Union Flag on MTP Patches

[Shiny]

Hi All,

MTP and all the new TRF's etc came in after my time and I haven't paid a huge amount of attention to them until recently when I picked up an MP one with a union flag on, it's in my album:

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ctureid=210459

The angle they have been sewn at means the patch would have to be worn on the left sleeve but I know the MP patch is worn on the right.

I'm thinking a dealer has made this up to sell for more than a blank patch would get and it's been put on the wrong side.

Is there a rule about which sleeve the union flag is worn on that might help confirm this theory?

Thanks a lot,

Michael

[Alan O]

Always on the left.

[Shiny]

Thanks Alan,

That's what I suspected from photos I'd seen on line. That makes me think someone has put my patch together and got it wrong.

Michael

[Alan O]

The Union Flag is always on the left and the MP sign is always on the right.

To do the opposite would be like wearing para wings on the left arm!

Alan

[Shiny]

Thanks Alan,

That's a great help.

Michael

[Alan O]

Prior to MTP and even C95 Union Flags were not worn except for UN forces. In the UN days they were often worn on a brassard on the right arm.

When IFOR started in 1996 there were no rules except a flag was to be worn. Normally on the left arm but there were exceptions and I had all mine on the right arm of my C95 shirts as they balanced up the 30 Sig Regt swan (this was before regimental badges were common). When C95 was trialed all patches were forbidden but the small minded regimental duties Corps RSMs could not cope with the lack of name tags and this did not last! Seriously it was a major issue for the RSM community in my Corps and just showed how irrelevant they were!

With Bosnia in the 1990s UJ flags were needed so at first the flags were issued separately but circa 1997 the shirts were issued with them pre-sewn on the left arm. This continued with MTP shirts and all jackets come with the blanking plates issued with the flag on.

[grey_green_acorn]

Personal Clothing System Combat Uniform (PCS CU) MTP pocket blanking patch / plate - left sleeve. Formation flash is sewn below the Union Flag.
NSN 8405-99-991-2142 (2143 without Union Flag)

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...p?albumid=2581

Union Flag specification. They were/are available separately.

Tim

[Shiny]

Thanks very much Alan and Tim,

That's a great help and really interesting. I left in 2000 and hadn't ever worn one so it's interesting to hear the history of it all.

Michael

[Mike_2817]

Union Flag Patches were also worn by UK Contingent to ACE Mobile Force (Allied Command Europe) on deployment pre MTP

[Shiny]

Thanks Mike