Found the following on GWF relating to a scene in a movie.
Q. As the camera follows him from behind, we see a small red, white & blue ribbon in inverted V shape pinned to the back of his tunic just below the collar.
Can anyone tell me exactly what this ribbon represents?
A. It is a battle patch or tactical sign/flash (the terms used vary) and introduced in the lead up to the Somme offensive that commenced 1st July 1916. The intent was battlefield recognition and within Divisions many Brigades had a variety of shapes and colours on upper arms and upper back to show the identity of battalions and their ‘place’ (seniority according to the Army list) within the formation. In part this reflected that the wearing of steel helmets without any cap badge made all soldiers and officers look very similar, thus making battlefield progress reporting, when observing through binoculars and telescopes very difficult. The colours used often related to the ‘regimental ribbon’ that proliferated before the war.
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