Quote:
Originally Posted by Postwarden
In the absence of any other comments I though I'd add a few line.
I'm interested to know why this is attributed to the 9th Army Ski School in the Middle East. Given that KD was almost ubiquitous in that part of the world it seems unlikely that this is a trade badge worn there where sleeves would have been rolled up most of the time.
The following is from my forthcoming cloth badge book
With an ideal climate for the task a Winter Warfare School was established near Iceland’s main herring fishery at Akureyri. In February 1942 GOC Iceland Force asked War Office permission for the school’s staff to wear an arm badge, specimens of which ‘will be forwarded as soon as available’, a statement suggesting that the badges had already been manufactured. Although refused - War Office policy dictated that schools could not wear badges - an appropriate badge was produced. Although the War Office refused a distinguishing badge for qualified skiers in the same month, the coincidence of dates suggests that the badge shown (which is the one you show) may have been introduced by the school regardless.
A footnote records that:
As several examples of this badge have been recorded it was clearly not a one off. It has also been suggested that it could be connected with the 9th Army ski school established later in the Middle East.
As you can see I have been unable to find positive information on the badge shown but I am more inclined to think it's a badge for qualified skiers rather than a School or Unit sign.
Happy as always to be proved wrong.
Jon
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It was the seller's statement, Jon, you're perfectly right: it could be of any Mountain and Ski Warfare School but I was - and I am glad to see that you confirming it - unaware that Schools had their distinctive insignia. On the other hand, in all the pics I have seen of the Cedars Mount Ski school personnell is wearing battle dress blouses and and the white or drab smocks, being not really keen, probably, to wear KDs at such temperatures! :-D