Formation badge, 1st Armoured Division, 1942 (c)

Oval wool and silk badge, with a rhinoceros in white silk thread facing left on a black background. The rhinoceros, representing armoured force, is depicted standing in the early versions of the badge, with later versions showing the animal charging.

Formed as the Mobile Division in 1937, the 1st Armoured Division saw action in France in 1940, suffering heavy losses. In 1941 the unit was deployed to North Africa where it fought against Italian forces and Germany's renowned Afrika Korps. After success in North Africa 1st Armoured Division joined the campaign in mainland Italy in May 1944. It was disbanded in January 1945. In 1976 the 1st Armoured Division was reconstituted and served in Germany. In 1990 it saw action in the Gulf War against Iraqi forces that had invaded neighbouring Kuwait. In 1993, 1st (UK) Armoured Division was formed, retaining the charging rhinoceros insignia. Elements of the unit participated in the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The formation was renamed 1st (United Kingdom) Division in 2014.