unknown formation badge, help please..
 

Hi,
I have purchased a small lot of british and canadian cloth badges and among them I have found this one. It seems to have been worn in Middle East, North Africa or Italy but I can not find which unit it corresponds to, Maybe Royal Engineers...
Normandie18
Attachment 283937Attachment 283938

A remarkably imaginative design! Possibly worn by one of the very simple Indian Infantry Divisions signs authorised by Indian Army Instruction (IAI) 232 of 1942: New Divisional signs (all with 2in sides except rectangle (3in x 2in) and circle (2indiameter). In this case, it could have been worn by 20 Indian Div (a Blue Diamond) or 23 Indian Div (a Blue Square). This order was rescinded in 1944 by IAI 85 of 1944.

Thanks Mike it sounds good ! Moreover the material at the back of the badge looks like indian aertex...
Normandie18

In the "small lot" that you purchased are there other as yet unidentified items that you could show us?

No other badges I can't recognize. Badges are purchased from Bosleys just for one, quite rare, I want to won...I am sure you will find it :D
All the best
Normandie18
Attachment 283950

Although a bit damaged the 56 Inf Bde sign is a nice example. I always have to look twice at the blue/yellow shields to ensure that they are HQ British Troops Low Countries and not the rare yellow/blue shield of Brussels Sub-Area. The latter was referred to by the warriors of 51st Highland Division as the "cross of shame" (the term REMF had not in 1944/45 been coined!)

You are right Mike, the felt of 1st pattern 56th brigade is very fragile...
I didn't know what REMF meant and https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/REMF now I see what you mean :D
Normandie18

The source of that gem of information ("cross of shame") was a Captain RA in 51st Highland Division. He and his men were very critical of the hordes of soldiers of all ranks who managed to find comfortable employment in Brussels throughout the last winter of World War 2 (while Scotland alone managed to provided three Infantry Divisions to the final stages of the battle for Germany). .

Thanks for your explanation Mike
Normandie18