Divisional insignia of the British Army

They were used on vehicles, sign posts and notice boards and were increasingly, but not universally, worn on uniform as the War progressed.

The sign could be based on many things, geometry (simple or more complex), heraldry, regional or historical associations, a pun, the role of the division or a combination.

Until 1916, unit names were written on vehicles, notice boards and camp flags, when an order to end this insecure practice was given to adopt a 'device, mark or sign' particular to that division.

[46] By the start of the Second World War, the British Army prohibited all identifying marks on its Battle Dress uniforms save for drab (black or white on khaki) regimental or corps (branch) slip-on titles, and even these were not to be worn in the field.

In May 1940 an order (Army Council Instruction (ACI) 419) was issued banning division signs worn on uniforms, even though some were in use on vehicles in France.

[47] Some infantry battalions in France had even started wearing battle patches in a similar manner to their First World War antecedents.

[51] A further order of December 1941 (ACI 2587) specified the material of the uniform patch as printed cotton (ordnance issue), this replaced the embroidered felt (or fulled wool) or metal badges used previously.

[85] The Canadians reused the formation signs of the First World War without the brigade and battalion distinguishing marks.

All Australian divisions had distinct vehicle markings in addition to the signs worn on the uniform shown below.

[103] County divisions were infantry only formations charged with anti-invasion duties, formed in late 1940 to early 1941 and all disbanded before the end of 1941.

[109] The formation signs intended to deceive the Axis forces were either worn by small units in the appropriate theatre (40th and 57th divisions in the Mediterranean) or described to the German intelligence services by turned agents.