231st Independent Infantry Brigade Group
 

Hi there

I have noticed there are several variations of 231st Formation sign.

Are these attributed to the various title and order of battle changes?

The shield shape (recently won) theatre made Malta or Italy?.

Square point down shield (from the internet).

Square shaped IWM INS 6152

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30072097

cheers

Phill

I've always liked the 231st sign -- here are mine: one very 'regular' and the other more 'homemade'.

Given that 231 Inf Bde served in Malta, Sicily, North Africa and Italy (and eventually in NW Europe) there was ample scope for signs to be locally procured - there are myriad detailed variations. I believe that the embroidered felt and printed square format sign is that of the post-WW2 Malta Garrison. Mike

231 Inf Bde
 

Here is the sign being worn on the right arm only (?) by the Bde Comd, Brig Roy Urquhart late HLI. Image taken in Sicily c Aug 43.
Attachment 171594

Thanks Mike


With the different title changes would or could that refer to the shape of the design used?(Howard Cole Formation badges).
Malta Infantry Brigade.
Southern Infantry Brigade.
1st Malta Infantry Brigade.
231st Infantry Brigade.
231st Independent Infantry Brigade.

Thanks also to lettman for showing more examples.

Phill

Potentially you could provide a different label for each variant. The ideal collector's item!

Actually, I just checked some sources and find that the postwar Malta Garrison sign had a central black band across the red shield with a small Maltese Cross on it. See Cole, Badges on Battledress, 1953 edn, p.50.

I believe that this was the HQ sign - units wore the Maltese Cross on a red square. Mike

Here are a couple from my collection - the faded red felt seems to be typical of many of these signs. Mike
Attachment 171595

OK, I see the distinction. But it all boils down to a very interesting sign with lots of variations.

Top - 231st Inf Bde; felt & embroidered,shield pattern; worn singly.

Bottom - Royal Malta Artillery (Territorials), 1960s; square, printed versions, pair; worn on both shoulders of KD uniform

GTB

Thanks for these -- and from Malta, too.

Sticking with Malta - the rare Malta Comd Sigs Regt (Left) and the common Malta sign worn by an NCO in 234 Sigs Sqn (Malta) c 1955. Mike
Attachment 171635Attachment 171636

Thanks to all

Please post more, turning into an interesting thread. Albeit the one I showed in the first post, Square top with point down shield seems to be the odd shaped one out. Any thoughts?

Phill

The "squared off" shield - just very crudely made I think - nothing more significant than that. This thread has made me wonder how the Brigades on Malta identified themselves. For examples From Jul 41 - May 42 there were three Inf Bde on Malta (231, 232 and 233). In May 42 with the arrival of 234 Inf Bde there were a total of four. The reduction started in Mar 43 when 231 Inf Bde left the Island for North Africa. So how could the CMP and Maltese civilian police tell theses formations apart?
From my notes:
234 Indep Inf Bde: In the Nov 45 issue of the RIF Gazette “Faugh-a-Ballagh” 234 Independent Infantry Brigade, which left Malta on 11 July 1943 and which was destined to end its war on Leros, wore a formation sign, described as a Maltese Cross.
231 Indep Inf Bde: “Sign adopted on leaving Malta in April 1943 in order to compensate for the lack of “Malta” in the title.”
Comments would be very welcome. Mike