Armoured Formation Signs

[dobw]

While sorting and rearranging my formation sign accumulation, I photographed these varieties and thought I'd share them for your comments. Obviously far from a complete collection, if such a thing is even possible...

[dobw]

Very curious when the curly-tailed 1st Division rhino made its appearance; Cole pictures it in his first book, others have said the change was made during the Italian campaign.

[Home Guard]

Dob, have to commend you on your 7th Armored collection, and very especially those two early ones. I have a small collection of them as well, being the only real combat unit I collect, but don't have any of the early ones....yet! Each must take it's turn.



Many thnaks for sharing!

Terry

[NORMANDIE18]

Thanks for showing your cloth badges ! Nice variety of WW2 and post war cloth badges. The 79th Armoured Div hand embroidered is very scarce well done.
Normandie18

[dobw]

Thanks to Terry and Normandie18 for your comments! Feedback is always appreciated!

Still hoping someone has some insights regarding that curly-tailed rhino!

[Home Guard]

Normandie18, Is the patch you are referring to the first one top left? I actually picked it up not really knowing anything about it, but am thrilled to find out more on it!

Terry

[NORMANDIE18]

Originally Posted by Home Guard

Normandie18, Is the patch you are referring to the first one top left? I actually picked it up not really knowing anything about it, but am thrilled to find out more on it!

Terry

Terry,
In fact I was referring to the 79th Armoured Div hand embroidered Bull head.
Can you show us the back of your jerboa ?
Normandie18

[dobw]

Here's what the Imperial War Museum has to say about the curly-tailed rhino:

"The symbol of the most heavily 'armoured' wild animal was obvious for an armoured formation. There were at least three versions of this badge. The earliest seems to be a simple standing rhino. A later version has a more aggressive appearance with the rhino charging, often with the addition of a curly tail. The story is that this version was adopted at Khataba in 1942 when the Division was refitting prior to Alamein. A Sapper in 3 Troop of the Cheshire Field Squadron RE painted a charging rhino for the signboard outside Div. HQ. The staff preferred this version and it was universally adopted."

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30076388