Green and red diamond with yellow/gold S

[Rob_Crane]

This is probably well known, but not to me! Can anyone help with info? (I guess it could well be green on the left and red on the right rather than in the orientation shown in the photo.)

[Postwarden]

You have found an exceptionally rare cloth badge, that of No 1 Spanish Company, Pioneer Corps. The extract from my book Badges on Battle Dress tells its story.

Jon

Formed in summer 1940 No 1 Spanish Company, Pioneer Corps was one of the few to wear an arm badge. Having escaped to France after serving with the defeated Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War its soldiers were interned. The volunteers who then joined the French Foreign Legion when war broke out served with distinction in the Norwegian campaign before arriving in England commanded by French officers. After the French authorities ordered one in three men to be shot for refusing an order to return to Spain, the officers were relieved of command and the 250 men enlisted into the Pioneer Corps. By July 1942 the Company were wearing an arm badge with a yellow S on a Corps-coloured diamond with Southern Command’s Pioneer Corps sign. After serving in Britain the Company joined 21st Army Group in 1944.

[fairlie63]

Wow, the French really had their man management practices down pat didn't they.

Shoot every third man...the mind boggles.

Keith

[leigh kitchen]

You may be being a little unfair - perhaps they just did'nt have enough ammo?

[Staffsyeoman]

This badge was shown in a Facebook group two weeks ago, where I identified it, using Jon's masterwork. This same badge.

[Rob_Crane]

Originally Posted by Postwarden

You have found an exceptionally rare cloth badge, that of No 1 Spanish Company, Pioneer Corps. The extract from my book Badges on Battle Dress tells its story.

Jon

Formed in summer 1940 No 1 Spanish Company, Pioneer Corps was one of the few to wear an arm badge. Having escaped to France after serving with the defeated Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War its soldiers were interned. The volunteers who then joined the French Foreign Legion when war broke out served with distinction in the Norwegian campaign before arriving in England commanded by French officers. After the French authorities ordered one in three men to be shot for refusing an order to return to Spain, the officers were relieved of command and the 250 men enlisted into the Pioneer Corps. By July 1942 the Company were wearing an arm badge with a yellow S on a Corps-coloured diamond with Southern Command’s Pioneer Corps sign. After serving in Britain the Company joined 21st Army Group in 1944.

Wow, thank you for the information - I will pass it on to the person who has the badge.

[Anjoucollector]

Good evening,

I am sorry but, as a French, I have to react to the affirmation that 'After the French authorities ordered one in three men to be shot for refusing an order to return to Spain'. Decimation is not a French army practice
You can read this very serious study about Spanish volunteers in French army (sorry in French)

https://journals.openedition.org/rha/7345

Laurent

[Rob_Crane]

Originally Posted by Staffsyeoman

This badge was shown in a Facebook group two weeks ago, where I identified it, using Jon's masterwork. This same badge.

Ugh, this is frustrating. I was approached by someone who thought it might indicate that their father had been a member of Combined Operations Pilotage Parties. I'm sceptical about that unless further evidence turns up, but offered to see if anyone could identify the badge. If it's the same person, how incredibly frustrating! Although I guess it could be different family members of the same veteran doing their own independent quests.