Description
Physical description
badge
An inverted isosceles triangle with the apex squared off, on which a black aircraft (Dornier bomber) flying upwards is pierced by a red sword, the tip of which protrudes from the nose, all on a very light grey ground with a black border. This example has a black gauze backing.
History note
This badge is unique both in its shape and in having the aircraft motif flying upwards. (There is no evidence of the badge having been worn broad end down). The sword is taken from the arms of the City of London.
The Division is also unique in having the most variations in colour and in the details of the design. There were three official designs: (1) blue background (officially 'light' blue) with narrow inner border; (2) grey background and wider outer border; (3) khaki with no border. In addition, there were many local variations arising from the use of many different local manufacturers.
It was originally believed that the khaki pattern was the first to be issued but more recent research suggests that this was in fact the final pattern, issued in 1941 as an 'austerity' issue. According to this research the blue was the first pattern and the grey the second. If this interpretation of the evidence is correct, this example is a variety of the second pattern.
The first pattern was adopted in 1939 and probably survived on some uniforms to the break up of the Division in October 1942. As such it was probably worn concurrently with the grey (1940) and khaki (1941) patterns. There is no information of exactly when each pattern was adopted but all variations might be seen in any one unit until the disbandment of the Anti-Aircraft Corps and Divisions in October 1942.
1st Anti-Aircraft Division was formed on 15 December 1935 from Territorials from London and the Home Counties and was responsible for the area south-east of a line from the Wash to the Solent. In 1938 it became a purely London Territorial formation with responsibility for the anti-aircraft defence of London and fought in the 1940-41 attacks on the capital. It was the first anti-aircraft formation to use radar for gun control.