Formation badge, 7th Armoured Brigade

Olive green, rectangular, woven patch with black embroidered jerboa or desert rat facing right.

During the World War Two (1939-1945) the Brigade was part of the 7th Armoured Division. According to legend, the wife of the divisional commander visited Cairo Zoo where she came across the Jerboa, a tiny jumping rodent. On her return, she produced a sketch she had made of the animal that was then was redrawn and adopted by the unit. As the Jerboa looked a bit like a rat, and the division was then serving in the Western Desert, they soon got the nickname 'The Desert Rats.' When the 7th Armoured Division was disbanded in 1953 the 7th Brigade carried on their tradition and famous title.