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1(BR) [1st British] Corps
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The 1(BR) [1st British] Corps Insignia of the white Spearhead on a scarlet Diamond background was worn as a Flash on the right sleeve of one's Combat Jacket by all appropriate personnel during the 1960s. |
"During the 2nd World War, in a manner similar to Divisional Signs, a white spearhead on a scarlet diamond was adopted as the badge of 1 Corps itself.
[1 Corps Troops Engineers wore the white spearhead on a background of Royal Engineer Colours and the Corps Artillery wore the spearhead on a diamond of Royal Artillery Colours; 1 Corps badge was incorporated also into that of one of the Belgian formations which served under its command - the 6th Brigade.]
The design of the badge was chosen because in pre-war days the 1st Corps at Aldershot was the only British Corps permanently in existence and as such was the spearhead of the British Expeditionary Force, as it had been in 1914, and was indeed again in 1939. The corps formed part of the B.E.F., going abroad in September 1939 to France. It was among the formations withdrawn from Dunkirk in May 1940. The Corps badge was adopted whilst the formation was part of the B.E.F. and was symbolic of the selection of this Corps as an assault formation. 1 Corps landed in Normandy on D Day, 6th June 1944, and fought across France, Belgium and Southern Holland. The formation formed the first static district of occupied Germany, (1st Corps District) taking over the control and administration of the Rhine Province and Westphalia in the final stages of the campaign. The corps was reformed in B.A.O.R. in 1951 and the Corps Sign (as shown above) was re-adopted.
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The formation badge of 1 Corps has the distinction of being flown, on a flag, on Mount Everest! Lord Hunt CBE, DSO was serving as Colonel G.S., HQ 1 Corps, when appointed to the leadership of the Everest Expedition. On his return he presented the flag to the Officers' Mess of the Corps."
(The above information is with grateful thanks to Howard N. Cole, author of the book "Formation Badges of World War 2".)
This page last automatically updated: 22 November 2009 18:18 hrs.
