Formation signs at the division level were first introduced in the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. 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 a ...

divisions continued to wear them before 1939. Reintroduced officially in late 1940 in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, 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.

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.)

Infantry

File:Formation sign of the Guards Infantry Division in the First World War.svg, Guards Division 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 DivisionChappell 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 8th Division, 8th Infantry Division or 8th Armored Division may refer to: Infantry divisions * 8th Division (Australia) * 8th Canadian Infantry Division * 8th Air Division (People's Republic of China) * 8th Division (1st Formation) (People's Repu ...

File:9th Division ww1.jpg,

9th (Scottish) Division The 9th (Scottish) Division, was an infantry division of the British Army during the First World War, one of the Kitchener's Army divisions raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener to serve on the Western Front during the First World War. A ...

Chappell p. 11 File:10th-irish-div-symbol.png, 10th (Irish) Division File:British 11th (Northern) Division Insignia.png, 11th (Northern) Division File:British 12th (Eastern) Division Insignia.png, 12th (Eastern) Division File:British 13th (Western) Division Insignia.png, 13th (Western) Division File:British 14th (Light) Division Insignia.png, 14th (Light) Division File:British 15th (Scottish) Division Insignia.png, 15th (Scottish) DivisionChappell pp. 27, 44 File:British 16th (Irish) Division Insignia.png, 16th (Irish) DivisionChappell p. 13 File:British 17th (Northern) Division Insignia.png, 17th (Northern) Division File:18th (Eastern) Division WW1.svg, 18th (Eastern) Division File:19th (Western) Division Insignia WWI.svg, 19th (Western) Division File:20th (Light) Division sign World War 1.svg, 20th (Light) DivisionChappell 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 File:WW1 Div 37.jpg, 37th Division File:38th Welsh Division dragon emblem (vectored).svg, 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division 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 File:46th Division ww1.svg, 46th (North Midland) Division File:British 47th (2nd London) Division insignia.png, 47th (1/2nd London) Division File:48th (South Midland) Division insignia (WW1).png, 48th (South Midland) DivisionChappell p. 24 File:British 49th (West Riding) Division insignia.png, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division File:50 div WW1.jpg, 50th (Northumbrian) Division File:British 51st (Highland) Division Insignia.png, 51st (Highland) DivisionChappell 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 (Lowland ...

File:53rd div WW1.jpg, 53rd (Welsh) Division File:54th division sign WW1.svg, 54th DivisionChappell p. 36 File:55thDivision (7 leaf) WW1.svg, 55th (West Lancashire) Division File:British 56th (1st London) Division insignia.png, 56th (London) Infantry Division File:57th Division ww1.svg, 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division File:59th Division ww1.svg, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division File:British 60th (London) Division Insignia.png,

60th (2/2nd London) Division The 60th (2/2nd London) Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised during the First World War. It was the second line-formation of the 47th (1/2nd London) Division, and was the second of two such Territorial Force divisions for ...

File:61st division ww1.svg,

61st (2nd South Midland) Division The 61st (2nd South Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised in 1915 during the Great War as a second-line reserve for the first-line battalions of the 48th (South Midland) Division. The division was sent to the We ...

File:62nd div WW1.jpg,

62nd (2nd West Riding) Division The 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division was an infantry division of the British Army that saw active service on the Western Front during the First World War. History During the First World War the division fought on the Western Front at Bulle ...

File:63rd (Naval) division WW1.svg,

63rd (Royal Naval) Division The 63rd (Royal Naval) Division was a United Kingdom infantry division of the First World War. It was originally formed as the Royal Naval Division at the outbreak of the war, from Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists and volunteers, who we ...

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 the w ...

File:British 74th (Yeomanry) Division Insignia.png,

74th (Yeomanry) Division The 74th (Yeomanry) Division was a Territorial Force infantry division formed in Palestine in early 1917 from three dismounted yeomanry brigades. It served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War, mostly as part of XX Corps. ...

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 File:15th indian div WW1.svg, 15th Indian Division File:17th indian division WW1.jpg, 17th Indian Division File:18th indian division WW1.jpg, 18th Indian Division

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 File:2nd Canadian Division formation patch.svg, 2nd Canadian Division File:3 Canadian Infantry Division patch.png, 3rd Canadian Division File:4 Canadian Armoured Division patch.svg, 4th Canadian Division File:1st aus div 1st var ww1.svg, 1st Australian Division
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 File:4th aus div.svg, 4th Australian Division File:5th aus div (militia).svg, 5th Australian Division

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 A combat uniform, also called field uniform, battledress or military fatigues, is a casual type of uniform used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for everyday fieldwork and combat duty purposes, as opposed to 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 A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles (trains, trams), ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. 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 siege ...

, red and blue, Service Corps, yellow and blue,

RAMC The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps a ...

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 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. 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 Divisi ...

File:8th Infantry Division WW2.svg, 8th Infantry DivisionCole p. 38 File:9th Division ww1.jpg,

9th (Highland) Infantry Division The 9th (Highland) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army, formed just prior to the start of the Second World War. In March 1939, after the re-emergence of Germany as a significant military power and its occupation of ...

Variant in white metal. File:12th British Infantry Division WW2.svg, 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division 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) DivisionCole 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 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 DivisionCole p. 43 File:48 inf div -vector.svg, 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division 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 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 (Lowland ...

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 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 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 77th Division or 75th Infantry Division may refer to: * 77th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht), Germany * 77th Infantry Division of Khurasan, Iran * 77th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) * 77th Division (People's Republic of China) * 77th 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 The Royal Marine Brigade and subsequent Royal Marine Division were amphibious warfare units formed by the United Kingdom, British Royal Marines at the start of the World War II, Second World War. The composition of both units was almost const ...

Armoured

File:Guards armoured.svg,

Guards Armoured Division The Guards Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army during the Second World War. The division was created in the United Kingdom on 17 June 1941 during the Second World War from elements of the Guards units, the Grenadier G ...

Cole 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 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 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 Armou ...

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 The 79th Armoured Division was a specialist armoured division of the British Army created during the Second World War. The division was created as part of the preparations for the Normandy invasion on 6 June 1944, D-Day. Major-General Percy ...

Airborne

File:UK 6th Airborne Division Patch.svg, 1st Airborne Division 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 DivisionCole p. 77
The Chindits. File:4th indian infantry div.svg, 4th Indian Division File:Ball of fire insignia of the Indian 5th Infantry Division.jpg, 5th Indian DivisionCole p. 78 File:6th indian infantry div.svg,

6th Infantry Division (India) The 6th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II, created on 1 March 1941 in Secunderabad. On 11 September 1941 it was shipped to the Iraq and later Iran. During 1942 and 1943 it was part of the Tenth Ar ...

File:7th Indian Infantry Division.svg, 7th Indian Infantry DivisionCole p. 79 File:8th indian infantry division.svg,

8th Indian Infantry Division The 8th Mountain Division was raised as the 8th Indian Infantry division of the British Indian Army. It is now part of the Indian Army and specialises in mountain warfare. The 8th Indian Infantry Division was formed as an infantry division in ...

File:9th indian infantry division.svg, 9th Indian Infantry Division File:10th Indian Division ww2.svg, 10th Indian Infantry DivisionCole 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 File:19th indian division.svg,

19th Indian Infantry Division The 19th Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II, and played a prominent part in the final part of the Burma Campaign. History The 19th Indian Infantry Division was raised in Secunderabad, Ind ...

File:20th indian infantry div.svg, 20th Indian Infantry Division File:21st indian infantry div.svg, 21st Indian Infantry DivisionCole p. 82 File:23rd indian infantry div.svg, 23rd Indian Infantry Division File:25th indian division.svg, 25th Indian Infantry Division File:26th indian infantry div.svg, 26th Indian Infantry Division 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 was ...

Cole p. 83 File:36 inf div -vector.svg, 36th Indian Division File:39th indian.svg, 39th Indian Infantry Division File:44th Indian Airborne.svg, 44th Indian Airborne Division File:11th (Africa) division.svg,

11th (African) Division 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 ...

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

Cole p. 92 File:82nd WA div.svg, 82nd (West Africa) Division

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 The Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF, or Second AIF) was the name given to the volunteer expeditionary force of the Australian Army in the Second World War. It was formed following the declaration of war on Nazi Germany, with an initial ...

(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 File:3 Canadian Infantry Division patch.png, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division 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 The 6th Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Canadian Army, formed in 1942 during the Second World War. It was attached to Pacific Command. The division had a brigade sent to the Aleutian Islands Campaign, particularly at ...

File:7 Canadian Infantry Division patch.svg,

7th Canadian Infantry Division The 7th Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Canadian Army, mobilized in the spring of 1942 and assigned for home defence within Atlantic Command, during World War II. At the time it was assumed it would consist of volunte ...

File:8 Canadian Infantry Division patch.png,

8th Canadian Infantry Division The 8th Canadian Infantry Division was a military formation of the Canadian Army that served within Pacific Command in Western Canada during World War II. The Division units were raised on 18 March 1942 and the HQ was raised on 12 May 1942 at Pri ...

File:1SADivB vector.svg, 1st Infantry Division (South Africa)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) File:2nd Aust Armd Div(AWM 129661).svg, 2nd Armoured Division (Australia)
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)
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
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 Anti-Aircraft Command (AA Command, or "Ack-Ack Command") was a British Army command of the Second World War that controlled the Territorial Army anti-aircraft artillery and searchlight formations and units defending the United Kingdom. Origin ...

sign. File:1AA Div.svg, 1st Anti-Aircraft DivisionCole p. 54 File:2nd AA div.svg,

2nd Anti-Aircraft Division The 2nd Anti-Aircraft Division (2nd AA Division) was an Air Defence formation of the British Army from 1935 to 1942. It controlled anti-aircraft gun and searchlight units of the Territorial Army (TA) defending the East Midlands and East Anglia ...

File:3rd AA div.jpg, 3rd Anti-Aircraft Division 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 Division The Devon and Cornwall County Division was a County Division of the British Army created during the Second World War. It was formed on 28 February 1941, from recently recruited soldiers, in response to the renewed threat of a German invasion. The ...

Cole p. 58 File:Dorset County Division Insignia.svg,

Dorset County Division The Dorset County Division was formed on 24 February 1941. However it did not take over operational commitments from Southern Area until March 10 and it did not finally assume command of its allocated infantry brigades until 24 April. It only h ...

File:Durham County Division -vector.svg,

Durham and North Riding County Division The Durham and North Riding County Division was a coastal defence formation of the British Army during the Second World War. It existed only from 12 March 1941 until 1 December 1941, when it was redesignated Durham and North Riding Coastal Area a ...

File:Essex County Division -vector.svg,

Essex County Division The Essex County Division was a short-lived formation of the British Army formed in the Second World War on 18 February 1941 by the redesignation of the West Sussex County Division. It was disbanded on 7 October. It had one commanding officer, ...

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 of H ...

File:LincolnshireCounty Division Insignia.jpg,

Lincolnshire County Division The Lincolnshire County Division was a short-lived formation of the British Army, formed in the Second World War. The headquarters were formed on 24 February 1941, becoming operational on 27 March. It ceased to function on 25 November and was di ...

Cole p. 59 File:Northumbrian County Division -vector.svg,

Northumberland County Division The Northumberland County Division was a formation of the British Army in the Second World War, its headquarters were formed on 24 February 1941. It ceased to function on 1 December 1941, and the headquarters were disbanded on 21 December 1941. I ...

File:Westsussex county.svg,

West Sussex County Division The West Sussex County Division was a formation of the British Army, raised in the Second World War and formed by the redesignation of Brocforce on 9 November 1940. On 18 February 1941, the headquarters was redesignated as the Essex County Divi ...

Redesignated as the Essex County Division on 18 February 1941. File:Yorkshire County Division -vector.svg,

Yorkshire County Division The Yorkshire County Division was a formation of the British Army in the Second World War, its headquarters were formed on 24 February 1941, and became operation on 19 March. It was commanded by three officers, Major-General the Hon E. F. Lawso ...

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 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, 5th Division File:13th div PW.svg, 13th Infantry Division
Greece, late 1945 - 1946. File:17th Black Cat Infantry Division.jpg, 17th Gurkha Division 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, 50th (Northumbrian) Division File:51 inf div -vector.svg, 51st (Highland) Division File:52 inf div PW -vector.svg,

File:53 inf div -vector.svg,

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: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, 6th Armoured DivisionCole (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 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'' is used because the ...

and the implementation of

Options for Change Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in summer 1990 after the end of the Cold War. Until this point, UK military strategy had been almost entirely focused on defending Western Europe against the Soviet Armed Forces, ...

. 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