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INDEX


 - INSIGNIA SPECIMENS -

We are especially indebted to The Military Heraldry Society for most of the images of WW2 Combined Operations cloth insignia which are displayed below. The Society is a gathering of collections of cloth formation signs i.e. shoulder & sleeve insignia, shoulder titles, regimental and unit flashes and similar items.

[The images on this page are for general information only and should not be used to validate or otherwise the authenticity of any specimens that may come into your hands.]

WW2 Post WW2 & Modern Associated Badges etc Correspondence Further Reading

 ~ WW2 ~

1 2 3 4 5 6

1

Unknown.

2

This is the yellow embroidered wartime 'economy' Combined Ops badge on blue felt. The 'Royal Navy' white embroidered title on dark blue felt battledress was worn above the Combined Operations sign (Yellow silk thread was authorised as an economy, instead of gold wire during WW2.)

3

This is an army badge as yet unidentified, embroidered yellow on dark blue. Likely to be the same as 22 below.

4

A variation of (3) gold wire embroidered on black felt.

5

This is a Royal Navy badge - blue on white felt. It is a printed item and was used on white uniforms. See No 31 below.

6

This is a locally made variation of the Combined Operations badge on felt worn below a 'British Pacific Fleet' shoulder title silver wired on the same material.
7 8 9 10 11 12

7

This is an Army badge - a variation of the normal Combined Operations badge and worn during WW2. They were issued in pairs and worn on the right arm.

8

This is a variation of No 7 but possibly worn by Commandos in the early period. Worn on left arm.

9

This badge was worn by No 9 Commando guard of honour when part of No 2 Commando Brigade HQ in the Mediterranean Theatre in 1945. The No 9 Commando title was red lettering on dark blue above the Combined Operations badge which was the original red embroidered on a dark blue circle.

10

This badge was worn by Commando units.

11

Matching pair (with 12).

12

Matching pair (with 11).
13 14 15 16 17 18
13 A Royal Navy yellow on dark blue Combined Operations badge which was worn below a white embroidered Royal Navy Commando title on dark blue.
14 Similar to 13 above but may have been worn in the immediate post war period.
15 The SBS (Special Boat Section) was, by the nature of their dangerous and clandestine operations, often behind enemy lines, a secretive organisation. Even to this day precise details of their activities are hard to come by. This image was provided by Tom Colville whose late father was in the SBS.
16 Unknown variant.  
17 I am currently (2005) serving with 6 Assault Sqn RM onboard HMS Albion as an LCU Mk10 Coxn and although we do not officially wear the insignia the ship does. We wear it on t-shirts, rugby shirts, rugby club tie etc. We are very proud to carry on the traditions of the Combined Ops ethos into the 21st century. (Photo and information provided by Sgt Tom Clow RM).
18 This Canadian design was created in consultation with the Dieppe Veterans and Prisoner of War Association to recognise those who participated in the Dieppe Raid on August 19 1942... to be worn on a blue blazer.
19 20 21 22 23 24

19

The prestigious combined Operations Insignia as worn by the Commandos and others in WW2. They were positioned on the upper arm with the gun barrels pointing forward. When displayed, as here, the barrels pointed towards each other. These particular insignia saw "active service" off the Normandy beaches on the arms of an RCAF LAC on board the radar and communications vessel FDT 217.

20

USA variant of the British badge. An article on the American Army Engineering Amphibian Units mentions that the shoulder patch worn by members was approved on June 17th 1942. This patch, embroidered in yellow on a light blue background, was worn at the top of the left arm only.

21

USA variant of the British badge. The American Naval Amphibious forces shoulder insignia is embroidered on a scarlet background of the same colour as the scarlet chevrons of a rating badge. The badge was approved by the Secretary of the Navy in BUPERS Circ LTR-44 on June 15th 1944. It was worn at the top of the left arm only. The authorisation to wear the insignia terminated with the individuals detachment from the Amphibious Forces.

22

A badge worn by some, if not all, of the 125 Jogoslav speaking Americans of 3 Contingent US Operational Group (USOG) under Land Forces Adriatic (LFA) command. This was a locally manufactured version of the British Combined Operations formation sign. It was accompanied by a matching shoulder title embroidered yellow on black (see below). This insignia was very short-lived since 3 Contingent USOG became Company C 2671 Special Reconnaissance Battalion in August 1944. Click on shoulder title to enlarge

23

A facing pair of hand made WW2 Combined Ops badges. There is a little moth damage to one of them. (Photo and information courtesy of Colin Allmark, USA).

24

This USA Combined Operations patch is similar to No 21 above but this time it was worn by Albert Casani of the US  326th Glider Infantry.

 
25 26 27 28 29 30

25

 

26

An original American version. I thought it was faded but behind the backing it was the same colour. (Photo and information courtesy of Colin Allmark, USA).

27

Gold thread anchor, gold wire thread Tommy gun with brass cast eagle secured by folding pins on black cloth. This is the third one I have seen  now so its not a "one off " made by and individual but probably part of  a production run. Is this an official issue? If you know anything about this patch please contact us. (Photo and information courtesy of Michael Whittaker).

28

Locally made example of the Combined Operations patch believed produced in Yugoslavia 1943 - 45. (Photo and information courtesy of Michael Whittaker).

29

Gold wire on black as worn on the British naval square rig top (No.1 or no.2 dress?) This particular patch was worn by a member of the Combined Ops Bombardment Units who was parachuted in with the airborne units the night before D-Day. (Photo and information courtesy of Michael Whittaker).

30

It was not unknown  for badges to be made locally in remote locations overseas. The history of this rather crude hand-made example is unknown but most likely falls into that category. (Photo courtesy of Michael Whittaker.)
 
31 32 33 34 35 36

31

Hand embroidered onto blue cloth then stitched around a cardboard  template. (Photo courtesy of Michael Whittaker.)

32

An official  issue example, blue design on white cloth  as worn by Royal Navy service personnel. See No 5 above. (Photo courtesy of Michael Whittaker.)

33

This badge, together with the Stars and Stripes of the USA (displayed under no 34), was worn by RAF Servicing Commando Unit 3201 when part of Operation Torch near Algiers in North Africa. The American flag (about 3 inches by 5 inches) was worn by British forces to appease the French. The combined ops badge is about 2 and a half inches in diameter. For more information about Operation Torch click here.

34

See 33 above

35

This Combined Operations ring most likely belonged to James Rafter who is 88 years old (4/08). He was a Royal Marine who served on the King George V, the Malta convoys, the Iron Duke and in Burma. He also undertook commando and beachhead scouting work in the Pacific. [Photo and information Courtesy of  Harman Meyerhoff].  Was this made to order especially for RM Rafter? Are there others?

36

 ~ Post WW2 and Modern Badges ~

37 38 39 40 41 42

37

The Combined Operations device comprised of the anchor, tommy gun and eagle was used by Canadian forces during WW2. In 1998 use of the device was revived with the development of a Canadian amphibious warfare establishment badge by Naval Lieutenant Karl Gagnon, a noted military heraldry designer, of a design by Major R.D. Bradfiord, the Canadian Armed Forces' amphibious warfare officer. This insignia remains in the approval process and is still in use.

38

In 2005, the basic device was adopted as an expedient, temporary logo for the new Standing Contingency
Task Force (SCTF), a rapid-response, seaborne, sea-based tri-Service formation. It was intended that this be superseded by a new badge, but the retention of the Combined Operations device for the specialist amphibious elements was intended. 

39

In 2006, the officer commanding the Amphibious Reconnaissance & Clearance Squadron, Lieutenant-Commander D. Hopkie, arranged for the acquisition and issue of temporary badges for the Maritime Amphibious Unit (MAU) a new unit comprised of reconnaissance, clearance, landing craft and naval beach party elements. This patch entered service unofficially in 2006 and remained in use until the unexpected disbandment of the new force and the Maritime Amphibious Unit in 2007.

40

Thought to be used by RAF helicopter crewman serving Iraq. Any information about this badge would be very welcome. (See Contact Us at the bottom of this page). Images provided by Glynn Roberts a member of the Military Heraldry Society.

41

As for 40 above.

42

Commander, United Kingdom Amphibious Forces. May be worn by Royal Marines and possibly other forces. Any information about this badge would be very welcome. (See Contact Us at the bottom of this page). Images provided by Glynn Roberts a member of the Military Heraldry Society.
 
43 44 45 46 47 48

43

Permanent Staff, Joint Force HQ (?), as worn by RAF and possibly other branches of armed forces. Any information about this badge would be very welcome. (See Contact Us at the bottom of this page). Images provided by Glynn Roberts a member of the Military Heraldry Society.

44

UK JFAC(HQ) badge introduced on 1 Apr 2006 in its triangular format in order to differentiate it from the JTFHQ and other force elements, who had adopted the Combined Arms centre elements and a green outer/base replacing only the text, hence all looking remarkably similar. It replaced the circular badge numbered 25 above. (AK)

45

The Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces (COMUKAMPHIBFOR) is the very high readiness deployable 2 Royal Marines HQ embedded within the Fleet Battlestaffs. COMUKAMPHIBFOR is a permanently constituted 2 HQ held at very high readiness to command joint and combined operations at the operational level. It is commanded by a Royal Marine Major General, and located in the Fleet Battlestaff buildings on Whale Island in Portsmouth. Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR), commanded by a Royal Navy Rear Admiral, is co-located. Collectively COMUKMARFOR, COMUKAMPHIBFOR, COMATG, COMUKTG and HQ 3 Cdo Bde RM comprise the "Fleet Battlestaffs". (9/06)

46

This shoulder patch is currently (May 05) used by the UK Joint Force Air Component Headquarters, based at High Wycombe. The JFACHQ was formed in Apr 2000, adopting a variation of the Combined Operations badge as already used by the deployable Joint Force Headquarters at Northwood. Since formation, the JFACHQ has deployed on operations including PALLISER (Sierra Leone), ORACLE/VERITAS (Afghanistan) and TELIC (Iraq).  A new patch, more recognisable as unique from the JFHQ, is under development however, although it will retain the Combined Operations badge as its centrepiece. See 33 below. [N.D.]

47

This modern badge was for the Commodore Amphibious Warfare. The title was changed on December 1 1997 to Commodore Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) in recognition of the growing importance of amphibious warfare. The group comprises several assault and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.

48

 ~ Other Associated Insignia ~

The colour of the uniforms of the three Canadian services was identical to their British counterparts. The "Canada" flash opposite was worn by all Canadian personnel to readily distinguish their country of origin whose services they  represented. Two flashes were worn - one on each shoulder. The accompanying propeller, in this particular combination, signified a Leading Air Craftsman (LAC) serving in the R.A.F. and was worn just above the elbow on both arms.

This flash has its origin in the mythology of the Gods. One stormy day Thor grabbed a handful of lightening bolts from the sky and the symbolism of this was applied initially to "wireless" personnel known affectionately as "sparks." The symbol was later adopted by the R.A.F. to denote wireless, radio and radar operators and technicians. Those involved in top secret radar were not separately identified for reasons of security.

 ~ Correspondence ~

Enjoyed your site greatly. Have had this beret for a while now. It looks like a combined forces badge but has parachute on top where the eagle usually is. Can anyone help me identify it? Ted.


 

I enjoyed reading your web site and I found the design of the insignia very interesting. The combined Operations insignia bears a striking similarity to the Chinese character (Opposite), which means coincidentally, to strike, attack, or hit. I wonder if the designer of the insignia, and the ancient Chinese who designed that ideograph, went thru similar thought process when looking for a symbol to represent strike or attack, and came up with similar designs. Bo (1/06)

..............................................

I believe that Combined Ops flashes were round and not square [this changed in the 1970's] - certainly in 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery. This was the only regular unit of the British Army to wear the combined ops flashes until the more recent exponential integration of different arms. I recently saw a 'Crab Air' officer in the Gulf theatre wearing them! BENZENIA@telefonica.net (12/03)

............................................

The RN cap tally below, and a similar "COMBINED OPS" one may have been approved by the naval authorities or were they unofficial? Either way does anyone know if they were worn? A photo of the tally in use would be very helpful.

If you can shed any light on this please contact us (link at bottom of this page). Many thanks. (10/04)

................................................

 ~ Further Reading ~

On this website read about the design and development of the Combined Operations Insignia and Insignia in Use

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Subject Link

Latest Design of the Combined Operations Memorial including photos of the proposed site in the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Combined Ops Memorial

Steven Pressfield's new book Killing Rommel. Donate £7.00 to the Combined Operations Memorial Fund and receive a copy of Killing Rommel worth over £12.00. Click here for information about the book (pdf file). There's a limited supply so first come first served. Please e-mail to establish availability before you donate.

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HELP FOR HEROES. Airborne & Commando Engineer's 1656 k (1035 miles) cycle through France in aid of 'Help for Heroes' - a charity/appeal that helps servicemen injured during current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The journey was completed in just 8 days. Click on the link to read about the trip... and there's still time to show your appreciation of our courageous servicemen and women. Help for Heroes
Commando Country, by Stuart Allan, Senior Curator of Military History at the National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle; a newly published book on Scotland's role in the training of Commandos and Special Operations personnel in WW2. National Museums Scotland's Bookshop
HDML 1387 - the restoration of one of the few remaining WW2 harbour defence motor launches. Medusa
Commando Veterans' Association - for those who wore the green beret for any time from 1940 to the present day. Associate membership also available. CVA

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