Royal Artillery Formation Badges

[54Bty]

Here is a start to the Formation badges worn by members of the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

1st Anti Aircraft Division formed in December 1935 and disbanded in September 1942. The badge worn by members of this Division was described as "A red sword point upwards to pierce a black Dornier".

[Peter Brydon]

54Bty,
You may be the person to help me I have a presentation piece to the Adjutant of the Chester Garrison.
Part of the piece is the attached plaque. Do you have any idea which regiments made up the 23 Artillery Brigade and the dates that it was in existance ?
Regards
P.B.

P.S. keep on showing the R.A. Formation Signs

[54Bty]

23rd Artillery Brigade (Volunteers)

The Brigade was originally formed in January 1968 as 23rd Air Defence Group Royal Artillery, with three TAVR Light Air Defence Regiments 102, 103 and 104 and two Regular Regiments 22 and 36. Headquarters was based in Chester as part of HQ Chester Garrison.

In April 1972 the Group was redesignated 23rd Artillery Brigade (Volunteers), and had under command all the RA TAVR units both Air Defence and Field.

In September 1974 the Field Regiments moved to 21 Artillery Brigade leaving the three Light Air Defence Regiments with 23 Artillery Brigade (V).

The formation sign which was painted on all Brigade vehicles was "Taurus the Bull" (second sign of the Zodiac) previously used and worn by 2nd Army Group Royal Artillery (Anti Aircraft) and later 40th Army Group Royal Artillery (Anti Aircraft) (Territorial Army), a cloth badge was not worn by 23 Arty Bde (V). The colour was changed from white on black to red on blue.

[Peter Brydon]

54 Bty,

Many thanks,you would not believe the number of people I have asked who could not help me.

The association with 103 Light Air Defence Regt means it has a connection with my interests and I shall keep it in my collection.

I seem to remember the Headquaters of the Brigade was opposite the Cheshire Military Museum in Chester,but surprisingly I could not find any reference to this brigade anywhere.

Thanks again

Peter

[Peter Brydon]

54Bty,
After your help on the previous query I wonder if you can tell me the regiments that made up the 33rd Anti Aircraft Brigade please

Thanks in anticipation

Peter

[54Bty]

33rd Anti Aircraft Brigade (WWII)

70th (3rd West Lancashire) Heavy Anti Aircraft Regt RA (TA)
93rd Heavy Anti Aircraft Regt RA (TA) [cadre from 70th HAA Regt RA (TA) (Liverpool)]
38th (The King's Regiment) Search Light Regt RA (TA) [6th (Rifle) Bn The King's Regiment (Liverpool)
62nd (The Loyals) Search Light Regt RA (TA) [4th Bn The Loyal Regt (North Lancashire)


33rd Anti Aircraft Brigade (c1955)

452 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regt RA (London) (TA)
457 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regt RA (Wessex) (TA)
284 Light Anti Aircraft Regt RA (The King's Own Royal Regiment, Norfolk Yeomanry) (TA)
512 Light Anti Aircraft Regt RA (Finsbury Rifles) (TA)
517 Light Anti Aircraft Regt RA (5 Essex) (TA)
571 Light Anti Aircraft Regt RA (9 Bn Middlesex Regt) (TA)

Further information on the units can be obtained from "The Territorial Artillery 1908-1988" by Norman E.H. Litchfield, ISBN 0-9508205-2-0.

[54Bty]

Formation badges worn by members of the 2nd Anti Aircraft Division, formed in September 1936 and disbanded in September 1942.

A Witch on a broomstick flying past the Moon.

[Peter Brydon]

Thanks again for the information.

P.B.

[John Mullen]

Hello
I have been collecting British WW2 formation/Division badges for some time. Do you know where I might obtain a WW2 era 7th Anti Aircraft division badge. ( red scales on a blue background) Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks
John

[54Bty]

3rd Anti Aircraft Division. Formed in September 1938 disbanded in September 1942.

The letter A either side of a Scottish Thistle in silver (or white) on dark blue.

[54Bty]

4th Anti Aircraft Division. Formed in September 1938 and disbanded in September 1942.

Three buckles in blue on a red inverted triangle.
Single buckle in red on kahki.

Both printed, if there are any embroidered versions I have not found them yet.

[54Bty]

Formation badges worn by members of the 5th Anti Aircraft Division. Formed in September 1938 and disbanded in 1942.

A black diving plane with a single tailplane in flames on a light blue background.
A black diving plane with a single tailplane in flames on a khaki background.
A black diving plane with a double tailplane in flames on a khaki background.

[54Bty]

6th Anti Aircraft Division, formation badges. Division formed in August 1939 and disbanded in September 1942.

Two white target rings pierced by a red arrow outlined in white all on a black background. Worn with the arrow pointing forward.

[54Bty]

Formation badge for the 7th Anti Aircraft Division. Formed in September 1939 and disbanded in September 1942.

A vertial sword point down horizontally crossed by a set of scales all in red on a blue background.

The embroidered version illustrated was produced from a printed badge by a member of the ATS.

[54Bty]

8th Anti Aircraft Division formation badge. Formed in October 1940 and disbanded in September 1942.

A red Swallow tailed cross in the centre of a diving black aircraft with a single tailplane all on a light blue background.