  76th Infantry Division^[68]
• 
  77th Infantry Division^[68]
• 
  78th Infantry Division^[68]
• 
  80th Infantry (Reserve) Division^[69]
• 
  Royal Marines Division^[70]

• 
  Guards Armoured Division^[71]
• 
  1st Armoured Division^[71]
  First pattern.
• 
  1st Armoured Division^[71]
  Second pattern
• 
  2nd Armoured Division^[72]
• 
  6th Armoured Division^[72]
• 
  7th Armoured Division^[72]
  First pattern and vehicle sign throughout the war.
• 
  7th Armoured Division, second pattern.^[72]
• 
  7th Armoured Division, third pattern, used in NW Europe.^[72]
• 
  8th Armoured Division^[73]
• 
  9th Armoured Division^[73]
• 
  10th Armoured Division^[73]
• 
  10th Armoured Division^[73]
  Wide variant.
• 
  11th Armoured Division^[74]
• 
  42nd Armoured Division^[74]
  from late 1941 to late 1943.
• 
  79th Armoured Division^[74]

• 
  1st Airborne Division
• 
  6th Airborne Division

• 
  3rd Indian Infantry Division^[75]
  The Chindits.
• 
  4th Indian Division^[75]
• 
  5th Indian Division^[76]
• 
  6th Infantry Division (India)^[76]
• 
  7th Indian Infantry Division^[77]
• 
  8th Indian Infantry Division^[77]
• 
  9th Indian Infantry Division^[77]
• 
  10th Indian Infantry Division^[78]
• 
  11th Indian Infantry Division^[78]
• 
  14th Indian Infantry Division^[79]
• 
  17th Indian Infantry Division^[79]
• 
  19th Indian Infantry Division^[79]
• 
  20th Indian Infantry Division^[79]
• 
  21st Indian Infantry Division^[80]
• 
  23rd Indian Infantry Division^[80]
• 
  25th Indian Infantry Division^[80]
• 
  26th Indian Infantry Division^[80]
• 
  31st Indian Armoured Division^[81]
• 
  36th Indian Division^[59]
• 
  39th Indian Infantry Division^[81]
• 
  44th Indian Airborne Division^[82]
• 
  11th (African) Division^[83]
• 
  12th (African) Division^[83]
• 
  11th (East Africa) Division^[83]
  First pattern.
• 
  11th (East Africa) Division, second pattern.^[83]
• 
  81st (West Africa) Division^[84]
• 
  82nd (West Africa) Division^[84]

Commonwealth and Dominion forces were exempt from the order banning formation marks on uniform issued in May 1940.^[85] The Canadians reused the formation signs of the First World War without the brigade and battalion distinguishing marks. The home service division's signs (6th, 7th and 8th) were made using combinations of the service division's colours. The vehicles of the divisions added a gold coloured maple leaf centrally to the coloured oblong.^[37] The Division intended to invade Japan, the 6th Canadian Division (CAPF), used all the division colours and the black of the armoured brigades, volunteers for this division sewed a miniature of this sign on top of whichever formation sign they were wearing at the time.^[86]

South African division signs used the national colours.

The Australian militia used the inherited colour patches used in the First World War, the units of the Second Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) added a grey border to the patch for those troops reusing the same colours and introduced new division shapes for the armoured divisions. The grey border was allowed to be worn by individuals in a militia unit who had volunteered for an A.I.F unit, or in the case of a soldier who had served overseas, they wore a miniature grey bordered patch of their A.I.F. unit above their militia patch. Units or individuals from the militia, retaining their non-overseas service status, joining A.I.F. units or formations for which the patch was manufactured with a grey border, removed or trimmed the border back. The system, initially for identifying militia and A.I.F units, to one identifying individuals, caused some confusion. All Australian divisions had distinct vehicle markings in addition to the signs worn on the uniform shown below.^[87] The uniform signs shown below were worn by division headquarters personnel.

The New Zealand Division used a system of colour patches to distinguish its various units, the sign below is the vehicle sign.^[88]

• 
  1st Canadian Infantry Division^[89]
• 
  2nd Canadian Infantry Division^[89]
• 
  3rd Canadian Infantry Division^[89]
• 
  4th Canadian Armoured Division^[89]
• 
  5th Canadian Armoured Division^[89]
• 
  6th Canadian Division (CAPF)^[86]
• 
  6th Canadian Infantry Division^[37]
• 
  7th Canadian Infantry Division^[37]
• 
  8th Canadian Infantry Division^[37]
• 
  1st Infantry Division (South Africa)^[90]
• 
  2nd Infantry Division (South Africa)^[90]
• 
  3rd Infantry Division (South Africa)^[90]
• 
  6th Armoured Division (South Africa)^[91]
• 
  1st Armoured Division (Australia)^[92]
• 
  2nd Armoured Division (Australia)
  Vehicle sign.
• 
  2nd Armoured Division (Australia)
  uniform pacth (HQ).^[93]
• 
  3rd Armoured Division (Australia)
  Vehicle sign.
• 
  3rd Armoured Division (Australia)
  Uniform patch (HQ).^[94]
• 
  1st Australian Division (Militia)^[95]
• 
  2nd Australian Division (Militia)
  Vehicle sign.
• 
  2nd Australian Division (Militia)
  Uniform patch (HQ)^[96]
• 
  3rd Australian Division (Militia)^[97]
• 
  4th Australian Division (Militia)^[98]
• 
  5th Australian Division (Militia)^[99]
• 
  6th Australian Infantry Division^[100]
• 
  7th Australian Infantry Division^[100]
• 
  8th Australian Infantry Division^[100]
• 
  9th Australian Infantry Division^[100]
  First pattern
• 
  9th Australian Infantry Division^[100]
  Second pattern after Tobruk.
• 
  10th Australian Infantry Division^[101]
  probably never worn.
• 
  11th Australian Infantry Division^[102]
  The shape was worn only by division HQ staff.
• 
  2nd New Zealand Division^[88]

All Anti-Aircraft divisions were disbanded on 1 October 1942, the component units then displayed the Anti-Aircraft Command sign.^[103]

• 
  1st Anti-Aircraft Division^[104]
• 
  2nd Anti-Aircraft Division^[104]
• 
  3rd Anti-Aircraft Division^[104]
• 
  4th Anti-Aircraft Division^[105]
  First pattern.
• 
  4th Anti-Aircraft Division.^[105]
  Second pattern.
• 
  5th Anti-Aircraft Division^[105]
• 
  6th Anti-Aircraft Division^[105]
• 
  7th Anti-Aircraft Division^[105]
• 
  8th Anti-Aircraft Division^[106]
• 
  9th Anti-Aircraft Division^[106]
• 
  10th Anti-Aircraft Division^[106]
• 
  11th Anti-Aircraft Division^[106]
• 
  12th Anti-Aircraft Division^[107]

County divisions were infantry only formations charged with anti-invasion duties, formed in late 1940 to early 1941 and all disbanded before the end of 1941.^[108] All but the Devon and Cornwall Division are marked (albeit with question marks) on a German map of May 1944, detailing the German appreciation of the allied build up for the invasion.^[109]

• 
  Devon and Cornwall County Division^[110]
• 
  Dorset County Division^[110]
• 
  Durham and North Riding County Division^[110]
• 
  Essex County Division^[110]
• 
  Hampshire County Division^[110]
• 
  Lincolnshire County Division^[111]
• 
  Northumberland County Division^[111]
• 
  West Sussex County Division^[112]
  Redesignated as the Essex County Division on 18 February 1941.^[113]
• 
  Yorkshire County Division^[111]

The formation signs intended to deceive the Axis forces were either worn by small units in the appropriate theatre (40th and 57th divisions in the Mediterranean) or described to the German intelligence services by turned agents.

• 
  15th Armoured Division (deception)^[114]
• 
  20th Armoured Division (deception)^[114]
• 
  26th Armoured Division (deception)^[114]
• 
  32nd Infantry Division (deception)^[115]
• 
  33rd Infantry Division (deception)^[115]
• 
  34th infantry Division (deception)^[115]
• 
  40th Infantry Division (deception)^[116]
• 
  57th Infantry Division (deception)^[117]

• 
  1st Infantry Division
  (first pattern)
• 
  1st Division
  (second pattern)^[118]
• 
  2nd Infantry Division^[119]
• 
  3rd Infantry Division^[120]
• 
  4th Division
• 
  5th Division
• 
  13th Infantry Division^[58]
  Greece, late 1945 - 1946.
• 
  17th Gurkha Division
• 
  40th Division
• 
  42nd (Lancashire) Division^[121]
• 
  43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division^[122]
• 
  44th (Home Counties) Division^[123]
• 
  50th (Northumbrian) Division^[124]
• 
  51st (Highland) Division^[125]
• 
  52nd (Lowland) Division^[126]
• 
  53rd (Welsh) Division^[127]
• 
  56th (London) Division^[128]
  From 1950

• 
  6th Armoured Division^[129]
  From 1950
• 
  7th Armoured Division
  Vehicle sign.
• 
  7th Armoured Division, uniform patch.^[130]
• 
  11th Armoured Division^[130]
• 
  49th (West Riding and Midlands) Armoured Division^[124]
• 
  56th (London) Armoured Division^[128]

The Modern era is taken to be the end of the Cold War and the implementation of Options for Change.

• 
  2nd Infantry Division^[131]
• 
  3rd (United Kingdom) Division^[131]
• 
  5th Infantry Division
• 
  6th (United Kingdom) Division

• Cole, Howard (1973). Formation Badges of World War 2. Britain, Commonwealth and Empire. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 978-0-85368-078-9.
• Cole (2), Howard N. (1953). Badges on Battledress, Post-War Formation Signs; Rank and Regimental Insignia. Aldershot: Gale and Polden. OCLC 6320925.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Chappell, Mike (1986). British Battle Insignia: 1914–18. Vol. I. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-0-85045-727-8.
• Chappell (2), Mike (1987). British Battle Insignia: 1939–45. Vol. II. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-0-85045-739-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Davis, Brian L. (1983). British Army Uniforms & Insignia of World War Two. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 978-0-85368-609-5.
• Glynde, Keith (1999). Distinguishing Colour Patches of the Australian Military Forces 1915–1951: A Reference Guide. ISBN 978-0-646-36640-1.
• Hibbard, Mike; Gibbs, Gary (2016). Infantry Divisions, Identification Schemes 1917 (1st ed.). Wokingham: The Military History Society. OCLC 964700810.
• Hodges, Lt. Col. Robin (2005). British Army Badges. London: Butler and Tanner. ISBN 978-0-9551463-0-5.
• Jonstone, Mark (2007). The Australian Army in World War II. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-123-6.
• Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
• MacIntyre, Ben (2012). Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-4088-8541-3.
• Wheeler-Holohan, Capt. V (1920). Divisional and Other Signs. London: John Murray. ISBN 9781843420958.
• Cigarette card series, Army, Corps and Divisional Signs 1914–1918, John Player and sons, 1920s.