21 SAS insignia
 

Friends,

On request, I have turned a reply to another post in a separate thread.

Please find attached some pictures of the insignia configurations worn by 21 SAS from 1947 until battledress was phased out, sometime during the early seventies (in the TA at least, much earlier in the regular army).

What you can see is:

1) First insignia worn: a metal Mars & Minerva beret badge on a maroon beret, '21st S.A.S. (Artists)' shoulder titles on both shoulders, SAS wings and rectangular Winged Dagger arm badge on the right arm, worn from 1947 - 1954.

2) A change of shoulder titles to 'Special Air Service (Artists)' in 1954. I believe the pattern was sealed in March 1953 (the 'Special Air Service' title for 22 SAS was sealed in 1954. The shoulder titles have roughly the same dimensions).

3) A change of the Winged Dagger badge to the maroon beret and a new cloth Mars & Minerva badge to the right arm in May 1956. Many Winged Dagger arm badges were cut into shield shape and sewn onto the beret; various shapes can be observed, some very neat some more irregular.

4) Some time late 1956 the shoulder title changed to 'Special Air Service', the '(Artists)' bit was cut off. Here again, you can see differences in how the title was modified. Some were cut down very carefully, like the title illustrated, some were a bit mutiliated, so to say. Often, small remains of the ( ) can be seen as little pale blue dots.

In 21 SAS the sand coloured beret was introduced late 1957 - early 1958. The 'Special Air Service' shoulder title and M&M badge were worn until battledress was phased out, sometime during the early seventies.

I would be interested to learn when the Mars & Minerva arm badge was phased out. Was that on phasing out of battledress or earlier?

Who can tell me?

Cheers,

Johan

21 SAS beret
 

Friends,

See early (1968) sand colour beret worn by a member of 21.

You can see the beret badge has a rather crude shape, cut from the original arm badge and moved to maroon beret, then
to a sand beret.

Cheers,

Johan

21 SAS Mars & Minerva
 

Friends,

See example of insignia configuration of a 21 battledress.

This is the 4th configuration, with a cut-down shoulder title, in this case with little pale blue dots remaining of the brackets of "Artists". Cutting off the "(Artists)" bit of the shoulder title was a bit of a delicate job.

Note the M&M badge is worn facing backwards, a consequence of turning the beret badge into an arm badge and wearing it on the right sleeve...

I would be interested to know when the M&M badge was phased out. Together with battledress or earlier, possibly to align with the other SAS Regiments?

Cheers,

Johan

Very nice Johan, a helpful study on this topic, thanks for taking the time to photograph and post this.

Best
Jack

This is a fairly universal anser really

Battle Dress (No5 Dress as was) had two purposes, and was replaced in differant ways.

As a field Uniform it started to be replaced as a Temperate Climite Uniform (BAOR & UK) by Combat Dress 1960 Pattern (No8 Dress) or in the Para's & SF by the OG Trousers (Part of No9 Dress) with Para Smock (which as an over smock was classed as Protective Clothing i.e. No12 Dress) of differing pattons! From as the date surgests 1960ish

As a Walking Out & Dress Uniform it was replaced by No2 Uniform from 1962 onwards.

Now I know some TA units lingered on into the late 1960's but not much Battle Dress was issued after 1970

back in the 70's we
were still issued battledress trousers
for use in barracks

Johan

Very impresseive and perfect know-how.
I believe the first official refefence to the re-introduction of the tan beret, is 12th October 1956 when the war offoce dress committee approved to re-adopt the tan beret for all members of the sas regiment. The war office confirms this in a letter dated 2nd nov 1956 to HQ SAS regiment and stating that a proto type tan beret will be forwarded in due course to the colonel commandant for agreement.

Will try to locate this letter.

Cheers,
JB

There seems to be some confusion about the introduction of Number 2 dress. I was posted to 42 Field Regiment RA LAD in 1960 and No2s had already been issued to the regiment. Initially it was worn with a khaki peaked cap in the same material as the uniform but this was later replaced by the No 1 dress hat.

I think the question here is when was No 2 Dress issued to the Territorial Army and specifically to 21 SAS to replace Battle Dress? It is probably relevant that the TA suffered extensive reorganisation and reductions in the late 1960s and went throught the TAVR I, II and III restructure to emerge in the early 1970s as fewer and smaller formed units. So my view is that Battle Dress was withdrawn from the TA in the early 1970s.

See
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...highlight=TAVR

Tim

Battledress in 21 SAS
 

Friends,

I am informed in 1971 21 SAS were still wearing BD, reviewing introduction of nr. 2 dress.

In the TA the replacement of BD (for best dress) was definitely much later than in the regular army.

About the actual re-introduction of the sand beret: In 22 SAS this happened second half of 1957.

In 21 SAS it was a bit later, late 1957- early 1958. Rumour has it the occasional maroon beret was still worn during the 1959
Annual Camp in Germany...

Cheers,

Johan

Here is the document regarding the adoption of the tan beret.

Cheers,
JB

Good reference!
 

Hi JB,

Excellent reference!

Interestingly, they refer to the beret colour as 'tan'.

I have seen many different descriptions, including: sand, buff, beige, tan, fawn

Cheers,

Johan

also heard it called grey

As wrote in Post #5 is was a fairly general reply on what replaced Battle Dress, and some good replys based on it.

Re Post #9 - The officail issue date for No2 Dress was I beleave 1962, and if you were issued it in 1960 with a khaki peaked cap it may have been 'troop trails'

Johan,

You have some impressive stuff that's always nice to see. You almost make me want to change my collecting field!

Cheers