~ How to
Order ~
To pay by credit card, debit card or Paypal
Account please click on the button opposite and follow the instructions.
You don't need a Paypal account to use this method of payment.
To pay by personal/bank cheque or postal
order please make your cheque or postal order payable to the Combined
Operations Memorial Fund, add your address to the reverse and
send to Geoff Slee, COMF (Badges), 35 Auchingane, Edinburgh, EH10 7HU, UK.
Purchases from overseas (non-UK) using this method of payment are welcome in
British pounds. Please contact your local bank or postal services for
details.
Whatever method you choose you will receive your
order, a receipt and a leaflet about the badges. For accounting and security
reasons please don't send cash.
Many
thanks for supporting the Combined Operations Memorial Fund.
~ Background ~
On 13 Jan 42, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Chief of the Combined Operations
Command, issued a general invitation for designs to be submitted for a
Combined Operations badge. On 19 Feb 42, from the many designs received, one
of several by Lt. D. A. Grant, RNVR was approved. In addition to his designs
he provided notes relating to various images he thought suitable to
represent each of the three services. Lt. Grant was stationed at H.M.S.
Tormentor a landing craft training base at Hamble, Southampton.
In 1992, Terry Carney of The Military Heraldry Society undertook research
into the history of the Combined Operations badge and was given access to
the National Archive records. He carefully traced a photograph of the
original design and later produced an enlarged drawing from which the above
drawings were made. The tracing and drawings of these and other badges,
together with supporting narrative, formed the basis of an article he wrote
entitled 'The Combined Operations Badge, 1942-1946' which subsequently
appeared in 'The Formation Sign' - the journal of the Society. This article,
which includes the design and development of the badge, was later added to
this website (link below).
The badges represented on the A4 Buckram sheet are;
- top left - the original design for the badge submitted by Lt. Grant.
In this version the bird had the appearance of a seagull and the Tommy Gun
and bird faced in the opposite directions. In the final approved design
the bird became an eagle and the bird and gun pointed in the same
direction in both right and left arm versions This badge would have been
worn on the right arm above the cuff on the dark blue uniform of naval
ratings.
- top right – the light blue on white embroidered 'tombstone' version.
This badge would have been worn on the right arm above the cuff on the
white uniform of naval ratings.
- bottom - this uncut pair of badges were intended for wear on both
arms of the battledress blouse. In each case it was intended that the
Tommy gun should face forward.
Framed and hung the sheets provide an attractive and unique display. In
addition to providing much needed funds for the Combined Operations Memorial
the sets will serve as a tribute to the creative imagination of Lt. Grant.
Lt Grant deserves greater recognition for his enduring design which is
still in use today in a number of countries worldwide. If you are related to
Lt Grant or have information about him please
let us know.
Grateful thanks are due to Terry Carney for the original idea to print
these badges in aid of the memorial fund and for the preparation of the
design of the printed sheet and liaison with the printer.
~ Further Information ~
