Formation badge, 8th Army and Headquarters British Troops Austria, 1945 (c)

The design for the original 8th Army badge had been adopted in September 1941. It is claimed to owe its origin to the fact that 8th Army's first operation was Operation CRUSADER, and so a Crusader's shield was proposed as a suitable emblem. However, the colour was changed from red to a gold cross as there might have been confusion with medical units and the Red Cross symbol. Some variations of the badge include a black backing, or a gold cross edged in dark blue or black.

The original occupation force in Austria at the end of the Second World War was made up of 8th Army units, which had fought across North Africa, Sicily, and then up through Italy. When the 8th Army was disbanded in July 1945, British Troops Austria adopted this as their formation badge. Just as 21st Army Group did Germany when it became the British Army of the Rhine, the occupation forces carried over their war time symbol into their new role.