21 SAS insignia

[johanwiegman]

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