British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Recent Books by Forum Members

   

Go Back   British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum > British Military Insignia > Formation Signs and Patches

 Other Pages: Galleries, Links etc.
Glossary  Books by Forum Members     Canadian Pre 1914    CEF    CEF Badge Inscriptions   Canadian post 1920     Canadian post 1953     British Cavalry Badges     Makers' Marks    Pipers' Badges  Canadian Cloth Titles  Books  SEARCH
 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-06-17, 11:11 PM
Phill Lockett's Avatar
Phill Lockett Phill Lockett is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Auckland NZ
Posts: 762
Default 231st Independent Infantry Brigade Group

Hi there

I have noticed there are several variations of 231st Formation sign.

Are these attributed to the various title and order of battle changes?

The shield shape (recently won) theatre made Malta or Italy?.

Square point down shield (from the internet).

Square shaped IWM INS 6152

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30072097

cheers

Phill
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 231st Infantry Bde.jpg (44.1 KB, 5 views)
File Type: jpg 231st Infantry Bde reverse.jpg (53.9 KB, 1 views)
File Type: jpg 231st Bde.jpg (92.3 KB, 3 views)
File Type: jpg 231st Inf. Bde#3.jpg (10.8 KB, 3 views)

Last edited by Phill Lockett; 05-06-17 at 01:16 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-06-17, 01:14 AM
lettman lettman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,071
Default

I've always liked the 231st sign -- here are mine: one very 'regular' and the other more 'homemade'.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 231st 1 001.jpg (37.7 KB, 13 views)
File Type: jpg 231st 2 001.jpg (45.4 KB, 9 views)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-06-17, 04:58 AM
Mike Jackson's Avatar
Mike Jackson Mike Jackson is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,329
Default

Given that 231 Inf Bde served in Malta, Sicily, North Africa and Italy (and eventually in NW Europe) there was ample scope for signs to be locally procured - there are myriad detailed variations. I believe that the embroidered felt and printed square format sign is that of the post-WW2 Malta Garrison. Mike
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-06-17, 05:17 AM
Mike Jackson's Avatar
Mike Jackson Mike Jackson is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,329
Default 231 Inf Bde

Here is the sign being worn on the right arm only (?) by the Bde Comd, Brig Roy Urquhart late HLI. Image taken in Sicily c Aug 43.
231 Inf Bde _ Brig Roy Urquhart late HLI_Sicily.jpg
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-06-17, 05:50 AM
Phill Lockett's Avatar
Phill Lockett Phill Lockett is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Auckland NZ
Posts: 762
Default

Thanks Mike


With the different title changes would or could that refer to the shape of the design used?(Howard Cole Formation badges).
Malta Infantry Brigade.
Southern Infantry Brigade.
1st Malta Infantry Brigade.
231st Infantry Brigade.
231st Independent Infantry Brigade.

Thanks also to lettman for showing more examples.

Phill
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-06-17, 07:46 AM
lettman lettman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,071
Default

Potentially you could provide a different label for each variant. The ideal collector's item!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-06-17, 07:53 AM
lettman lettman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,071
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Jackson View Post
Given that 231 Inf Bde served in Malta, Sicily, North Africa and Italy (and eventually in NW Europe) there was ample scope for signs to be locally procured - there are myriad detailed variations. I believe that the embroidered felt and printed square format sign is that of the post-WW2 Malta Garrison. Mike
Actually, I just checked some sources and find that the postwar Malta Garrison sign had a central black band across the red shield with a small Maltese Cross on it. See Cole, Badges on Battledress, 1953 edn, p.50.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-06-17, 08:01 AM
Mike Jackson's Avatar
Mike Jackson Mike Jackson is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,329
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lettman View Post
Actually, I just checked some sources and find that the postwar Malta Garrison sign had a central black band across the red shield with a small Maltese Cross on it. See Cole, Badges on Battledress, 1953 edn, p.50.
I believe that this was the HQ sign - units wore the Maltese Cross on a red square. Mike
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-06-17, 08:43 AM
Mike Jackson's Avatar
Mike Jackson Mike Jackson is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,329
Default

Here are a couple from my collection - the faded red felt seems to be typical of many of these signs. Mike
231 Inf Bde.01.jpg
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-06-17, 12:26 PM
lettman lettman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,071
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Jackson View Post
I believe that this was the HQ sign - units wore the Maltese Cross on a red square. Mike
OK, I see the distinction. But it all boils down to a very interesting sign with lots of variations.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-06-17, 01:24 PM
GTB's Avatar
GTB GTB is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Malta
Posts: 2,645
Default

Top - 231st Inf Bde; felt & embroidered,shield pattern; worn singly.

Bottom - Royal Malta Artillery (Territorials), 1960s; square, printed versions, pair; worn on both shoulders of KD uniform

GTB
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Malta FS.jpg (54.1 KB, 18 views)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-06-17, 01:28 PM
lettman lettman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,071
Default

Thanks for these -- and from Malta, too.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-06-17, 02:34 PM
Mike Jackson's Avatar
Mike Jackson Mike Jackson is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,329
Default

Sticking with Malta - the rare Malta Comd Sigs Regt (Left) and the common Malta sign worn by an NCO in 234 Sigs Sqn (Malta) c 1955. Mike
Malta Comd Sigs Regt.01.jpgima706.jpg
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-06-17, 06:11 PM
Phill Lockett's Avatar
Phill Lockett Phill Lockett is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Auckland NZ
Posts: 762
Default

Thanks to all

Please post more, turning into an interesting thread. Albeit the one I showed in the first post, Square top with point down shield seems to be the odd shaped one out. Any thoughts?

Phill
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-06-17, 08:07 PM
Mike Jackson's Avatar
Mike Jackson Mike Jackson is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,329
Default

The "squared off" shield - just very crudely made I think - nothing more significant than that. This thread has made me wonder how the Brigades on Malta identified themselves. For examples From Jul 41 - May 42 there were three Inf Bde on Malta (231, 232 and 233). In May 42 with the arrival of 234 Inf Bde there were a total of four. The reduction started in Mar 43 when 231 Inf Bde left the Island for North Africa. So how could the CMP and Maltese civilian police tell theses formations apart?
From my notes:
234 Indep Inf Bde: In the Nov 45 issue of the RIF Gazette “Faugh-a-Ballagh” 234 Independent Infantry Brigade, which left Malta on 11 July 1943 and which was destined to end its war on Leros, wore a formation sign, described as a Maltese Cross.
231 Indep Inf Bde: “Sign adopted on leaving Malta in April 1943 in order to compensate for the lack of “Malta” in the title.”

Comments would be very welcome. Mike
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

mhs link

All times are GMT. The time now is 01:08 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.