ID thistle badge please

[charlie962]

Collar or beret or??, Unit ? Dates?

Traces of blacking on the wm thistle. Black backing cloth approx 37mm dia.

Thoughts please.
Charlie

IMG_20161227_0002.jpg IMG_20161227_0003.jpg

[Sonofacqms]

Charlie,

It's a Divisional badge of the 9th Division of the Great War, worn on the sleeve.

Rob

[charlie962]

Rob, thanks for that rapid response. This badge has been lying unloved in a misc box of bits that I have just started going through. What a pleasant surprise.

Would the badge have been totally blackened or just to create highlights?

Charlie

[Sonofacqms]

Charlie,

I was under the impression that the cloth disc was in a blue material, but I may be wrong about this, as for the badge being blackened on a black background, I am not sure, possibly if on a blue background or maybe time has added to it's colouring.

Rob

[Mike Jackson]

In "Divisional and Other Signs" by Capt V Wheeler-Holohan, 12th London Regt (1920) he states that the silver of white metal thistle was worn on a circular piece of dark blue cloth. This is my example. Mike
9 Scottish Div.jpg9 Scottish Div_WW1.02.jpg

[charlie962]

Both sides of the cloth backing are the same shade. It is possible that my example is on a very very dark blue, only visible when I put it on a strong black background. My eyes are dim, I cannot see ...
charlie

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by charlie962

Both sides of the cloth backing are the same shade. It is possible that my example is on a very very dark blue, only visible when I put it on a strong black background. My eyes are dim, I cannot see ...
charlie

The backing on mine is also very. very dark blue. Mike

[Postwarden]

As worn. The recently published Military Historical Society publication Infantry Divisional Identification Schemes says the thistle was adopted in late 1917 and was worn on a circle of dark blue cloth.

Jon

[Mike Jackson]

In Feb 44 German Army Intelligence assessed that 9 English (sic) Div was still in existence and was wearing the thistle. Mike
9 Scottish Div DBK.02.jpg

[peter monahan]

Interesting that in war time a metal badge would have been authorized and issued for such a purpose. My admittedly limited experience had led me to think that divisional and brigade signs were cloth only, or at most embroidered cloth, at least in WWI. Were there other divisions who had such elaborate ID as well?

[Artynut]

More information reference the “Thistle badge”. I’m not qualified to make an informed opinion but present this couple of photo’s to substantiate or negate some of the above comments. D.J.