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 A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or an ...

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 Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branch ...

, regional or historical associations, a pun, the role of the division or a combination.

First World War

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.Chappell pps. 3–6 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. 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. (Examples: 23rd Division and

50th (Northumbrian) Division The Northumbrian Division was an infantry division of the British Army, formed in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force with units drawn from the north-east of England, notably Northumberland, Durham and the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire ...

Infantry

File:Formation sign of the Guards Infantry Division in the First World War.svg,

Guards Division The Guards Division is an administrative unit of the British Army responsible for the training and administration of the regiments of Foot Guards and the London Guards reserve battalion. The Guards Division is responsible for providing two b ...

File:British 1st Division Insignia.png, 1st DivisionChappell pp. 32, 47 File:2nd Division sign WW1.svg, 2nd DivisionChappell pp. 30, 46 File:3rd Division WW1.svg, 3rd Division File:4 div WW1.jpg, 4th DivisionChappell p. 10 File:British 5th Infantry Division Insignia.png,

5th Division In military terms, 5th Division may refer to: Infantry divisions *5th Division (Australia) * 5th Division (People's Republic of China) *5th Division (Colombia) *Finnish 5th Division (Continuation War) *5th Light Cavalry Division (France) *5th Moto ...

Chappell pp. 31, 47 File:British 6th Infantry Division.svg, 6th Division File:British 7th Infantry Division Insignia.png, 7th Division File:8th Division sign WW1.svg, 8th Division File:9th Division ww1.jpg, 9th (Scottish) DivisionChappell p. 11 File:10th-irish-div-symbol.png,

10th (Irish) Division The 10th (Irish) Division, was one of the first of Kitchener's New Army K1 Army Group divisions (formed from Kitchener's 'first hundred thousand' new volunteers), authorized on 21 August 1914, after the outbreak of the Great War. It included b ...

File:British 11th (Northern) Division Insignia.png,

11th (Northern) Division The 11th (Northern) Division, was an infantry division of the British Army during the First World War, raised from men who had volunteered for Lord Kitchener's New Armies. The division fought in the Gallipoli Campaign and on the Western Fron ...

File:British 12th (Eastern) Division Insignia.png,

12th (Eastern) Division The 12th (Eastern) Division was an infantry division raised by the British Army during the First World War from men volunteering for Kitchener's New Armies. The division saw service in the trenches of the Western Front from June 1915 to the e ...

File:British 13th (Western) Division Insignia.png,

13th (Western) Division The 13th (Western) Division was one of the Kitchener's Army divisions in the First World War, raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener. It fought at Gallipoli, in Mesopotamia (including the capture of Baghdad) and Persia. War service 1914– ...

File:British 14th (Light) Division Insignia.png,

14th (Light) Division The 14th (Light) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, one of the Kitchener's Army divisions raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener during the First World War. All of its infantry regiments were originally of the fast marchin ...

File:British 15th (Scottish) Division Insignia.png,

15th (Scottish) Division The 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that served in the First World War. The 15th (Scottish) Division was formed from men volunteering for Kitchener's Army, and served from 1915 to 1918 on the West ...

Chappell pp. 27, 44 File:British 16th (Irish) Division Insignia.png,

16th (Irish) Division The 16th (Irish) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, raised for service during World War I. The division was a voluntary 'Service' formation of Lord Kitchener's New Armies, created in Ireland from the 'National Volunteers', i ...

Chappell p. 13 File:British 17th (Northern) Division Insignia.png,

17th (Northern) Division The 17th (Northern) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, a Kitchener's Army formation raised during the Great War. Formation history The 17th (Northern) Division was created under Northern Command in September 1914, just a m ...

File:18th (Eastern) Division WW1.svg,

18th (Eastern) Division The 18th (Eastern) Division was an infantry division of the British Army formed in September 1914 during the First World War as part of the K2 Army Group, part of Lord Kitchener's New Armies. From its creation the division trained in England u ...

File:19th (Western) Division Insignia WWI.svg,

19th (Western) Division The 19th (Western) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, part of Kitchener's Army, formed in the Great War. Formation history The 19th (Western) Division was created under Western Command in September 1914, shortly after the ...

File:20th (Light) Division sign World War 1.svg,

20th (Light) Division The 20th (Light) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, part of Kitchener's Army, raised in the First World War. The division was formed in September 1914 as part of the K2 Army Group. The division landed in France July 1915 and s ...

Chappell p. 15 File:British 21st Division insignia.png, 21st Division File:22nd Division sign WW1.svg, 22nd DivisionChappell p. 14 File:British 23rd Division insignia.png, 23rd Division File:British 24th Division Insignia.png, 24th Division File:25th division WW1 (1).svg, 25th DivisionChappell pp. 29, 46
Uniform patch. File:25th division ww1.svg, 25th Division
Vehicle sign. File:26th Division sign WW1.svg, 26th DivisionChappell p. 16 File:27th Division sign WW1.svg, 27th Division File:28th Division sign WW1.svg, 28th Division File:British 29th Division Insignia.png, 29th DivisionChappell p. 17 File:30 div WW1.jpg, 30th Division File:31st Division sign (1) WW1.svg, 31st Division
First pattern. File:British 32nd Division insignia.png, 32nd DivisionChappell p. 19 File:British 33rd Division insignia.png, 33rd Division File:34th Division sign WW1.svg, 34th DivisionChappell pp. 28, 46 File:35th Division sign.svg, 35th Division File:Meuble héraldique Main.svg,

36th (Ulster) Division The 36th (Ulster) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, part of Lord Kitchener's New Army, formed in September 1914. Originally called the ''Ulster Division'', it was made up of mainly members of the Ulster Volunteer Force, wh ...

File:WW1 Div 37.jpg, 37th Division File:38th Welsh Division dragon emblem (vectored).svg,

38th (Welsh) Infantry Division The 38th (Welsh) Division (initially the 43rd Division, later the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division and then the 38th Infantry (Reserve) Division) of the British Army was active during both the World War I, First and World War II, Second World Wa ...

File:39th Division ww1.svg, 39th Division File:Bantam.png, 40th Division File:British 41st Division insignia.png, 41st Division File:British 42nd (East Lancashire) Division Insignia.png,

42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division The 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division was an infantry Division (military), division of the British Army. The division was raised in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force (TF), originally as the East Lancashire Division, and was redesignat ...

File:46th Division ww1.svg,

46th (North Midland) Division The 46th (North Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, part of the Territorial Force, that saw service in the First World War. At the outbreak of the war, the 46th Division was commanded by Major-General Hon. E.J. Monta ...

File:British 47th (2nd London) Division insignia.png,

47th (1/2nd London) Division The 47th (1/2nd London) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, raised in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force. Formation The Territorial Force (TF) was formed on 1 April 1908 following the enactment of the Territorial and Res ...

File:48th (South Midland) Division insignia (WW1).png,

48th (South Midland) Division The 48th (South Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army. Part of the Territorial Force (TF) and raised in 1908, the division was originally called the South Midland Division, and was redesignated as the 48th (South Midland ...

Chappell p. 24 File:British 49th (West Riding) Division insignia.png,

49th (West Riding) Infantry Division The 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army. The division fought in the First World War in the trenches of the Western Front, in the fields of France and Flanders. During the Second World War, the divis ...

File:50 div WW1.jpg,

File:British 51st (Highland) Division Insignia.png,

51st (Highland) Division The 51st (Highland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought on the Western Front in France during the First World War from 1915 to 1918. The division was raised in 1908, upon the creation of the Territorial Force, as ...

Chappell p. 34 File:52nd division ww1.svg,

52nd (Lowland) Division The 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was originally formed as the Lowland Division, in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force. It later became the 52nd (Lowland) Division in 1915. The 52nd (Low ...

File:53rd div WW1.jpg,

53rd (Welsh) Division The 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought in both the First and Second World Wars. Originally raised in 1908 as the Welsh Division, part of the Territorial Force (TF), the division saw service in ...

File:54th division sign WW1.svg, 54th DivisionChappell p. 36 File:55thDivision (7 leaf) WW1.svg,

55th (West Lancashire) Division The 55th (West Lancashire) Division was an infantry division of the British Army's Territorial Force (TF) that saw extensive combat during the First World War. It was raised initially in 1908 as the West Lancashire Division. Following the out ...

File:British 56th (1st London) Division insignia.png,

56th (London) Infantry Division The 56th (London) Infantry Division was a Territorial Army infantry division of the British Army, which served under several different titles and designations. The division served in the trenches of the Western Front during the First World War. ...

File:57th Division ww1.svg,

57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division The 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division was an infantry formation of the Territorial Force created in 1914 as part of the massive expansion of the British Army during the First World War. It served on the Western Front during 1917 and 1918. The ...

File:59th Division ww1.svg,

59th (2nd North Midland) Division The 59th (2nd North Midland) Division was an infantry Division (military), division of the British Army during World War I. It was formed in late 1914/early 1915 as a 2nd Line Territorial Force formation raised as a duplicate of the 46th (North ...

File:British 60th (London) Division Insignia.png, 60th (2/2nd London) Division File:61st division ww1.svg, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division File:62nd div WW1.jpg, 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division File:63rd (Naval) division WW1.svg, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division File:66 inf div.svg,

66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division The 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, part of the Territorial Force, which saw service in the trenches of the Western Front, during the later years of the Great War and was disbanded after ...

File:British 74th (Yeomanry) Division Insignia.png, 74th (Yeomanry) Division File:75th div WW1.svg, 75th Division

Cavalry

File:1st cav div WW1.svg, 1st Cavalry Division File:2nd cav div WW1.svg, 2nd Cavalry Division File:3rd cav div WW1.svg, 3rd Cavalry Division

Empire

File:14th indian division WW1.jpg,

14th Indian Division The 14th Indian Division was formed during World War I, for service in the Mesopotamian Campaign. It was composed of battalions of the Regular British Army, the British Territorial Force and the British Indian Army. History The Division now pa ...

File:15th indian div WW1.svg,

15th Indian Division The 15th Indian Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army that saw active service in the First World War. It served in the Mesopotamian Campaign on the Euphrates Front throughout its existence. It did not serve in the Second ...

File:17th indian division WW1.jpg,

17th Indian Division The 17th Indian Division was formed in 1917 from units of the British Indian Army for service in the Mesopotamia Campaign during World War I. After the war, it formed part of the occupation force for Iraq and took part in the Iraq Rebellion in ...

File:18th indian division WW1.jpg,

18th Indian Division The 18th Indian Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army that saw active service in the First World War. It took part in the Mesopotamian campaign and formed part of the occupation force for Iraq post-war. The division was n ...

Commonwealth

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. The 5th Canadian division was broken up for reinforcements before being fully formed and would have had a burgundy–purple colour patch. 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. File:1 Canadian Infantry Division patch.svg,

1st Canadian Division The 1st Canadian Division (French: ''1re Division du Canada'' ) is a joint operational command and control formation based at CFB Kingston, and falls under Canadian Joint Operations Command. It is a high-readiness unit, able to move on very short ...

File:2nd Canadian Division formation patch.svg,

2nd Canadian Division The 2nd Canadian Division (2 Cdn Div; french: 2e Division du Canada) is a formation of the Canadian Army in the province of Quebec, Canada. The present command was created 2013 when Land Force Quebec Area was re-designated. The main unit housed ...

File:3 Canadian Infantry Division patch.png,

3rd Canadian Division The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of all army units in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as all units extending westwards from th ...

File:4 Canadian Armoured Division patch.svg,

4th Canadian Division The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. The division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. During the Second World War the division was reactivated as the 4th Canadian Infantr ...

File:1st aus div 1st var ww1.svg,

1st Australian Division The 1st Division is headquartered in Enoggera, a suburb of Brisbane. The division was first formed in 1914 for service during World War I as a part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). It was initially part of the Australian and New Zealand ...

First pattern 1916–1917. File:1st Aus div.svg, 1st Australian Division
Second pattern 1917–1919. File:2nd aus div.svg, 2nd Australian Division File:3rd aus div.svg,

3rd Australian Division The 3rd Division was an infantry division of the Australian Army. Existing during various periods between 1916 and 1991, it is considered the "longest serving Australian Army division". It was first formed during World War I, as an infantry div ...

File:4th aus div.svg,

4th Australian Division The Australian 4th Division was formed in the First World War during the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) infantry brigades in February 1916. In addition to the experienced 4th Brigade (previously in the original New Zealand ...

File:5th aus div (militia).svg,

5th Australian Division The 5th Division was an infantry division of the Australian Army which served during the First and Second World Wars. The division was formed in February 1916 as part of the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force infantry brigades. In addi ...

Second World War

World War II British battledress arm of service colors

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. 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 France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

. Some infantry battalions in France had even started wearing ''battle patches'' in a similar manner to their First World War antecedents. 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 ( by ) showing the relevant corps colour (for example

Artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieg ...

, 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. Until

D-Day The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as ...

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 The 21st Army Group was a British headquarters formation formed during the Second World War. It controlled two field armies and other supporting units, consisting primarily of the British Second Army and the First Canadian Army. Established in ...

formations wore their signs when they went to France. 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. 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 Infantry Division sign WW2.svg, 1st Infantry Division
First patternCole p. 36 File:British 1st Division 3 type.svg, 1st Infantry Division
Second pattern File:British 2nd Infantry Division.svg, 2nd Infantry Division File:British 3rd Infantry Division Vehicle Sign.svg, 3rd Infantry Division Vehicle Sign in France 1940. File:British 3rd Infantry Division2.svg, 3rd Infantry Division. File:4th div (1).svg, 4th Infantry Division
First pattern.Cole p. 37 File:4 inf div -vector.svg, 4th Infantry Division
Second pattern File:5 inf div -vector.svg, 5th Infantry Division File:British WWII 6th Infantry Division.svg,

6th Infantry Division 6th Division may refer to: Infantry divisions *6th Division (Australia) *6th Division (Austria) * 6th (United Kingdom) Division *Finnish 6th Division (Winter War) * Finnish 6th Division (Continuation War) *6th Division (Reichswehr) * 6th Division ...

File:8th Infantry Division WW2.svg, 8th Infantry DivisionCole p. 38 File:9th Division ww1.jpg, 9th (Highland) Infantry Division
Variant in white metal. File:12th British Infantry Division WW2.svg,

12th (Eastern) Infantry Division The 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which fought briefly in the Battle of France during the Second World War. In March 1939, after the re-emergence of Germany as a European power and its occupat ...

File:15th (Scottish) div WW2 1st pattern.svg,

15th (Scottish) Infantry Division The 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that served during the Second World War. It was raised on 2 September 1939, the day before war was declared, as part of the Territorial Army (TA) and served in ...

, 1st pattern. File:15 inf div.jpg, 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division, 2nd pattern.Cole p. 39 File:18 inf div -vector.svg, 18th Infantry Division File:23rd (Northumbrian) Division formation sign.svg,

23rd (Northumbrian) Division The 23rd (Northumbrian) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which fought briefly in the Battle of France during the Second World War. In March 1939, after the re-emergence of Germany as a European power and its occupation o ...

Cole p. 40 File:36 inf div -vector.svg, 36th Infantry Division File:38 inf div -vector.svg, 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division File:42nf inf (armd) division WW2.svg, 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry DivisionCole p. 41
Up to late 1941. File:43 inf div -vector.svg,

43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division The 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division was an infantry division of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). The division was first formed in 1908, as the Wessex Division. During the First World War, it was broken-up and never served as a complete formatio ...

File:44InfDiv.png,

44th (Home Counties) Division The Home Counties Division was an infantry division of the Territorial Force, part of the British Army, that was raised in 1908. As the name suggests, the division recruited in the Home Counties, particularly Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex. ...

Cole p. 42 File:45 inf div -vector.svg, 45th Infantry Division File:46 inf div -vector.svg, 46th Infantry Division File:47th div.svg,

47th (London) Infantry Division The 47th (London) Infantry Division was an infantry Division (military), division of the British Army that was formed during the Second World War and remained in the United Kingdom until the end of the war. In March 1939, after the re-emergenc ...

Cole p. 43 File:48 inf div -vector.svg,

48th (South Midland) Infantry Division The 48th (South Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army. Part of the Territorial Force (TF) and raised in 1908, the division was originally called the South Midland Division, and was redesignated as the 48th (South Midland ...

File:49th Infantry Division 1st pattern.jpg, 49th (West Riding) Infantry DivisionCole p. 44
Early War File:49-1 inf div.jpg, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
Second Pattern File:49th Infantry Division 3rd pattern.svg, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
Final Design File:50 inf div -vector.svg,

50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division The 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that saw distinguished service in the Second World War. Pre-war, the division was part of the Territorial Army (TA) and the two ''Ts'' in the divisional ins ...

File:51st Division BEF1940.svg, 51st (Highland) Division.
Unofficial uniform insignia worn in France 1940. File:51 inf div -vector.svg, 51st (Highland) DivisionCole p. 45 File:52 inf div -vector.svg,

52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division The 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was originally formed as the Lowland Division, in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force. It later became the 52nd (Lowland) Division in 1915. The 52nd (Low ...

File:53 inf div -vector.svg,

53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division The 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought in both the First and Second World Wars. Originally raised in 1908 as the Welsh Division, part of the Territorial Force (TF), the division saw service in ...

Cole p. 46 File:54 inf div -vector.svg,

54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division The 54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army. The division was raised in 1908 following the creation of the Territorial Force (TF) as the East Anglian Division. During the First World War the division fo ...

File:55 inf div vehicle.svg,

55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division The 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army's Territorial Army (TA) that was formed in 1920 and existed through the Second World War, although it did not see combat. The division had originally be ...

vehicle sign File:55 inf div -vector2.svg, 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division, uniform sign File:56 inf div -vector.svg, 56th (London) Infantry DivisionCole p. 47 File:59 inf div -vector.svg,

59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division The 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was formed during the Second World War and fought in the Battle of Normandy. In March 1939, after Germany re-emerged as a significant military power an ...

File:61 inf div -vector.svg, 61st Infantry Division File:66 inf div.svg, 66th Division File:British WWII 6th Infantry Division.svg, 70th Infantry DivisionCole p. 48 File:76th Infantry vector2.svg, 76th Infantry Division File:77 inf div -vector.svg, 77th Infantry Division File:78 inf div -vector.svg, 78th Infantry Division File:British 80th Infantry (Reserve) Badge.svg, 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division File:116th RM infantry brigade.svg, Royal Marines Division

Armoured

File:Guards armoured.svg, Guards Armoured DivisionCole p. 32 File:1st Armoured Div.svg, 1st Armoured Division
First pattern. File:British 1st Armoured Division WW2 2nd pattern.svg, 1st Armoured Division
Second pattern File:British 2nd Armoured Division.svg, 2nd Armoured DivisionCole p. 33 File:6th Armoured Division flash.svg,

6th Armoured Division The 6th Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army, created in September 1940 during the Second World War and re-formed in May 1951 in the UK. History The division was formed in the United Kingdom under Northern Command on ...

File:7th armoured division insignia 1944 3000px.png, 7th Armoured Division
First pattern and vehicle sign throughout the war. File:7th armd div (2).jpg, 7th Armoured Division, second pattern. File:7th armd div (3).svg, 7th Armoured Division, third pattern, used in NW Europe. File:8ArmDiv.png, 8th Armoured DivisionCole p. 34 File:9armd div.jpg, 9th Armoured Division File:10th armoured div (2).svg,

10th Armoured Division 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

File:10th armoured div.svg, 10th Armoured Division
Wide variant. File:11th Armoured Division (United Kingdom) Insignia.svg,

11th Armoured Division The 11th Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army which was created in March 1941 during the Second World War. The division was formed in response to the unanticipated success of the German panzer divisions. The 11th Armo ...

Cole p. 35 File:42nf inf (armd) division WW2.svg, 42nd Armoured Division
from late 1941 to late 1943. File:79th armoured division badge.jpg, 79th Armoured Division

Airborne

File:UK 6th Airborne Division Patch.svg,

1st Airborne Division 1st Division may refer to: Military Airborne divisions *1st Parachute Division (Germany) *1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom) *1st Airmobile Division (Ukraine) *1st Guards Airborne Division Armoured divisions *1st Armoured Division (Australi ...

File:UK 6th Airborne Division Patch.svg,

6th Airborne Division The 6th Airborne Division was an airborne infantry division of the British Army during the Second World War. Despite its name, the 6th was actually the second of two airborne divisions raised by the British Army during the war, the other being t ...

Empire

File:Div Ind 3.jpg,

3rd Indian Infantry Division The Chindits, officially as Long Range Penetration Groups, were special operations units of the British and Indian armies which saw action in 1943–1944 during the Burma Campaign of World War II. The British Army Brigadier Orde Wingate forme ...

Cole p. 77
The Chindits. File:4th indian infantry div.svg,

4th Indian Division The 4th Indian Infantry Division, also known as the Red Eagle Division, is an infantry division of the Indian Army. This division of the British Indian Army was formed in Egypt in 1939 during the Second World War. During the Second World War, i ...

File:Ball of fire insignia of the Indian 5th Infantry Division.jpg,

5th Indian Division The 5th Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II that fought in several theatres of war and was nicknamed the "Ball of Fire". It was one of the few Allied divisions to fight against three differe ...

Cole p. 78 File:6th indian infantry div.svg, 6th Infantry Division (India) File:7th Indian Infantry Division.svg,

7th Indian Infantry Division The 7th Infantry Division is a war-formed infantry division, part of the British Indian Army that saw service in the Burma Campaign. History The division was created on 1 October 1940 at Attock, under the command of Major General Arthur Wakely ...

Cole p. 79 File:8th indian infantry division.svg, 8th Indian Infantry Division File:9th indian infantry division.svg,

9th Indian Infantry Division The 9th Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. The division formed part of Indian III Corps in the Malaya Command during the Battle of Malaya. It was commanded by Major-General Arthur Edward B ...

File:10th Indian Division ww2.svg,

10th Indian Infantry Division The 10th Indian Infantry Division was a war formed infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. In four years, the division travelled over from Tehran to Trieste, fought three small wars, and fought two great campaigns: the ...

Cole p, 80 File:11th indian infantry div.svg,

11th Indian Infantry Division The 11th Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. It formed part of Indian III Corps in the Malaya Command during the Battle of Malaya. The division was re-raised on 1 April 1965 and is presently ...

File:14th Indian Infantry Division.svg,

14th Indian Infantry Division The 14th Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. It fought in the Arakan Campaign 1942–43, and was subsequently converted into a Training Division, providing drafts of replacements for units ...

Cole p. 81 File:17th Black Cat Infantry Division.jpg,

17th Indian Infantry Division The 17th Infantry Division is a formation of the Indian Army. Indian Army during World War II, During World War II, it had the distinction of being continually in combat during the three-year-long Burma Campaign (except for brief periods of refit ...

File:19th indian division.svg, 19th Indian Infantry Division File:20th indian infantry div.svg,

20th Indian Infantry Division The 20th Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army in the Second World War, formed in India, and took part in the Burma Campaign during the Second World War. After the war, the bulk of the division was deployed to Frenc ...

File:21st indian infantry div.svg,

21st Indian Infantry Division The 21st Indian Infantry Division was a division of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in April 1944 in Assam and is now part of IV Corps or Gajraj corps. History The 21st Indian Infantry Division was a division of the Indian ...

Cole p. 82 File:23rd indian infantry div.svg,

23rd Indian Infantry Division The 23rd Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. It fought in the Burma Campaign. It was then reformed as a division of the independent Indian Army in 1959. History The division was raised on 1 ...

File:25th indian division.svg,

25th Indian Infantry Division The 25th Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II which fought in the Burma Campaign. It was re-raised within the post-independence Indian Army in 1948. History Originally formed in Bangalore in ...

File:26th indian infantry div.svg,

26th Indian Infantry Division The 26th Indian Infantry Division, was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. It fought in the Burma Campaign. History When the Japanese invaded Burma in 1942, the various units in training or stationed around Barrackpur n ...

File:31st indian armoured div.svg,

31st Indian Armoured Division The 31st Indian Armoured Division was an armoured division of the Indian Army during World War II, formed in 1940, originally as the 1st Indian Armoured Division; it consisted of units of the British Army and the British Indian Army. When it w ...

Cole p. 83 File:36 inf div -vector.svg, 36th Indian Division File:39th indian.svg,

39th Indian Infantry Division 39th Indian Infantry Division (originally the 1st Burma Division) was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II, which became a training division in 1943 after its recovery into India from Burma. The division was re-raised a ...

File:44th Indian Airborne.svg,

44th Indian Airborne Division The 44th Indian Airborne Division was an airborne forces division of the Indian Army during World War II, created in 1944. It provided a parachute battalion for one minor airborne operation, but the war ended before the complete formation could ...

File:11th (Africa) division.svg,

11th (African) Division 11 (eleven) is the natural number following 10 (number), 10 and preceding 12 (number), 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 ', w ...

Cole p. 91 File:12th african.svg, 12th (African) Division File:11th EA div (1).svg,

11th (East Africa) Division The 11th (East Africa) Infantry Division was a British Empire colonial unit formed in February 1943 during the Second World War. Formation In 1943, the 11th (East Africa) Division was formed primarily of troops from British East Africa. The divi ...

First pattern. File:11th EA div (2).svg, 11th (East Africa) Division, second pattern. File:81st WA Division.svg,

81st (West Africa) Division The 81st (West African) Division was formed under British control during the Second World War. It took part in the Burma Campaign. History The inspiration for the division's formation came from General George Giffard, commander of the Britis ...

Cole p. 92 File:82nd WA div.svg,

82nd (West Africa) Division The 82nd (West African) Division was formed under British control during the Second World War. It took part in the later stages of the Burma Campaign and was disbanded in Burma between May and September 1946. History Formation The inspirat ...

Commonwealth

Commonwealth and Dominion forces were exempt from the order banning formation marks on uniform issued in May 1940. 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. 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.Cole p. 64 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. 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.Cole p. 71 File:1 Canadian Infantry Division patch.svg,

1st Canadian Infantry Division The 1st Canadian Division (French: ''1re Division du Canada'' ) is a joint operational command and control formation based at CFB Kingston, and falls under Canadian Joint Operations Command. It is a high-readiness unit, able to move on very short ...

Cole p. 62 File:2nd Canadian Division formation patch.svg,

2nd Canadian Infantry Division The 2nd Canadian Division, an infantry division of the Canadian Army, was mobilized for war service on 1September 1939 at the outset of World War II. Adopting the designation of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, it was initially composed of vo ...

File:3 Canadian Infantry Division patch.png,

3rd Canadian Infantry Division The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of all army units in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as all units extending westwards from th ...

File:4 Canadian Armoured Division patch.svg,

4th Canadian Armoured Division Fourth or the fourth may refer to: * the ordinal form of the number 4 * ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971 * Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision * Fourth (music), a musical interval * ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...

File:5 Canadian Armoured Division patch.png,

5th Canadian Armoured Division Fifth is the ordinal form of the number five. Fifth or The Fifth may refer to: * Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as in the expression "pleading the Fifth" * Fifth column, a political term * Fifth disease, a contagious rash that ...

File:6th Canadian Division (CAPF).svg, 6th Canadian Division (CAPF) File:6 Canadian Infantry Division patch.svg, 6th Canadian Infantry Division File:7 Canadian Infantry Division patch.svg, 7th Canadian Infantry Division File:8 Canadian Infantry Division patch.png, 8th Canadian Infantry Division File:1SADivB vector.svg,

1st Infantry Division (South Africa) The 1st South African Infantry Division was an infantry division of the army of the Union of South Africa. During World War II the division served in East Africa from 1940 to 1941 and in the Western Desert Campaign from 1941 to 1942. The di ...

Cole p. 73 File:2SADiv.svg,

2nd Infantry Division (South Africa) The South African 2nd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II. The division was formed on 23 October 1940 and served in the Western Desert Campaign and was captured (save for one ...

File:3rd SA div.svg,

3rd Infantry Division (South Africa) The South African 3rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the South African Army during World War II. History This division was formed in South Africa on 23 October 1940 with its headquarters in Pretoria. The 3rd Infantry Division ...

File:6TH SA ARMD DIV FLASH.svg,

6th Armoured Division (South Africa) The 6th South African Armoured Division was the second armoured division of the South African Army and was formed during World War II. Established in early 1943, it was based on a nucleus of men from the former 1st South African Infantry Di ...

File:1st aus armd div.svg,

1st Armoured Division (Australia) The 1st Armoured Division was an armoured formation of the Australian Army, raised in 1941 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War II. While the Division was originally to be deployed to North Africa in late 1941, ...

File:2nd Aust Armd Div(AWM 129661).svg,

2nd Armoured Division (Australia) The 2nd Armoured Division was an armoured formation of the Australian Army during World War II. Originally raised in 1921 as the 2nd Cavalry Division, based in Victoria and South Australia, the formation had been converted into a motor division ...

Vehicle sign. File:2nd aus armd div.svg, 2nd Armoured Division (Australia)
uniform pacth (HQ). File:3rd Aust Armd Div(AWM 133886).jpg,

3rd Armoured Division (Australia) The 3rd Armoured Division was an armoured unit of the Australian Army during World War II. Originally raised in 1921 as the 1st Cavalry Division, the formation had been converted into a motor division in early 1942, before adopting the armoured ...

Vehicle sign. File:3rd aus armd div.svg, 3rd Armoured Division (Australia)
Uniform patch (HQ). File:1st Aus div.svg, 1st Australian Division (Militia) File:2nd Div Sign WW2 (AWM 132502).svg, 2nd Australian Division (Militia)
Vehicle sign. File:2nd aus div.svg, 2nd Australian Division (Militia)
Uniform patch (HQ) File:3rd aus div.svg, 3rd Australian Division (Militia) File:4th aus div.svg, 4th Australian Division (Militia) File:5th aus div (militia).svg, 5th Australian Division (Militia) File:6th aus inf div.svg, 6th Australian Infantry DivisionJohnstone pps 40, 63 File:7th aus inf div.svg, 7th Australian Infantry Division File:8th aus inf div.svg, 8th Australian Infantry Division File:9th aus inf div (1).svg,

9th Australian Infantry Division The 9th Division was a division of the Australian Army that served during World War II. It was the fourth division raised for the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF). The distinctions of the division include it being: * in front line ...

First pattern File:9th aus inf div (2).svg, 9th Australian Infantry Division
Second pattern after Tobruk. File:10th Div 2nd AIF.png, 10th Australian Infantry Division
probably never worn. File:11th aus inf div.svg, 11th Australian Infantry Division
The shape was worn only by division HQ staff. File:2nd NZ.svg,

2nd New Zealand Division The 2nd New Zealand Division, initially the New Zealand Division, was an infantry Division (military), division of the New Zealand Army, New Zealand Military Forces (New Zealand's army) during the World War II, Second World War. The division was ...

Anti-Aircraft

All Anti-Aircraft divisions were disbanded on 1 October 1942, the component units then displayed the Anti-Aircraft Command sign. File:1AA Div.svg, 1st Anti-Aircraft DivisionCole p. 54 File:2nd AA div.svg, 2nd Anti-Aircraft Division File:3rd AA div.jpg,

3rd Anti-Aircraft Division The 3rd Anti-Aircraft Division was an air defence formation of the Territorial Army, part of the British Army, created in the period of tension before the outbreak of the Second World War. It defended Scotland and Northern Ireland during the ear ...

File:4th AA div (1).svg, 4th Anti-Aircraft DivisionCole p. 55
First pattern. File:4th AA div (2).svg, 4th Anti-Aircraft Division.
Second pattern. File:5th AA div.svg, 5th Anti-Aircraft Division File:6th AA div.svg, 6th Anti-Aircraft Division File:7th AA div.svg, 7th Anti-Aircraft Division File:8th AA div.svg, 8th Anti-Aircraft DivisionCole p. 56 File:9th AA div.svg, 9th Anti-Aircraft Division File:10th AA div.svg, 10th Anti-Aircraft Division File:11th AA div.jpg, 11th Anti-Aircraft Division File:12th AA div.svg, 12th Anti-Aircraft Division

County

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. 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. File:Cornwall County Division Insignia vector.svg, Devon and Cornwall County DivisionCole p. 58 File:Dorset County Division Insignia.svg, Dorset County Division File:Durham County Division -vector.svg, Durham and North Riding County Division File:Essex County Division -vector.svg, Essex County Division File:Hampshire County Division Insignia.jpg,

Hampshire County Division The Hampshire County Division was a short-lived formation of the British Army, located in South East England on the coast of the English Channel. It was raised in the Second World War and was formed on 28 February 1941 by the redesignation ...

File:LincolnshireCounty Division Insignia.jpg, Lincolnshire County DivisionCole p. 59 File:Northumbrian County Division -vector.svg, Northumberland County Division File:Westsussex county.svg, West Sussex County Division
Redesignated as the Essex County Division on 18 February 1941. File:Yorkshire County Division -vector.svg, Yorkshire County Division

Deception

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. File:15th deception armoured.svg, 15th Armoured Division (deception) File:20th deception armoured.svg, 20th Armoured Division (deception) File:26th deception armoured.svg, 26th Armoured Division (deception) File:32nd deception division.svg, 32nd Infantry Division (deception) File:33rd Division WW2 deception.svg, 33rd Infantry Division (deception) File:34th Division sign WW1.svg, 34th infantry Division (deception) File:40th Infantry Division Second World War (deception).svg, 40th Infantry Division (deception) File:57th Division ww1.svg, 57th Infantry Division (deception)

Post War

Infantry

File:1st Infantry Division sign WW2.svg,

1st Infantry Division 1st Division may refer to: Military Airborne divisions *1st Parachute Division (Germany) *1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom) *1st Airmobile Division (Ukraine) *1st Guards Airborne Division Armoured divisions *1st Armoured Division (Australi ...

File:British 2nd Infantry Division.svg, 2nd Infantry Division File:British 3rd Infantry Division2.svg, 3rd Infantry Division File:4th div PW.svg, 4th Division File:5th div PW.svg,

File:13th div PW.svg, 13th Infantry Division
Greece, late 1945 - 1946. File:17th Black Cat Infantry Division.jpg,

17th Gurkha Division The 17th Gurkha Division/Overseas Commonwealth Land Forces (Malaya) was a British military formation that saw active service during the Malayan Emergency. History The Division was formed on 1 September 1952 at Maxwell Road Camp, Malaya, as part ...

File:40th PWW2 div.svg, 40th Division File:42nd div PW.svg, 42nd (Lancashire) Division File:43 inf div -vector.svg, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division File:44th div PW.svg,

File:50 inf div -vector.svg,

File:51 inf div -vector.svg, 51st (Highland) Division File:52 inf div PW -vector.svg,

File:53 inf div -vector.svg,

File:56 inf div PW -vector.svg,

56th (London) Division The 56th (London) Infantry Division was a Territorial Army infantry division of the British Army, which served under several different titles and designations. The division served in the trenches of the Western Front during the First World War. ...

Cole (2) p. 95
From 1950

Armoured

File:6th Armoured Division flash.svg,

Cole (2)p. 52
From 1950 File:7th armoured division insignia 1944 3000px.png, 7th Armoured Division
Vehicle sign. File:7th armd div (3).svg, 7th Armoured Division, uniform patch.Cole (2) p. 53 File:11th Armoured Division (United Kingdom) Insignia.svg, 11th Armoured Division File:49th Infantry Division 3rd pattern.svg, 49th (West Riding and Midlands) Armoured DivisionCole (2) p. 90 File:56th armd Div PW.svg, 56th (London) Armoured Division

Modern

The ''Modern'' era is taken to be the end of the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of Geopolitics, geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term ''Cold war (term), co ...

and the implementation of Options for Change. File:British 2nd Infantry Division.svg, 2nd Infantry DivisionHodges p. 482 File:British 3rd Infantry Division2.svg, 3rd (United Kingdom) Division File:5th UK Infantry Division.svg, 5th Infantry Division File:6th (UK) Division badge (2019).svg, 6th (United Kingdom) Division

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * {{cite book, last1=Wheeler-Holohan, first1=Capt. V, title=Divisional and Other Signs, year=1920, publisher=John Murray, location=London, isbn=9781843420958 * Cigarette card series, ''Army, Corps and Divisional Signs 1914–1918'', John Player and sons, 1920s. British Army divisional insignia Divisions of the United Kingdom in World War I Infantry divisions of the British Army in World War II British armoured divisions British Indian Army divisions Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II British military uniforms