[grey_green_acorn]

A version of the rhino lived on when it was re-introduced as the formation sign of the 6th Armoured Brigade in BAOR. The Brigade (as 6th Infantry Brigade) moved back to Germany after a brief stay in the UK and was restructured as the 6th Armoured Brigade based in the Korbecke - Soest - Werl - Iserlohn area and occupying barracks formerly the home of 4th Canadian Mechanised Brigade Group. I was posted to the Brigade in 1972 and (being a badge collector) was asked by the Brigade Major to produce a sign based on the former 1st Armoured Division rhino. I copied a "standing" rhino from "Heraldry in War" by Howard Cole and in a white oval on a blue background it was taken into use for letterheads, plaques and building signs etc. It was not made up as a cloth formation badge because at that time, with the introduction of disruptive pattern material (dpm camouflage) combat kit, formation badges were not to be worn. Subsequently a version appeared in 1991 (see picture) as a printed badge and may have been worn by 11 MSG a REME unit during Gulf War 1. On the reorganisation of BAOR/British Forces Germany the surviving 1(UK) Armoured Division chose the more warlike charging rhino as its formation badge!