Black Watch 'tombstone badge'

[OC Richard]

This is up on Ebay, described as a 'tombstone badge'



When I Googled it, I found a number of British military badges/patches done in this 'tombstone' shape.

Nearly always WWII photos show the cap-badge-shaped piece of Black Watch tartan sewn directly onto the jacket sleeve, like this



But I've come across at least one photo of that badge sewn onto a khaki rectangle. That badge on a 'tombstone' shape backing is a first for me.

I've also seen at least one photo of the HD badge and the red bars all sewn onto a shared rectangular khaki patch.

[Lake Mist]

Found this on the "tombstone" shape.

http://www.combinedops.com/INSIGNIA%20SPECIMENS.htm

Combined Operations Command

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.

Also saw a Royal Marine TAM from WW II on Ebay that had a maroon tombstone behind the badge.

[Tarheel]

Interesting link Lake Mist. The Thompson "Tommie" machine gun (American made) on the patches caught me off guard. I thought they would have used a "Stet" (British submachine gun) in the design. A good read of the history and use of the tombstone patch though.

It is STEN instead of stet. (I was editing some old paperwork.) The Thompson was heavy weapon and kicked upward when fired but durable. I forgot the weight difference in the two weapons.

[Lake Mist]

It looks like at least 5 allied countries were involved in what ever they were doing, probably much like our "Joint Forces Command" today.

[Bruce Scott]

Interesting link Lake Mist. The Thompson "Tommie" machine gun (American made) on the patches caught me off guard. I thought they would have used a "Stet" (British submachine gun) in the design.

"The Thompson was the submachine gun of choice, but later in the war the Commandos also used the cheaper and lighter Sten gun."

From: 'Weapons and Equipment' here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Commandos

[Lake Mist]

Ebay has these 2 Royal Marine Cap Badges listed. They are on tombstone shapes.

[OC Richard]

My father-in-law was an Infantry Officer in WWII, South Pacific, and he told me he carried a Thompson out of preference. He implied (though didn't state outright) that it saved his life on occasion; he's gone now and I wish I could remember exactly how he worded it.

These posts will probably get deleted my the Moderators; still, I cherish the memories of my father-in-law finally opening up (after many years of my prying) and sharing a few carefully worded 'war stories' (he said little, implied much).