3

3) The embroidered red on navy blue 'tombstone' version.

4) The circular red on navy blue badge.

5) The light blue on white embroidered 'tombstone' version worn in the Royal Navy.

6) The printed ordnance issue red on navy blue 'tombstone' version, referred to in the text as '291A'.

7) The light blue on white printed version on a square background, referred to in the text as '292B'.

8) The red on navy blue printed circular version referred to in the text as 291 A.

Diary of Major Events

30 Mar 42 - A letter was sent to Mr Bradley of the Ministry of Works and Buildings, Lambeth Bridge House,

Albert Embankment, London, SE1, who at this stage had been given the task of making the alterations to the

original design. Extract from this letter:

Dear Mr. Bradley,

Lord Louis Mountbatten is very pleased -with your design for the Combined Operations Badge, marked 'B'. Would

you please have two copies of this done, as early as practicable, in red and blue. I will then have them photo-

graphed.

22 Apr 42  - Proposals were put forward for wearing the Combined Operations Badge.

24 Apr 42 - Sample badges were embroidered. It was also suggested at this time that the only way the manufactur-

ers would be able to produce the required number of badges within a reasonable time was by having the badges

printed, which were considered to be indistinguishable from the embroidered version at a distance of about ten

feet.

29 Apr 42 - The badge, as described by Lord Mountbatten, consisted of a "Tommy" gun, an eagle and a stockless

anchor, representing the Army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

12 Jun 42  - Badges were in the process of being manufactured.

16 Jun 42 - Letter from Captain J. N. Knox, R.N. with a request for alterations to the design of the badge: 1) that

the bird should resemble an eagle and not a seagull and 2) the Tommy gun should face the opposite way, if not too

late.

23 Jun 42  - An extract, reproduced below, from a letter in answer to these suggestions. The letter was addressed

to Captain J. N. Knox, R.N., Combined Operations Liaison Officer, C/0 British Joint Staff Mission, Washington,

D.C., U.S.A.

As regards the Combined Operations Badge, I always intended that the bird should be an eagle and I think it is

shocking bad work on the part of the artist that has made it look like a seagull, I will arrange, if it is not too late,

to get the bird to look more like an eagle and send you a copy. I also agree to changing around the Tommy gun if

it is not too late.

Mountbatten had approved the original design and although the badges were being printed, he agreed to the

alterations. [Fig. 1 is drawn from a tracing made from a black & white photograph of the original design held in

these records at the PRO.]

24 Jun 42 - Combined Operations Headquarters received a letter of this date from the War Office, Hobart House,

Grosvenor Place, London, SWI requesting two specimens of the Combined Operations Badge. It was also pointed