The scorpion sign dates from, probably, mid 1944 to 1945 in Italy. It was the sign worn by the joint RAC/RE specialist mine clearance unit entitled first - 1 Scorpion Regt RAC and later 1 Asslt Regt RAC/RE. Finally it was worn by 1 Armd Engr Regt RE.
The design was adopted because Scorpion was the generic name given to the first generation of mine clearing flail tanks, intitally in the Middle East, in the Second World War. In the early days so-called Scorpion Detachments of Matilda and Valentine flail tanke were allocated as required to Armd and Army Tk Bdes.
The sign - most examples of which that I have seen were locally made, are very rare indeed.
The other sign must be even rarer since in 40+ years of collecting I have never seen one before! If it ever needs a safe home ...........................
Mike
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27-08-12, 03:17 PM
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