47th Div WW1 formation sign questions
 

Did the 47th Division actually wear the eight-point star sign (the so-called 'Dutch tile') on the uniform (either during or post WW1), or do all cloth examples date only from its use as a Signals Regiment badge? The WW1 divisional history (which is an excellent resource, by the way) seems only to talk about it as a vehicle sign, but Cole in Badges on Battledress (p.148) says that 'after the First World War, all units continued to wear the badge'. I'm also unclear as to whether it should be depicted as a square or a diamond, as the sources vary.

47 Div
 

I cannot answer your specific question, but post-1922 TA Divisions were authorised to re-adopt their old wartime formation signs. Off-hand I cannot recall the exact ACI or Army Order that relates.
It is therefore possible that 47th Div could have worn the Dutch tile, but I have no evidence of it.

Stephen.

47th Division
 

According to its Divisional Routine Orders, in February 1925 47th (2nd London) Division reintroduced the ‘Dutch Tile’ sign worn in the First World ‘on the upper part of the sleeve with the two sides horizontal, the top of the badge three inches below the seam of the shoulder strap and in line with its centre’. The photo shows it worn by a soldier of the London Scottish.

The Tile disappeared when the two London Divisions were reduced to one in February 1936.

From 1956 until 1961 47th Signal Regiment, originally raised in 1908 as the Signal Company of 2nd London Division, wore the ‘Dutch tile’ which it retained when renamed 47th Signal Regiment (Middlesex Yeomanry), wearing it until 1967.

Two post WW1 examples:

QW & CSR
Colchester, 1927

Artists

Regards,

Chris

The tile as worn by 47th Signal Regiment.

Jon

The situation in 1938:
Attachment 191400

One further post-war veiw (QW&CSR):

Attachment 191401

Regards,

JT

Many thanks to all for your comprehensive responses. Clearly it was an item of uniform in the post-WW1 era. I wonder if it was worn during WW1 -- does anyone have any pictorial evidence?

Sorry, this does not answer your last question, but I thought it was interesting further detail:

Attachment 191484
From The Lambeth & Southwark Volunteers, by J M A Tamplin

Regards,

Chris

Nice additional information -- thanks, Chris.

Here is some pictorial evidence I just remembered seeing on the GWF:

47th Div patch

I am not sure you can 100% tell that the photograph discussed is Great War period, though it certainly looks to be and the fact it is ASC makes it more likely.

Regards,

Chris

This outstanding artwork dates from early 1920s - the 47 Div sign is 29mm square in original. There is no associated text.
Attachment 191535

Thanks again, Chris, even if the jury is still out on whether or not this is a WW1 period photo.

And thanks, Mike -- certainly an outstanding artefact of the early Modernist variety. Perhaps as worn by the regiments of Aelita Queen of Mars?!? ;)

From the same source, another example - 58th Division - known as "The Tower of London"
Attachment 191548

If you look closely at the attachment put up by Wilf in the '1919 Questionnaire' thread, you'll see that a red outline of the 58th Div castle shape was worn on front of the helmet by one of the battalions of the 4th London Regt from early 1918.