Unknown Green Diamond white 8 badge -National Service

[MH331]

Can anyone identify this green diamond white eight badge? came with a lot of post WW2 cloth badges.

Thanks

Mark

[manchesters]

Mark,

See here from a couple of days ago.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...hlight=ardwick

I am always wary of items sewn onto cloth like the one you have shown!

regards

[MH331]

Thanks Simon,

So a 1960s helmet cover badge based on a late WW1 design or just a copy?

regards

Mark

[manchesters]

Mark,

No, sorry its definatley not the helmet one which is of a modern type 'nylon' thread type of construction (dont know the official term).

The 42nd Div battalions the Manchesters were in seemed to wear red on yellow in the 127th Brigade and white on green in the 126th Brigade and some Battalions such as the 8th moved around in it thus producing the two colours.

The 42nd were one of the few Divs to continue to use WW1 Div signs post WW1 and I have several versions of the red on yellow inc. WW1, WW2, Post WW2 and printed.

I dont have the WW1 white on green but yours is definately not manufactured like the WW1 ones and if real is post WW1.

I am ashamed to say I dont know the sequence of Brigades that the 8th remained in from 1918 to 1969 and at some point the must have transferred back and forth to produce the various colours.

I would date yours be manufacture to post WW2 again depending on their Brigade.

As you know it is a well known practice of deceipt to sew Div signs onto a bit of BD or Blanket to hide the obviously fake rears and you would have to remove yours from its backing to be sure. based on the description of the other items you bought it with I would err on the side of it being genuine at this point and probably post WW2.

If anyone can show a sequence of which Brigade the 8th was in for the time period from 1918 to 1969 I would be grateful.

If this badge doesnt fit into your collection and its genuine I would be happy to own it.

regards

[Postwarden]

The modern version as referred to by Simon.

In the revived TA of 1947 the 8th Manchesters served in 127 (East Lancs) Brigade of 42nd Division.

In October 1951 the 8th Battalion was authorised to wear a red 8 on a yellow diamond on the left arm a sign originally adopted in February 1916 when the 1st/8th Battalion joined the 42nd Division. There is evidence however that the battalion was already wearing it unofficially in May 1949.

Jon

[manchesters]

Thanks Jon

[MH331]

Here is the reverse of the Green Diamond.

Mark

[manchesters]

Looks good to me.

regards

[Staffsyeoman]

Fuzzy memory, but wasn't the green diamond/white 8 also worn by 5/8 King's?

[manchesters]

Originally Posted by Staffsyeoman

Fuzzy memory, but wasn't the green diamond/white 8 also worn by 5/8 King's?

Read post #2 for explaination