{{Distinguish, field mark
A field sign is an unofficial differencing mark worn on a combatant's clothing to show the difference between friend and foe or a combatant and a civilian.
Examples
*A
tabard
A tabard is a type of short coat that was commonly worn by men during the late Middle Ages and early modern period in Europe. Generally worn outdoors, the coat was either sleeveless or had short sleeves or shoulder pieces. In its more develope ...
in the livery colors of a lord and bearing his coat of arms was a common field sign.
*A sash of colored cloth worn on the waist or over the shoulder.
**A red sash was worn by Imperial and Catholic troops of the
Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of battl ...
.
**A black and yellow sash was worn by Swedish troops of the Thirty Years War.
*A bow of ribbon worn on the cap or hat.
**A black bow was worn by the troops of the House of Hanover.
**A white bow was worn by the House of Bourbon.
**A red bow was worn by the House of Savoy.
**An orange bow was worn by the House of Orange.
*The
cockade
A cockade is a knot of ribbons, or other circular- or oval-shaped symbol of distinctive colours which is usually worn on a hat or cap.
Eighteenth century
In the 18th and 19th centuries, coloured cockades were used in Europe to show the alleg ...
(made originally of ribbon, cloth, or leather) is the best known type of field sign. The national and military insignia of most of the countries of Europe still use them today.
*Scottish clans had plant
badges
A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fi ...
that they wore in battle to tell foe from ally.
*The Welsh leek badge (now believed to be a "St. Mary's Leek", or Dandelion) goes back to the Middle Ages. In 633 AD the Welsh were sorely pressed by the invading Saxons. They met at the Battle of Heathfield, where there was a field filled with leeks. To distinguish themselves from the enemy, the Welsh wore the leeks in their hats—and subsequently gained a great victory over their enemies. To commemorate the victory they won, the Welsh soldiers were given the right to wear a leek pinned to their caps on 1 March, the feast of their national patron saint, St. David.
*A wheat sheath around the arm was worn by Swedish troops of the House of Vasa.
*Irish Protestants and Ulster Unionists still wear the orange ribbon of the House of Orange today in their caps on 12 July " King Billy's Day". This commemorates the defeat of James II's Jacobite troops by the forces of
William, Prince of Orange
William, Prince of Orange (Willem Nicolaas Alexander Frederik Karel Hendrik; 4 September 1840 – 11 June 1879), was heir apparent to the Dutch throne as the eldest son of King William III from 17 March 1849 until his death.
Early life
Prince Wi ...
.
* Giuseppe Garibaldi's followers, who became the nucleus of the irregular ''Cacciatori delle alpi'' corps in 1859, wore their red shirts when they fought the Austrians.
See also
*
War flag
A war flag, also known as a military flag, battle flag, or standard, is a variant of a national flag for use by a country's military forces when on land. The nautical equivalent is a naval ensign. Under the strictest sense of the term, few countri ...