formation patch

Previous to the 20th Century, tactical control of military units in the field - particularly in the "post-Cromwell era" - was aided by the use of distinctively coloured uniforms and colours, standards and guidons.Law, Clive M., Distinguishing Patches (Second Edition) (Service Publications, Ottawa, ON, 2008) {{ISBN|978-1-894581-50-9}}

File:1stAIF Patch.svg.]]

During World War I, as armies adopted drab coloured uniforms, the need to identify friendly troops in assaulting formations was made acute by the problems of intensive defensive firepower and the attendant problem of dispersion. The British Army, among others, developed a solution whereby individual divisions, brigades, battalions and even companies were identified by distinctive coloured cloth insignia, either sewn to the uniform jacket (on the sleeves, or the back of the tunic), or painted on the helmet. These marks became common after the Battle of the Somme in 1916.Chappell, Mike [https://books.google.com/books?id=UdUXWHNKd6oC&dq=divisional+signs+1916&pg=PA6 British Battle Insignia (1): 1914-18 (Men-At-Arms, 182)] Osprey Publishing, {{ISBN|978-0-85045-727-8}} (p. 6) These distinguishing marks were also alternately known as "Battle Patches".Dancocks, Daniel Gallant Canadians: The Story of the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1914-1919 (Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation, 1990) {{ISBN|0-9694616-0-7}} Other armies continued to identify regiments through the use of numerals, but did not identify military divisions through the use of patches. The United States Army, however, did develop a system of shoulder sleeve insignia with distinctive badges identifying individual divisions.

File:Royal Canadian Artillery II Cdn Corps formation patch.png.]]

File:50 inf div -vector.svg during World War II.]]

By the time of the Second World War, the various armies did not feel a perceived need to identify individual battalions on battledress uniforms. The German Army had a system of coloured bayonet knots that identified the wearer's company, number shoulder strap buttons that identified the wearer's company/battalion, and shoulder straps that identified the wearer's regiment, but had no distinguishing divisional insignia other than the cuff titles of the 'elite' formations.Davis, Brian L. German Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945, Arms & Armour Press {{ISBN|0-85368-587-8}} The British Army prohibited all identifying marks on its Battle Dress uniforms in 1939 save for drab regimental slip-on titles, but in 1941 introduced formation patches to identify the wearer's division.Davis, Brian L. British Army Uniforms and Insignia of World War Two {{ISBN|1-85409-159-X}} They were initially referred to by the British as "Divisional Signs", but this was soon changed to "Formation Badges". By the end of the war, Corps, Armies, and Army Groups had their own insignia.{{cite web |url=http://www.petergh.f2s.com/flashes.html |title=British Formation Badges 1939-1945 |last1=Ghiringhelli |first1=Peter |date=5 May 2007 |website=petergh.f2s.com/ |accessdate=29 November 2013}}

The Canadian Army followed suit.Dorosh, Michael A. Dressed to Kill Service Publications, 2001 The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division used a "battle patch" system of geometric shapes identifying individual brigades and battalions, similar to that used by the 2nd Canadian Division in the First World War, during the 1941-42 period, but abandoned this system after the Dieppe Raid. Other Canadian divisions used plain formation patches, and separate unit titles.Law, Clive M. Distinguishing Patches: Formation Patches of the Canadian Army (Service Publications) {{ISBN|978-0-9699845-2-8}}

The United States continued its system as shoulder sleeve insignia with a regulation that prior combat service entitled the wearer to sew the formation patch of a former unit on the right sleeve of a uniform or field jacket, and the patch of the currently assigned formation on the left sleeve.

Formation patches are in use in the 21st Century in many modern militaries, though when in use on combat uniforms are generally rendered in subdued colours.

File:1 RRF engage Iraqi Army positions with their 81mm Mortars. Iraq. 26-03-2003 MOD 45142764.jpg in action during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The soldier on the left is wearing the famous "Desert Rat" insignia of the 7th Armoured Brigade.]] See also Formation patches of the Canadian Army, Divisional insignia of the British Army, Brigade insignia of the British Army, and Unit Colour Patch for the Australian Army.

;Notes

{{reflist}}

;Bibliography

• Glyde, Keith Distinguishing Colour Patches of the Australian Military Forces 1915 - 1951 (self published, Claremont Tasmania, 1999)
• Thomas, Malcolm and Cliff Lord New Zealand Army Distinguishing Patches 1911-1991

Category:British military insignia

Category:British Army divisional insignia