c1941-46, 82nd (West African) Division Printed Formation Sign Patch Badge

cWWII, 82nd (West African) Division of the British Army during World War II. he badge features two crossed spears over a native carrier's headband, symbolising the unit's heritage. Fixed to aertex shirt material. Signs of popped (missing). Used condition.

Ref: BoBD 3647. p.761.

The Div fought in Burma as part of the 14th Army, participating in major actions like the advance to Mandalay and Rangoon.

The 82nd (West African) Division was formed under British control during the Second World War in 1941. It took part in the later stages of the Burma Campaign and was disbanded in Burma between May and September 1946.


The inspiration for the division's formation came from General George Giffard. He had extensive experience of leading East African troops, and early in the Second World War became the commander of Britain's West Africa Command. He was eager for troops from Britain's African colonies to play their part in the war. When he was subsequently appointed to command the Eastern Army in India, facing the Imperial Japanese Army on the frontier between India and Burma, he requested that the two divisions being organised in West Africa be used in the Burma campaign.

The division was formed from the 1st (West African) Infantry Brigade and 2nd (West African) Infantry Brigade, both of which had taken part in the East African Campaign in 1940 and 1941, and the new 4th (Nigerian) Infantry Brigade. The Division's headquarters was created on 1 August 1943. It followed the 81st (West African) Division in the numbering sequence of British war-raised infantry divisions. The HQ took control of its sub-units on 1 November 1943. The division's formation sign was crossed spears on a porter's headband, in black on a yellow shield.

Code: 1997