Description
Physical description
badge
The red cross of St George on a white shield with a Crusader's sword, golden hilted, point down, superimposed on the upright of the cross.
History note
The following interpretative description of the symbolism of the 1st Army (First Army) badge is taken from the contemporary 'Programme of the First Army Victory Thanksgiving Service in Tunisia':
'The Shield: representing our country - our home set in the midst of the sea, a sure and safe refuge - a land, shaped like a shield, which has stood us in good stead all through the long pages of our history. The base of our strength today. 'Breathes there a man with soul so dead, who never to himself hath said, 'This is my own, my native land?'
The Crusader's Cross: the symbol by which all men shall know the ideals and principles for which we stand, no sacrifice being too great in the cause of freedom. For nothing can be higher than the hope expressed by that symbol - persecution, oppression and terror banished, and replaced by Christian peace and toleration. No one can doubt the intention of those who serve and follow The Cross.
The Drawn Sword: long ago a Christian soldier gave us an example of the cause for which the sword should be drawn. This example we of the First Army endeavour to follow. St. George drew his sword and destroyed a dragon which had enslaved a nation. We endeavour to destroy a dragon which has arisen in Europe which would enslave the whole world. We cannot sheathe our sword until our task be thoroughly finished.'
Formed in July 1941 in Scotland as Force 110, an amphibious formation, it was redesignated Expeditionary Force on 23 March 1942. It was finally designated 1st Army on 10 July 1942 and commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Kenneth Anderson. It formed the British component of the Anglo-American force that landed in North West Africa in November 1942 and went on to liberate Algeria. Holding over the winter of 1942-43 they eventually joined up with 8th Army for the liberation of Tunisia. The Army was disbanded after the end of hostilities in North Africa.
The badge was subsequently adopted by 2nd Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA). Other than 6th AGRA, most AGRA HQs and their subordinate units wore the relevant Army, or possibly Army Group, sign.
2nd AGRA was formed in Darlington in September 1942 with the object of going to North Africa as part of 1st Army, under command of IX Corps. It arrived in March 1943 and fought there to the end of the campaign. When 1st Army and IX Corps HQ were disbanded, HQ 2nd AGRA was saved and allocated, with different units under command, to X Corps under the American Fifth Army for the Salerno operation.
It was at this time that '... Lieutenant-General Sir Kenneth Anderson passed on the legacy of the First Army sign to 2 AGRA, who then acquired and wore with great pride the crusader's shield with the St George's cross and sword.' The badge was probably worn on the left shoulder, the 8th Army badge on the right (see 6th AGRA).
2nd AGRA fought throughout the Italian campaign. At the end of the War it was responsible, with 21st Tank Brigade, for guarding some 150,000 'Suspected Enemy Persons' in the Rimini area. In January 1946 HQ 2nd AGRA went to Greece as an infantry brigade HQ (180 Infantry Brigade).
A second '2nd AGRA' was created in 1954.
(Note that Frederick lists this formation as AA on creation but throughout its North African and Italian deployments it commanded the usual mixture of field and medium regiments and some heavy batteries.)
