Indian Lion - Or Not

[Postwarden]

The subject of much discussion for some years this badge - which as can be seen comes in facing pairs - has remained unidentified.

It has been suggested it may have an Indian connection but the lion is that of St Mark which is connected to Venice.

Suggestions please.

Jon

[Anjoucollector]

Good evening,

may be San Marco Battalion/Regiment of the Italian army ?

Try San Marco Reggimento or Battaglione distintivo on Google

Laurent

[leigh kitchen]

Possibly the badges they wore on the lower sleeves.

[leigh kitchen]

Shown in an illustration of a 1st Class Seaman, San Marco Marine Bn. circa 1934 o page 162 of "Military Uniforms in Europe 1900-2000" volume 1 by R. Spencer Kidd.
(I came across it whilst checking out a different Venetian lion badge a week or two ago).

[Luc]

It's remarkably similar (apart from halo and background colour) to the 50th infantry brigade formation sign currently listed on Robin's website.

[Postwarden]

Luc,

Indeed it is because it's essentially the same beast, the lion of St Mark.

The Lion of Saint Mark, representing the evangelist St Mark, pictured in the form of a winged lion holding a Bible, is the symbol of the city of Venice and formerly of the Venetian Republic.

It appears on a badge worn by the British Army in Cyprus as the Venetian Republic at one time ruled Cyprus. Not a very subtle choice of badge for a what the Cypriots probably saw as a foreign army,

Jon

[fougasse1940]

Well spotted Luc. Both depict the Lion of Saint Mark. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_of_Saint_Mark
Is it known why the 50th Ifantry Brigade used this symbol?

Rgds, Thomas

[Postwarden]

From my forthcoming book. As it shows, the sign was adopted because they were serving in Cyprus at the time.

Jon

No longer part of 1st Division Cyprus's other Independent Infantry Brigade, the 50th applied for a formation sign through GHQ MELF in May 1957. Its design ‘approved by the Director of Antiquities…responsible for heraldry in Cyprus’ which was intended to show 50th Brigade’s association with the island’s capital, depicted St Mark’s lion, the badge of the Venetians who had built Nicosia during their occupation . With its first application for a sign mislaid GHQ MELF had to remind the War Office in December 1958 that 50th Brigade was the only formation in Cyprus lacking a sign at a time when the situation in the island made it essential to foster morale by every means possible. Although both applications showed the lion on a maroon ground the sign approved in spring 1959 which Calico Printers subsequently manufactured appeared on blue.

[leigh kitchen]

The lion as per the design and colours in post no. 1 (yellow on red rectangle, with book, no halo, no sword, tail down), is as per the flag of the San Marco Regiment and shown as an arm badge of a member of the San Marco Marine Battalion in the book I mentioned in an earlier post.

[fougasse1940]

Thank you both. All roads lead to Venice then, the San Marco Marine Battalion got its name and the lion for the defence of Venice in World War One.

Rgds, Thomas

[leigh kitchen]

I was a bit slow to think of it, but the suggestion that the yellow lion on a red rectangle may be an Indian insignia - could that suggestion stem from a confusion between the Venetian and the Sri Lankans yellow lions on red backings?