WWII, BRITISH, BADGE, FORMATION, 1ST ANTI-AIRCRAFT DIVISION, 1ST TYPE, 1939

Description

WWII, BRITISH, BADGE, FORMATION, 1ST ANTI-AIRCRAFT DIVISION, 1
ST
TYPE, CIRCA 1939, PATCH, VINTAGE
Removed from a uniform.
An inverted isosceles triangle with the apex squared off, on which a black aircraft (Dornier bomber) flying upwards is pierced by a red sword, the tip of which protrudes from the nose, all on wool. This example was removed from a uniform.
This badge is unique both in its shape and in having the aircraft motif flying upwards. (There is no evidence of the badge having been worn broad end down). The sword is taken from the arms of the City of London. The Division is also unique in having the most variations in color and in the details of the design. If interpretation of reasearch is correct, this example is a variety of the 1st pattern, circa 1939. The first pattern was adopted in 1939 and probably survived on some uniforms to the break up of the Division in October 1942. As such it was probably worn concurrently with the grey (1940) and khaki (1941) patterns. There is no information of exactly when each pattern was adopted but all variations might be seen in any one unit until the disbandment of the Anti-Aircraft Corps and Divisions in October 1942. 1st Anti-Aircraft Division was formed on 15 December 1935 from Territorials from London and the Home Counties and was responsible for the area south-east of a line from the Wash to the Solent. In 1938 it became a purely London Territorial formation with responsibility for the anti-aircraft defense of London and fought in the 1940-41 attacks on the capital. It was the first anti-aircraft formation to use radar for gun control.
Cloth insignia have been in use in the British Army in one form or another for a considerable time. At least one type of insignia can be said to have had its beginnings as far back as 1900. In that year the first form of regulated colored shoulder titles was introduced to be worn on the then new form of British Army khaki-colored Service Dress and on the greatcoat. The use of these shoulder titles, which displayed the name of the wearer's regiment, corps or department, was short-lived, however, for in 1907 they were replaced by metal shoulder titles worn at the base of the shoulder-straps (but that's another subject altogether). Skill-at-arms and other such badges have their origins as far back as the mid 1800s. Cloth insignia of the type referred to as `formation' or 'divisional' signs were introduced during the First World War, and although their use was discontinued after the war, they were officially re-introduced in 1940 and their use and numbers reached their zenith during the remaining years of the Second World War. During the late 1960s the Army authorities withdrew the ubiquitous Battle Dress and introduced a new form of khaki Service Dress for wear by the rank and file throughout the British Army. The opportunity was taken to do away with many of the existing colored insignia. Shoulder titles, referred to as regimental (or corps) designations, formation signs, regimental colored flashes, arm-of-service strips, all were swept away. Only rank, trade, proficiency and skill-at-arms badges plus a few select items remained, and most of these were colorless. Only recently, with the introduction of the `woolley pully' - the knitted woolen pullover, D.P.M. clothing (Disruptive Pattern Material - camouflaged material) and the use of detachable brassards, have some shoulder titles and colored signs re-appeared, although in very limited numbers.