Description
Physical description
badge
A yellow cross on a white shield on a black rectangle.
History note
The badge is said to owe its origin to the fact that 8th Army's first operation was Operation Crusader and as the design of a badge was at that time under consideration a Crusader's shield seemed a suitable emblem. However, such a decision would have implied the use of a red cross and concern was expressed at the time that there might be confusion with the Red Cross symbol. Examples of the 'first design' are known to exist but it is not clear how widely they were issued, if at all. In the event, the overall design was retained but the colour of the cross changed to gold.
The same badge, although usually smaller, was later adopted by HQ British Troops Austria.
Variations of the badge include black for the backing rectangle and the cross being outlined in dark blue or black.
When a second Corps was formed in the Western Desert in September 1941 (the Armoured Corps, soon to become XXX Corps) it became desirable to create an intermediate level of command between these commands and GHQ. HQ Western Army was formed in Cairo on 10 September 1941 and was redesignated 8th Army (Eighth Army) on 26 September after HQ had moved to Ma'aten Baggush. It had under command XIII and Armoured Corps.
The Army fought throughout the Western Desert campaigns of 1942 culminating with the victory at Alamein under Montgomery. They then undertook the pursuit of the Axis forces westward to their final defeat, in conjunction with 1st Army, at Tunis. 8th Army then participated with 7th US Army as 15th Army Group in the invasion of Sicily. Under the same command the Army then fought throughout Italy across the Sangro, the Volturno, through the Gothic and Adolf Hitler Defence lines to the final victory in the Po Valley in the spring of 1945. The Army subsequently undertook occupation duties in Austria and the badge was retained by British Troops Austria.