Eight Army Bullion flash with black A.o.S. strip

[loupie1961]

Here comes a quite mysterious to me arm flash to the Eight Army, the usual crusader shield in bullion (theater made?) with a black sort of arms of service strip. Could it be some sort of other than British Army designation: e.g. Polish or N.Z. army? Any hints? Thank you in advance!

[paj1]

Hi according to howard cole book its for eighth army and hq british troops
in austria ww2
hope this helps paj1

[loupie1961]

Originally Posted by paj1

Hi according to howard cole book its for eighth army and hq british troops
in austria ww2
hope this helps paj1

Thank you paj... does this mean that the black strip is a specific device designating HQ troops? Unluckily my edition of Cole's has been published in 1946, no mention of the British troops in Austria yet... could you eventually scan the page?

[paj1]

Hi sorry not able to scan page, but it says
"gold cross on a white shield on a dark blue background
paj 1

[paj1]

No mention of black strip
paj1

[paj1]

Cant find any A.O. S. strip in that colour. dark blue?
paj1

[badjez]

Hi,

Possibly regimental flash for the Northants Regt. Off-hand I cannot tell you if any of the Northants Battalions served with 8th Army.

Stephen.

[erracht]

A black regimental flash, similar to an arm of service strip, was worn by the Northamptonshire Regt. I would imagine this could be a combo patch to a Northants member or unit attached to 8th Army HQ. But I defer to those better versed than I.


Dean

[loupie1961]

Dean, I can't possibly imagine anybody more versed in this than you! The Northamptonshire Regiment having served in the 5th Division were as a matter of fact part of the Eight Army as well as part of the British Troops in Austria: I've recently bought a BD badged to the Northamptonshire Regiment sporting on both shoulders the Eight Army shield, that was the insignia of the British Troops in Austria well... though there was no trace of any other Northants insignia but the arc titles, apart form a scarlet AoS strip....

[loupie1961]

Originally Posted by badjez

Hi,

Possibly regimental flash for the Northants Regt. Off-hand I cannot tell you if any of the Northants Battalions served with 8th Army.

Stephen.

Hello Stephen, 2nd Northants was in 5th Division, 17th Infantry Brigade

[badjez]

Many thanks.

For years I've had a Northants combination patch which has the blask regimental strip on a large piece of drab material, but no FS affixed. I've just compared an 8th Army one to it but its too large.

Stephen.

[BWEF]

There was also 5th Northamptons in Italy.

In 11th Infantry Brigade of 78th Division.

[loupie1961]

Originally Posted by BWEF

There was also 5th Northamptons in Italy.

In 11th Infantry Brigade of 78th Division.

Quite right, forgot about it!