Cyrenaica District???

[Badger44]

Gentlemen,
I have been sent the attached scan with the question - is it an army badge or a boy scout badge? Whilst similar to the printed Cyrenaica District badge I have, it obviously lacks detail.
My correspondent states that there were two Boy Scout Groups in Libya -1st Cyrenaica Group and 1st El Adam RAF Group. He wishes to establish that this is a Boy Scout badge rather than military. Any observations on this would be most welcome.

[Mike Jackson]

All tailor/bazaar/suq made variants on the Cyrenaica District sign that I have seen have been a very much simpler design than the printed Ordnance issue sign. As per the one you illustrate in fact.
Cyrenaica District.jpg

[Badger44]

Thanks Mike,
do you think that it is a miltary badge made up in the bazaars, then?

[rockape560]

hi,

the badge i have is printed.but bazzar made items made have been made as locally made for replacements.

philip

[Old Smelly]

Fairly sure that they would have got badges from the same/similar sources. If a local tailor produced these they would be available to both military and scout groups
Lee

[Ian Adams]

Greetings gents.
This is one of my badges on ebay at the moment. As I said on the listing....this is a rare version of the Cyrenaica District. I purchased a 1944 dated Royal Engineers corporals uniform blouse with one on each arm. I still have the battledress.
As a rule I never buy a uniform in order to break up the insignia. In this exceptional case there were no other redeeming features except for common titles and the stripes.
As many of you know on this forum, I have been lucky enough to find some very scarce and many rare items over the years. Just as important, I have 43 years of seeing and handling the good stuff and knowing what is rare when it comes my way (I remember writing similar to this just recently for another badge).

This may be a good oportunity to add a little self-serving suggestion. Go and put a very Bosley bid on this badge. You may never see another one. cheers. Ian

[Mike Jackson]

This is the design taken from a board of Middle East Command signs painted by RE craftsman in 1946. Very different from the design in Coles' Badges on Battledress. It is still on display in a British HQ:
Badge_18.jpg

[Badger44]

Many thanks for your comments and information, gentleman. I have passed the gist of this to my enquirer, and he says that the information settles various questions he had concerning this badge. I am most grateful, as ever, for the wealth of knowledge and information on the forum, and the members' willingness to share this.
It has also added to my knowledge so many thanks to all who responded.