ask information about 1 ss brigade badge in the dday

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 20/09/2018 19:14:27

Hello,

Thank you for this forum and all information present.

I am French, A french piper and I am looking for information for a long time. I can not find an answer.

It is about the 1st special service brigade during the d-day in Normandy.

About arm badge we can see the "1 commando" "2 commando".... Badge.

In a book (the bill millin book) the piper of lovat We can read that on the d-day the arm badge of Bill millin is not a "commando" badge, but a "1 SS brigade" badge
he says that this badge was removed quickly because the French confused with the German SS.

I dont find any picture or information about this badge.
Could you please give me information if you know that.

Sorry for my bad english.
And thank you for your answers.

Christophe

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 20/09/2018 19:45:15

Some badges I think were without the Commando lettering l could be wrong?
Kevin

Hello Kevin,
thank you for your reply. From what I read, the veteran said he had discarded the badge.
I think it should be a cloth badge like that of commando but with the trexte "1 ss brigade"

like that

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/73/CommandoBadgeNr10A.jpg?1537470718311

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 21/09/2018 14:24:03

Hi Christophe,

I think the badge you are talking about is a formation patch for the Special Service Brigade HQ...

see below:

Kevin, the badge you pictured is a Commando Association cap badge - not unlike the No.2 Cdo Officer's cap badge, the difference being the word 'COMMANDO' across the top.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 21/09/2018 14:33:29

There was a forum message on this arm badge sometime back

http://forum.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/4090.page

There is a well publicised photo of Bill a couple of days before D-Day. It looks to me like he's wearing a shoulder title, combined ops patch and a piper badge. I can't see the shoulder title being anything other than 'No. 4 Commando' though.
I've not aware of a single photograph showing the SS Bde HQ badge being worn, and the very few I've seen all appear to be unworn.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205223179?cat=photographs

Hy, thank you for this very interesting information.
I did not know this badge.
Do you think the fighting units had the "commando" badge and the members of the HQ the "SS" badge?
It is indeed a very good and logical track.

on the statue of Bill Millin There is on the sleeve:

Can be a misinterpretation then that the statue was made with the information of Bill himself.
here is the photo.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xPEQ1PBbUE7suQQ18

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RzbSCp9UW2UEfr529

On the first picture we see 1 st s s brigade.

you think that did not exist ?

THEN ON THE ARM HE COULD HAVE /
1- SS BADGE
BELOW
2 - BADGE COMBINED OPERATIONS
BELOW
3 - PIPER BADGE

does it seem possible to you?

Are there vintage photos with the "SS3 BADGE" on the arm?

Many thanks for your answers

Christophe

Interesting image of the statue, I've never seen a shoulder title with that on (original or reproduction) or indeed any contempory photos of such a title being worn.
I remain to be convinced of the badge's existance

thank you so much for your opinion.
My English is not very good. I do not quite understand the sentence "I remain to be convinced of the badge's existance"
Which badge do you speak?
Do you think a member of HQ 1st SS Brigade can have on his arm the following 2 badges.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hkomkBFJqS5q3Caw5

and with or without the "commando" badge in letters at the top

What is your opinion

Sorry Christophe
I'm saying I don't think the title on the statue existed, and I don't think the HQ badge was ever worn with the combined operations badge as displayed in your composite.
That said, just because there is no evidence it doesnt necessarily mean it didn't exist. However in all the years of collecting and researching I've never seen one.

Paul

Thank you Paul for your expertise and your information.

Hi Christophe,

I see now that you were not talking about a formation patch as I thought, but a shoulder title - the curved cloth badge at the very top of the shoulder...

I have not seen a SS Brigade shoulder title but I have seen quite dreadful reproductions of First Commando Brigade titles!

christophe wrote:Do you think the fighting units had the "commando" badge and the members of the HQ the "SS" badge?

The Commando units did have shoulder titles with 'Commando' on - but they were told to remove them before going into battle. Had they been taken prisoner wearing that title they would have been executed under Hitler's Kommandobefehl...
The term SS Brigade (Special Service Brigade) was dropped and replaced by Commando Brigade in December 1944.

The photo of the statue of Bill Millin has the Combined Ops badge facing the wrong way - the Tommy Gun should always face forward.

Nick

The only other badge I can think of is an early No.4 Cdo badge -

I have to agree with the posts by Belly.
I think reference to any specific title for 'SS Brigade' as per the Billy Millin memorial is artistic licence. Having spoken with many veterans (sadly no longer with us) and fellow enthusiasts, over 30 years of research, I believe existence of such insignia is based on speculation.
As ever, I hope my comments are helpful and cause no offence. But NO I do not believe such insignia existed.
Regards
Mike
PS - Some nice insignia illustrated, in this thread - but not related.

I should add - the insignia image posted by NIC on 21 Sept is believed to predate the Commando Group Structure and subsequent change to red on black insignia. Henry Brown told me he believed he had seen that Brigade HQ insignia being worn, although few if any images of its wear appear to exist.
The 'Special IV Service' insignia also predates adoption of official red on black insignia.
Subsequent to his posts here Paul (Belly) has suggested that Brigade HQ Personnel would probably wear the plain red on black COMMANDO title - I too believe this would be logical, apart from where may be a temporary secondment to a specific Brigade HQ may be undertaken with wear of the the parent Commando unit (etc) insignia of the person concerned.
I hope this clarification is helpful
Mike