~ COMBINED OPERATIONS INSIGNIA SPECIMENS ~

There are over 50 images of Combined Operations Insignia from the early 1940s to the present day including some from overseas. Lieut D A Grant, who suggested the design, could not have known how its use would spread around the world and how it would endure over the decades to the present day. [These images should not be used to validate or otherwise the authenticity of any specimens that may come into your hands.]

 ~ WW2 ~

1	2	3	4	5	6

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. Terry Carney writes; I believe these shoulder titles are post WWII and came in to use much later than the wartime R.N. Commando shoulder titles. The No 13 badges were possibly worn by Commando trained Royal Navy Surgeons. When I was researching the Royal Navy / Commando title I could never find any proof of it being worn with the C.O. Badge. If the person who supplied the illustrations (or anyone else) has any proof that these two items were worn together, including  photographic evidence, if any, I'd be pleased to receive a copy. 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	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).   Addendum. This is a British made badge and was the first of three attempts to produce badges for the Americans. When worn on the left arm of the American uniforms the Eagle faced in the wrong direction. The second attempt reversed the Tommy Gun,  These were returned to the manufacturer and the wings were extended. The Combined Operations Head Quarters received a report in 1943 that a Combined Operations Badge embroidered in yellow on blue, believed to be the one worn by the Americans, was on sale in any number of shops in London. Terry Carney. [To see Terry Carney's fascinating account of the history of the Combined Operations badge click here.]
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). Hi Geoff, Regarding the status of this badge perhaps the following information will be of interest. During WW2 printed Combined Operations badges were issued and were the official badges. All embroidered Combined Operations badges during this period were considered unofficial. However, it is known that embroidered badges were worn extensively and were available from Military Tailors shops. I do have one of the badges shown as specimen No. 27.  It is of a different construction than any other C.O. Badge I have come across. The Anchor is embroidered in yellow threads and highlighted in gold wire and the Tommy gun is embroidered in gold wire. The Eagle has never been embroidered on this badge and in its place a brass Eagle with two brass wires for fixing has been used. It's possible that this type of brass eagle was originally made for RAF officers' Service Dress cap badges and is the reason the Eagle is facing in the opposite direction or possibly for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm officers. I believe that these badges were possibly made for a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Unit which operated under the Combined Operations Command. Does any reader know of such a unit?  See the photographs of my badge with the Eagle removed to show how it was made,  Yours sincerely Terry Carney.
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.)

 ~ Post WW2 and Modern Badges ~

1	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.
2	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.
3	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.
4	This badge is a desert-coloured version of badge 10. It could very well have been worn by helicopter crewman serving in Iraq, or anyone else who had served with the UK JFACHQ as cadre staff or by attachment prior to the adoption of the new badge (No 8) in the latter half of 2005. Information provided by Neale Dewar. Images provided by Glynn Roberts a member of the Military Heraldry Society.
5	As for 40 above.
6	Commander, United Kingdom Amphibious Forces. May be worn by Royal Marines and possibly other forces. Any information about this badge would be very welcome. Neale Dewar further explains, "This is simply a subdued version of badge 9, to be worn on DPM rather than used on letterhead. (See Contact Us at the bottom of this page). Images provided by Glynn Roberts a member of the Military Heraldry Society.

 ~ Correspondence ~

Photos of British Army and Royal Marine Cloth Badges in use on Uniforms. I am completing a book which tells the story of the many cloth badges worn on battledress, khaki drill and jungle green uniforms by the British Army and Royal Marines between 1939 and 1967. I'm looking for original clear photos of such badges being worn - especially from the period 1946 to 1947.  If possible I would like to borrow original photos which will be scanned and returned by Royal Mail Special Delivery within a few days. I am happy to pay any postage incurred. Scans at 600 dpi are fine for my purpose if you would prefer not to send originals. If you can help please contact me on the e-mail link opposite. Many thanks in anticipation. Jon Mills.

Royal Naval Commando Uniforms. I've just joined Combinedops by paypal and already I have some questions which you might be able to help me with. All are about Royal Naval Commando uniforms. Firstly were green berets worn by ranks and ratings and if so what sort of cap badge was worn by other ranks? Secondly, did Royal Naval Commandos wear the yellow thread tombstone Combined Operations insignia on their battledress or was it for dress uniform? Finally, for those Commandos trained as parachutists, were the wings worn above or below the combined operations insignia on the right arm?

Many thanks for any help you can give. Simon Moore

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

 ~ Acknowledgments ~

We are especially indebted to The Military Heraldry Society for most of the images of WW2 Combined Operations cloth insignia which are displayed on this page. 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.

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