World War I

During World War I the need to identify friendly troops in assaulting formations was made difficult by the new dispersion of troops across the battlefield. Beginning with the arrival of large number of Kitchener's Army troops in 1915, and widespread after the

Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme ( French: Bataille de la Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place bet ...

of 1916, each battalion of a division would have a particular sign of a distinctive coloured cloth patch, either sewn to the uniform jacket (on the sleeves, or the back of the tunic), or painted on the helmet. These distinguishing marks, known as "Battle Patches" were distinct from the Division signs, and were for the most part simple shapes and colours. The scheme for these Battle patches could be decided at division or brigade level or be based on regimental colours or insignia, and was in some cases continued down to company or even platoon level. This system did not prevent duplication across the divisions, a red square was worn by at least 14 battalions.
In most divisions the brigade could be deduced by the shape (for example 50th (Northumbrian)), colour (for example 55th (West Lancashire)) or design theme (for example 23rd) of the patch. Few divisions had a scheme of patches that had a specific brigade patch, those which had such a scheme are shown below. More examples can be see for the 38th (Welsh) divisions, the 146th, 147th and 148th brigades.

World War II

By the start of the Second World War, the British Army prohibited all identifying marks on its Battle Dress uniforms in 1939 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 this was reinforced by Army Council Instruction (ACI) 419 prohibiting all formation marks on uniforms. In September 1940 formation patches were authorized by ACI 1118 to identify the wearer's independent brigade or brigade group. A Brigade "Formation Badge" was sometimes worn when the formation was not attached to a division, as an Independent Infantry Brigade or brigade group (with attached other arms and services). When part of a division the infantry of a brigade wore one or more arm of service strips ( by ), red for infantry, dark green for Rifle Regiments, indicating brigade seniority, one for the senior brigade, two for the intermediate and three for the junior. As an independent brigade or brigade group the infantry would only wear one strip, the other arms would also wear their arm of service strip. 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. 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. 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).

Infantry

File:1st Independent Guards Brigade Group.svg, 1st Independent Guards Brigade GroupCole p. 128 File:24th Infantry Brigade Badge.gif, 24th Infantry Brigade (Guards) File:29th Infantry Brigade Formation Patch.svg, 29th Infantry Brigade File:31st Independent Infantry Brigade.svg,

31st Independent Infantry Brigade The 31st Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army, which participated in both the First and the Second World Wars. The brigade was later reformed after the end of the war serving in the British Army of the Rhine until the en ...

File:32nd guards infantry.svg, 32nd Infantry Brigade (Guards)Cole p. 129 File:33rd guards infantry.svg, 33rd Independent Infantry Brigade (Guards) File:36th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg, 36th Independent Infantry Brigade File:37th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg, 37th Independent Infantry Brigade File:38th (irish) Infantry Brigade WW2.svg,

38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade The 38th (Irish) Brigade, is a brigade formation of the British Army that served in the Second World War. It was composed of North Irish line infantry regiments and served with distinction in the Tunisian and Italian Campaigns. Following the en ...

File:56th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg, 56th Independent Infantry BrigadeCole p. 130 File:Cornwall County Division Insignia vector.svg, 73rd Independent Infantry Brigade File:115th infantry.svg, 115th Infantry BrigadeCole p. 131 File:116th RM infantry brigade.svg, 116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines File:117th RM brigade.svg, 117th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines File:148th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg, 148th Independent Infantry Brigade File:54 inf div -vector.svg, 162nd Independent Infantry Brigade File:204th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg,

204th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) 204th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) was a Home Defence formation of the British Army during the Second World War. Origin The 204th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) was formed for service in the United Kingdom on 12 October 1940 by No 4 I ...

File:206th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg,

206th Independent Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) 206th Independent Infantry Brigade was a Home Defence formation of the British Army during the Second World War. Origin The brigade was formed under the title of 206th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) for service in the United Kingdom on 12 Oc ...

File:LincolnshireCounty Division Insignia.jpg, 212th Independent Infantry Brigade File:214th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg, 214th Independent Infantry BrigadeCole p. 132 File:218th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg, 218th Independent Infantry Brigade File:219th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg,

219th Independent Infantry Brigade The 219th Brigade was a Home Service formation of the British Army during the First and the Second World Wars. First World War Formation and Service The 219th Brigade was raised in late 1916 as part of 73rd Division, which had the dual role ...

File:223rd Independent Infantry Brigade.svg, 223rd Independent Infantry Brigade File:231st Infantry Brigade (Malta).svg, 231st Independent Infantry Brigade File:301st infantry.svg, 301st Infantry BrigadeCole p. 133 File:304th infantry brigade.svg, 304th Infantry Brigade File:Jewish Brigade insignia.svg, Jewish Brigade

Armoured and Tank

File:2nd Armoured brigade.svg, 2nd Armoured brigadeCole p. 123 File:4th Armoured Brigade.svg, 4th Armoured Brigade File:6th Guards Armoured Brigade.svg, 6th Guards Tank Brigade File:7th armoured brigade.svg, 7th Armoured Brigade File:8th armoured brigade.svg, 8th Armoured BrigadeCole p. 124 File:9th Armoured.svg, 9th Armoured Brigade File:20th Armoured Brigade.svg,

20th Armoured Brigade The 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team, previously the 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, is an armoured infantry brigade formation of the British Army, currently headquartered at Wing Barracks, Bulford, Wiltshire, as part of the 3rd (United Kingdo ...

File:21st tank brigade.svg,

21st Army Tank Brigade The 21st Army Tank Brigade was an Armoured warfare, armoured brigade formation of the British Army active during the World War II, Second World War. The brigade served with the First Army (United Kingdom), British First Army and the Eighth Army ...

File:21st armoured brigade.svg, 21st Army Tank brigade, second pattern from 1944. File:22nd Amoured Brigade 1st pattern.svg,

22nd Armoured Brigade The 22nd Armoured Brigade was an armoured brigade of the British Army that saw service during and after the Second World War. The brigade was formed on the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939 from Territorial Army (TA) armoured regiments. ...

1st pattern, white background File:23rd tank brigade.svg, 23rd Army Tank BrigadeCole p. 126 File:23rd armoured.svg, 23rd Armoured BrigadeCole p. 125 File:24th tank brigade.svg, 24th Army Tank Brigade File:25th tank brigade.svg,

25th Army Tank Brigade The 25th Army Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade formation of the British Army that was active before and during the Second World War. It served with the British First Army and the British Eighth Army during the battles in North Africa and Ita ...

File:27th armoured brigade.svg,

27th Armoured Brigade The 27th Armoured Brigade was an armoured brigade of the British Army that served in the Second World War and played a crucial role in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 and the following Battle of Normandy until disbandment in late 1944. Orig ...

File:31st tank brigade.svg, 31st Army Tank Brigade File:32nd Army Tank Brigade WW2.svg,

32nd Army Tank Brigade The 32nd Army Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade of the British Army created during the Second World War. It was formed, under the command of Brigadier Arthur Cecil Willison, in Egypt on 15 September 1941. The brigade HQ was sent to Tobruk to t ...

File:33rd tank brigade.svg, 33rd Tank BrigadeCole p. 127 File:British 33rd Armoured Brigade - Tactical Formation Sign.svg, 33rd Armoured Brigade File:34th armoured brigade.svg, 34th Armoured Brigade File:35th tank brigade.svg, 35th Army Tank Brigade File:36th tank brigade.svg, 36th Army Tank Brigade

Post War

Aside from the deployment to Germany in the British Army of the Rhine, the employment of divisions has been rare since the Second World War, with Brigades often being the primary field formation.

Infantry

File:1st guards brigade PW.svg, 1st Guards Infantry Brigade File:2 (South East) Brigade Badge.svg, 2nd Infantry Brigade File:3rd Infantry Brigade Cloth Badge.jpg,

3rd Infantry Brigade The 3rd Infantry Brigade was a Regular Army infantry brigade of the British Army, part of the 1st Infantry Division. Originally formed in 1809, during the Peninsular War, the brigade had a long history, seeing action in the Second Anglo-Afg ...

File:4th guards brigade PW.svg, 4th Guards Infantry Brigade File:5th Infantry Brigade Cloth Badge.jpg, 5th Infantry Brigade
also 5th Airborne BrigadeWatson & Rinaldi p. 151 File:6th Infantry Brigade Cloth Badge.JPG, 6th Infantry Brigade File:12th brigade PW.svg, 12th Infantry Brigade File:British 17th Infantry Brigade.svg, 17th Infantry Brigade File:British 23rd Brigade Group Post War.svg, 23rd Brigade Group, in India 1946-1947.Cole (2) p. 65 File:24th Infantry Brigade Badge.gif, 24th Infantry Brigade File:British 27th Infantry Brigade Post War.svg, 27th Infantry Brigade File:29th Infantry Brigade Group 45-48.svg, 29th Infantry Brigade Group, in India 1945-1947. File:29th Infantry Brigade Formation Patch.jpg, 29th Infantry Brigade File:31st Independent Infantry Brigade Post War.svg, 31st Independent Infantry Brigade. File:39th Independent Infantry Brigade.svg, 39th Independent Infantry Brigade File:British 72nd Infantry Brigade Post War.svg, 72nd Infantry Brigade Group, in India 1946-1947. File:107th (Ulster) Independent Brigade Group (T.A.) 1st pattern.svg, 107th (Ulster) Independent Brigade Group
Territorial Army
Worn from 1950 to 1967. File:161st Independent Infantry Brigade TA PW.svg, 161st Independent Infantry Brigade
Territorial Army File:162nd Independemt Infantry Brigade (TA) PW.svg, 162nd Independent Infantry Brigade
Territorial Army

Armoured

File:9th Armoured.svg, 9th Independent Armoured Brigade (T.A.)Cole (2) p. 96 File:23rd armoured.svg, 23rd Independent Armoured Brigade (T.A.) File:30th (lowland) armd bde TA.svg, 30th (Lowland) Independent Armoured Brigade (T.A.)

Modern

Brigades consisting of supporting units maintain their own insignia as well. For use in the field the patches are also issued in subdued colours, green-black, sand shades or tan-black. British Army soldier in Afghanistan, May 2006

British Army soldier in Afghanistan, May 2006

2nd Bn Yorkshire Regt, Afghanistan Service Medals Presentation Parade(RLH)

Armoured and Mechanised

File:1st Mechanized.svg,

1st Armoured Infantry Brigade The 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army with a long history including service during both the First and the Second World Wars. It was based at Tidworth Camp. Previously, it has been designated 1st (Guards ...

File:4th Mechanized.svg, 4th Mechanized Brigade File:7th Armoured.svg, 7th Armoured Brigade File:12th Mechanized.svg,

12th Armoured Infantry Brigade The 12th Armoured Brigade Combat team, formerly the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, is a regular brigade of the British Army which has been in almost continuous existence since 1899 and now forms part of 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. History Se ...

File:20th Armoured.svg,

20th Armoured Infantry Brigade The 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team, previously the 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, is an armoured infantry brigade formation of the British Army, currently headquartered at Wing Barracks, Bulford, Wiltshire, as part of the 3rd (United Kingdo ...

File:22nd Armoured Brigade Badge.jpg,

File:British 33rd Armoured Brigade - Tactical Formation Sign.svg, 33rd Armoured Brigade

Infantry

File:15 bde merlin col.png, 15th Infantry Brigade File:16th Air Assault.svg,

16 Air Assault Brigade 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, from 1999 to 2021 16 Air Assault Brigade, is a formation of the British Army based in Colchester in the county of Essex. It is the Army's rapid response airborne formation and is the only brigade in the Britis ...

Obsolete File:16AAB new.svg,

File:Panther logo.jpg, 19th Light Brigade File:24th Infantry Brigade Badge.gif, 24th Infantry Brigade
also 24th Airportable Brigade File:39th Infantry Brigade modern.svg, 39th Infantry Brigade File:42nd Infantry Brigade (NW) modern.svg, 42nd Infantry Brigade
42nd (North West) Brigade (used from 2003)Hodges p. 494 File:43 inf div -vector.svg, 43rd (Wessex) Brigade (used from 1994) File:49th Infantry Division 3rd pattern.svg, 49th Infantry Brigade
49th (East) Brigade (used from 1995) File:Northhighland dist.svg,

51st Infantry Brigade 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland is an Adaptable Force Brigade of the British Army. It is the regional administrative formation responsible for all the units of the Army Reserve (United Kingdom), Army Reserve based in Scotland and ...

File:52Bde.JPG, 52nd Infantry Brigade File:107th (Ulster) Brigade (Volunteers) (T.A.).svg,

107th (Ulster) Brigade The 107th Brigade, later 107th (Ulster) Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army which saw service in the First World War. The brigade was later reformed during the Cold War and finally disbanded in 2006, following the drawdown of ...

Territorial Army.
Worn from 1988 to 2002. File:160th (Wales) Brigade Modern.svg,

160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales 160th (Welsh) Brigade or Brigâd 160 (Cymru), is a regional brigade of the British Army that has been in existence since 1908, and saw service during both the First and the Second World Wars, as part of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division. It is ...

Hodges p. 497

Supporting Arms

File:Insignia of 1st (United Kingdom) Signal Brigade.svg, 1st Signal Brigade File:8 Engineer Brigade logo.jpg,

8th Engineer Brigade 8th Engineer Brigade (8 Eng Bde) is an engineering support formation of the British Army, which forms part of 1st (United Kingdom) Division. History In August 2001, Headquarters Royal Engineers, Theatre Troops was established as a subdivision o ...

File:Emblem of 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands.svg,

11th Signal Brigade 11 (eleven) is the natural number following 10 and preceding 12. It is the first repdigit. In English, it is the smallest positive integer whose name has three syllables. Name "Eleven" derives from the Old English ', which is first attested i ...

File:101st Logistic Brigade Formation Badge.svg,

101st Logistic Brigade 101st Logistic Brigade (101 Log Bde) is a logistic brigade within 3rd (United Kingdom) Division of the British Army, formed from the Combat Service Support Group in 1999. The brigade is held in high readiness and is described as a "vanguard suppo ...

File:20130910-Halberd-U.jpg,

102nd Logistic Brigade 102nd Logistic Brigade (102 Log Bde) is a logistic brigade of the British Army. Its role is to force generate and force prepare fighting elements, including the Headquarters, globally, for current operations and deliver capability to contingent f ...

Insigne du 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade (1 ISR Bde).svg,

1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade (1 ISR Bde) of the British Army was created as part of the Army 2020 reform, to command military intelligence, ISTAR, and electronic warfare units. Brigade Under the Army 2020, Army 20 ...

Notes

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * *{{cite book, last1=Watson, first1=Graham E, last2=Rinaldi, first2=Richard A, title=The British in Germany (BAOR and After): An Organizatinal History., date=2005, publisher=Tiger Lily Publications, ISBN=9780972029698 . British military insignia .Insignia .Insignia

Insignia An insignia () is a sign or mark distinguishing a group, grade, rank, or function. It can be a symbol of personal power or that of an official group or governing body. On its own, an insignia is a sign of a specific or general authority and is ...

British Army brigade insignia