Tactical recognition flash, 12th Mechanised Brigade

Square red patch with a woven black ace of spades with the brigade number, '12', in red, embroidered in the centre.

Subsequently known as 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, this unit traces its origins back to Boer War (1899-1902). During World War One (1914-1918) the brigade fought on the Western Front. One of the Brigade's commanders was Brigadier-General Adrian Carton de Wiart, whose Victoria Cross is also held in the National Army Museum Collection.

During World War Two (1939-1945) the Brigade formed part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940. After Dunkirk the unit was based in the United Kingdom until 1943. The Brigade went on to serve in North Africa, Italy and Greece.

Disbanded in 1947, the Brigade was reformed in 1956 as the 12th Infantry Brigade. It served in Germany and participated in the Gulf War (1990-1991) but was again disbanded in 1992. 12th Mechanised Brigade was reformed in 1998 following the Strategic Defence Review. It served in Bosnia in 1999, Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2007 and 2012. The Army 2020 reorganisation of the British Army which followed the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review resulted in the adoption of the current unit title.