6th Div/70th Div

[lettman]

I've been collecting cloth insignia longer than metal ones, but after convincing myself that I'd never find one, I was gobsmacked to see and buy the formation sign illustrated below at the Birmingham fair earlier this year. Is it genuine, I have to ask? If so, when was it likely to have been worn -- during the division's time in the Middle East, or when it went to India as a Chindit formation? I know that Cole illustrates it (in one edition like this, and in another with the star on the diagonal) but I just assumed it was more of a vehicle sign rather than a cloth one.

[rolfi]

The sign of 6/70 Division painted on vehicles had the points of the star in the corners of the square. The one good clear photo I've seen of the sign worn on uniform, on a shoulder strap slide,closely matches the vehicle sign.

[lettman]

So I wonder what I've got here? An immediate postwar attempt to recreate it following the illustration in Cole's Heraldry in War (page 48)? Curious!

[erracht]

Sorry to say I'm not convinced on this insignia - I would expect a genuine one to show 'bleeding' of the red colour on the reverse.

[lettman]

Originally Posted by erracht

Sorry to say I'm not convinced on this insignia - I would expect a genuine one to show 'bleeding' of the red colour on the reverse.

That's a fair comment, but it's not one I'm entirely convinced about as a general rule. I'm not trying to defend the 6th Div patch, which I have no idea as to its origins, but I've checked through my collection, and a number of completely genuine printed items have plain white reverses rather than the more common 'bleeding' you mention.