SINGAPORE DISTRICT FORMATION SIGNS
 

Attachment 59433

Attachment 59434

Attachment 59435



Dear British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum members and Members
of the Heraldry Society,

Could anybody give me any information of the 3 Patterns of
the SINGAPORE DISTRICT FORMATION Signs as to when or which period
these 3 stages or patterns of formation signs were used.
Attached please find the 3 patterns. Will be glad if anybody
can provide the specific year these signs were used in SINGAPORE.
Thanking all of you in advance.

Best Regards,
GURKHA RIFLES:)

Hi Gurkha Rifles. The third example was certainly in use during the mid-Sixties as I was sent one by Major John Waring of the DLI when he was Secretary of the Military Heraldry Society while he was stationed at HQ, FARELF. He was shortly to retire to Norfolk, I think. It may have coincided with Britain pulling out of Singapore and everywhere "east of Suez".
David

I believe the first pattern illustrated was the first Ordnance issue post-Liberation in August 1945. These sign appear to be Indian-made. The tailor-made pattern could have been privately purchased anytime between then and the mid 1960s. To my personal knowledge (I served in Singapore 1965-67) the Ordnance issue pattern worn universally in the period 1965-67 (and probably before and after those dates) was the third pattern illustrated. They were usually sewn onto Shirts, Cellular OG and hence were "dhobied-away" to a very faded image after a few months.

SINGAPORE FORMATION SIGNS
 

Hello there,

I recall my father wearing the 1st pattern from 1951 - 1954 whilst serving with the BMH Singapore. It was described in his papers as the sign of Singapore Base District and later Singapore District.

I wore the 2nd pattern in 1952 on my Scout uniform on the neck scarf.

I have 2 school swimming certificates with the 3rd pattern being printed thereon signed by a General O'Carroll-Scott (Rubber stamp signature) the GOC. The year was 1954. At one time this sign was described as 'a Liger pi55ing up a palm tree'.

I can confirm the accuracy of the last sentence above! Alternatively - an advertisment for Tiger beer.

SINGAPORE DISTRICT FS
 

The word Liger is not an error, the image seemed to be a cross between a lion and a tiger! Slightly off topic, we found that on arrival in theatre the initial 3 tiger beers were a better laxative than could be provided by the MO!:eek: Same could be said for Anchor! Happy days.:D

SINGAPORE DISTRICT FORMATION SIGNS
 

Dear David, Mike and Oriskany,
Thank-you very much for your valuable
information. Now the puzzle is more or less forming up a clear picture.
Hope to hear more from the Military Heraldry Society members too.
Thanks and regards,
GURKHA RIFLES:)

Great Singapore patches - The embroided pair is a ripper
I have also seen bullion thread version and a bevo weave version
The bevo weave version may have been a boy scout patch ?
Cheers Steve

SINGAPORE DISTRICT FORMATION SIGNS
 

Dear Hendo,
Thank-you very much for you valuable information.

Cheers and Regards,

Gurkha Rifles:)

Badge used in The Virgin Soldiers
 

In the film The Virgin Soldiers, set in Singapore and Malaya in 1950, and shot on location there, the soldiers are wearing the third pattern badges.

1951 photos
 

Some photos from the Singapore Archives showing the second pattern, embroidered version of the patch, in November 1951.

General Officer Commanding of Singapore Base District Major-General A G O'Carroll Scott (right) chatting with army officers during his visit to Singapore Volunteer Corps

GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING AT SINGAPORE VOLUNTEER CORPS' CAMP

GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING OF SINGAPORE BASE DISTRICT MAJOR-GENERAL A G O'CARROLL SCOTT VISITS SINGAPORE VOLUNTEER CORPS (SVC)