26th Gurkha Brigade

[Madziro]

Many thanks for the interesting and most useful info on the Bde. The Rhodesian African Rifles and other Rhodesian units also served under command of this Bde. Have attached a photo of Platoon WO Pisayi who won the MM in Malaya and a tunic I have in the collection to an RAR man where the Bde badge is being worn for interest.

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by Madziro

Many thanks for the interesting and most useful info on the Bde. The Rhodesian African Rifles and other Rhodesian units also served under command of this Bde. Have attached a photo of Platoon WO Pisayi who won the MM in Malaya and a tunic I have in the collection to an RAR man where the Bde badge is being worn for interest.

Great pics, what colour are the brigade arm badges on the bush jacket please? They look white on blue backings.

[Madziro]

Jerry, the patches are white on green. Have attached a close up of the patch on its own for interest. Regards. Dudley

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by Madziro

Jerry, the patches are white on green. Have attached a close up of the patch on its own for interest. Regards. Dudley

Thanks for the extra pic Dudley. Clears this up I think.

[Mike Jackson]

I believe (sources are contradictory) that the initial plan on the formation of 17 Gurkha Division in 1948 was to number the three Brigades 1, 2 and 3. But, with an eye to recent history, it was decided instead to perpetuate the three Brigades that made up 17 Indian Division in WW2; 48, 63 and 99 Brigades. It was further agreed that the background colour for the Brigades would follow the backing colours of the components of a British (and British-Indian?) Infantry Division of WW2 ie Senior Infantry Brigade -Red - Second (or Intermediate) Infantry Brigade - Green - Third (or Junior) Infantry Brigade - Brown. But this neat plan will have been thrown into confusion by the fact that the Divisional sign was white kukris on Green - and then complicated by the appearance of 26 Gurkha Brigade on the scene. This resulted in a variant of the standard sign appearing on a black ground and the assertion in Howard Coles Badges on Battledress (Third Edition Aug 53) that "The background [to the 17 Gurkha Division sign] is now dark blue". What is clear - to me at least - is that in 1965 the printed formation sign of 48 Gurkha Inf Bde was white on red and that of 99 Gurkha Inf Bde was white on brown - so some of the initial plan survived. Mike

[JerryBB]

Mike,

I have the 49 edition which states;

The Gurkha Brigade wears a badge of the same design as the war-time 43rd Lorried Infantry Brigade which was crossed kukris in white on a dark green background. The background is now dark blue.

The anecdotal evidence provided by the former members is good enough for me, though remembering both memories and written sources can be wrong.

Obviously as clear as mud.

[Mike Jackson]

Jerry,
Thanks. White crossed kukris on a green rectangle, whilst not seen every day, are not uncommon - both the printed issue sign and the embroidered ones made by garrison and camp tailors. But who has ever seen a convincing sign on a blue background? Examples of 17 Gurkha Div sign attached - the first worn by the-then Sgt NO Miller R Signals, 17 Div Signal Regt, 1956-58. The sign on BD was worn on the right arm. Mike
17 Gurkha Div_Sgt NO Miller R Signals_1956-58.jpg17 Gurkha Div.01.jpg17 Gurkha Div_RA_2Lt_Kukris on Right Arm.jpg

[JerryBB]

Mike,

Agreed, red, black and brown are commonly seen, I have red & black, green are seen but tend to be a bit more expensive, but as you say, blue are not a version I remember seeing.

I need two greens to restore to a 1/SWB bd, assuming that even in Malaya they would have both bd & kd uniforms with them. Otherwise I have to get 11th infantry brigade battleaxe patches for Germany in 59.

The bd is 53 dated and issued so Malaya is perhaps more likely.

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by JBBOND

It does seem to show them being worn on both arms by 1/SWB. I'll have to add a flaming arrrrsssse hole to my collection one day

You will find an embroidered on felt example of the "flaming xxxxhole" sign on RBJ Militaria. Mike