56th London Division

[loupie1961]

Three different formation insignia, different sizes, shades of cloth and even outlines of the black cat: any hints as to vintage and place of production?

[blackpowder44]

Originally Posted by loupie1961

Three different formation insignia, different sizes, shades of cloth and even outlines of the black cat: any hints as to vintage and place of production?

This was a WWII Div.all your cats are basically the same format i.e. squarer background with "fat cat". the other version is a rectangular red background with a much slimmer cat. The last one shown is a posher hand embroidered one and very nice. John.

[loupie1961]

Originally Posted by blackpowder44

This was a WWII Div.all your cats are basically the same format i.e. squarer background with "fat cat". the other version is a rectangular red background with a much slimmer cat. The last one shown is a posher hand embroidered one and very nice. John.

John, the last one was bought in Poland some 25 years ago, and therefore it is very likely that this is an Italian theater made badge brought home by a veteran...

[NEMO]

HI further to Johns reply i can add a little more regarding the shape of the cat and how to date the age of the badge.

In April 1944 when the division arrived in Egypt from Italy the goc general Templer passed comment that he thought the cat was too fat and comfortable looking and not at all warlike ,as supplies ran out he had the shape of the cat redesigned to look more combative , a large new stock of badges were made ( manufactured in the uk ) but i suspect locally ` theatre ` made ones turn up with the slimmer new designed cat as well .
hope this was of interest ,Nemo.

[loupie1961]

Originally Posted by NEMO

HI further to Johns reply i can add a little more regarding the shape of the cat and how to date the age of the badge.

In April 1944 when the division arrived in Egypt from Italy the goc general Templer passed comment that he thought the cat was too fat and comfortable looking and not at all warlike ,as suppiles ran out he had the shape of the cat redesigned to look more combative , a large new stock of badges were made ( manufactured in the uk ) but i suspect locally ` theatre ` made ones turn up with the slimmer new designed cat as well .
hope this was of interest ,Nemo.

Sure it was! Could you disclose your sources, Nemo?

[NEMO]

details are taken from a feature in the

` formation sign ` magazine issue 168 ( OCT 1993 ) and were supplied by one of uk`s leading and most respected cloth sign collectors , Mike jackson .

His research was taken from an unpublished history of the 56th division .Nemo.