Material: Cloth
Size: 45mm W x 45mm H
Description: Known widely as the "Crusader Shield," it depicts a golden-yellow Latin cross outlined in blue, set inside a white shield on a black felt square backdrop. Gen. Sir Alan Cunningham introduced the design in 1941 during the Western Desert campaign. It symbolized the army's role in the "Crusade" to liberate North Africa. This specific piece features heavy, direct embroidery thread work. This style is typical of mid-to-late-war theater production or badges worn by allied units attached to the army, such as the Polish 2nd Corps.
Circa: Adopted initially in 1941 prior to Operation Crusader, this pattern was worn continuously through the end of World War II and into the post-war occupation era.
Notes:
The Eighth Army was one of the most famous British field formations of WWII, earning the nickname the "Desert Rats"(specifically its 7th Armoured Division). They fought in notable actions including the Battle of El Alamein, the Tunisian Campaign, and the subsequent invasions of Sicily and mainland Italy.