British-Indian Army Staff College

[Mike Jackson]

The relatively rare sign of the pre-Partition British-Indian Army Staff College. This example is 47mm x 38mm.
ima424.jpg

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

The relatively rare sign of the pre-Partition British-Indian Army Staff College. This example is 47mm x 38mm.
Attachment 156102

Indian Army Staff College.02.jpg A second example from my collection - interesting how the same design can, at the same time, be interpreted so differently. Mike

[Mike Jackson]

The method of attachment to the shirt sleeve is interesting too. Mike
Indian Army Staff College.03.jpg

[Postwarden]

I have often wondered why some British-Indian Army formation signs were made as both rectangles and shield-shaped - the most commonly encountered being that of GHQ India shown below.

The answer lies in Indian Army Instruction 913 of 1946 (month not yet established) which introduced a new series of Ordnance-issue signs for all Indian formations which were to be ‘printed in cotton cloth on a background in the shape of a shield’. Thus from that date at least officially, all signs worn by Indian formations were to be shield-shaped which explains the two staff college examples illustrated by Mike, although not the differences of manufacture.

These just post-war signs can be confused with some of the post-independence signs as the Indian Army retained shield-shaped signs, the majority of which are illustrated in Major Waring's identification pamphlet No 4 recently reprinted for sale to members of The Military Heraldry Society, a sample page of which is shown.

Jon

[Mike Jackson]

Jon,
Very useful information. This is my favourite - interesting "cross-cultures" in the design. Mike
Indian Airborne-post 1947.jpg