Formation Badges 1939 1945

Interested in British military insignia of the Second World War? Then this long out-of-print book is the one for you. Although not aspiring to be a complete authority on the subject, the author's knowledge is immense, and he includes with his drawings of the badges information on how the insignia came to be adopted, and brief details of the war service of the unit concerned. The author's own interest in the subject was first sparked when he was asked to come up with a new badge for a Naval antiaircraft unit. After his idea was adopted, Lt.-Col. Cole began to collect badges and the resulting collection forms the basis for this absorbing book, which takes in armies, corps, divisions and smaller units too. An essential guide for all those interested in the heraldry of modern war.

The regiments of the British Army have always set great store by their cap-badges which, in miniature, encapsulated the history and traditions of the units that wore them. They were worn with pride by the County Regiments (which formed the bulk of the infantry) throughout the two world wars. While of relatively recent origin, the cap-badge absorbed a far older territorial allegiance, which can almost be traced back to tribal loyalty before the Norman Conquest and which has been reinforced down the ages. This book presents the reader with a comprehensive collection of capbadges through the years of the Second World War. Every cap-badge is clearly illustrated with pictures from the author's own private collection of badges and comes complete with written descriptions. The fascinating histories behind the conjoining of the various units are also included. A regimental index makes it simple to find specific badges quickly. Cap-badges of the British Army 1939–45 successfully removes the confusion surrounding the wearing of cap-badges by British Army formations during the Second World War whilst enabling people to access this information in complete form for the first time. Essential reading for those with a personal or professional interest in the Second World War.

This book not only retraces the wealth of insignia within the US Army during the Second World War, but also pays homage to the great courage of those who wore such signs of recognition. This work by Philippe Trombetta fills a gap in the study of the insignia in the US Army and will surely be a useful guide for World War II history enthusiasts and collectors alike.