Insignia

It is not known for sure when SAS insignia was first worn. Some of the original members who formed the unit in North Africa claim it was before their first operation. The SAS Cap Badge bearing the legend 'Who Dares Wins' is certainly one of the most recognisable pieces of SAS insignia. These cloth badges were worn by both Belgian officers and enlisted men on the red airborne beret. The design of the SAS cap badge (known by many erroneously as the 'Winged Dagger' when it is in fact supposed to be a representation of King Arthurs famous sword Excalibur) was made by Sgt. Bob Tait. Many variations of the SAS cap badge were produced during the Second World War but the example shown below is typical of the type the Belgians wore.

Wartime SAS Cap Badge (D.Thomas Collection).

There had been a design competition in the unit and Sgt.Tait had won it with the above design. The motto 'Who Dares Wins' is credited to the founder of the SAS, David Sterling. The design of the SAS wings can put down to Jock Lewes who is said to have been inspired by a fresco of an Ibis (sacred Egyptian bird now thought to be extinct) in the foyer of Shepherds Hotel in Cairo. The SAS wing is distinctly different from the standard British Parachutist wing and was worn in a variety of positions (on either side of the chest and on either arm depending on the wearer). There were many different types of SAS wing produced during the Second World War but the type below is typical of those worn by the Belgians. This particular example belonged to Sgt. Henri Verschuere.

A set of wartime SAS wings worn by Sgt. Henri Verschuere (D.Thomas Collection).

When the Belgian paratroopers were first authorised to wear the red airborne beret they wore them with the lion cap badge of the free Belgian army. The Belgian lion cap badges were issued with different finishes. A plain bronze finish for enlisted men (see below), a silver finish for non commissioned officers and a dark choclate finish for officers.

Free Belgian army cap badge in bronze finish for enlisted men (D.Thomas Collection).

These lion cap badges were replaced by the coveted SAS cap badge when the unit became part of the SAS Brigade in early 1944. Of course that also marked the introduction and use of SAS wings too. However, standard British parachutist qualification wings were still worn by the Belgians until the very end of the war. It should also be noted that some men who joined the unit late in 1944/45 wore a special version of the regular British parchutist wing which differed only by having a dark blue background instead of the usual khaki. An example of a standard British parachutist qualification wing is shown below. Many different variations were produced during the war but this example is typical of the type worn by the Belgians.

British parachutists qualification wing (D.Thomas Collection).

As members of the Belgian Independent Parachute Company (B.I.P.C.), the Belgians wore a Belgian Flag on their right shoulder and a 'Belgium' title on their left shoulder. Examples of each are shown below.

Free Belgian army Insignia worn by members of the B.I.P.C. in the UK (D.Thomas Collection).

The first 'Belgium' shoulder titles worn during the war were produced in Canada and issued to the Belgian volunteers who trained at camp Joliette (Quebec) before they shipped over to the United Kingdom. Many of these men went on to form the core of the Belgian Independent Parachute Company. An example of the early Canadian produced 'Belgium' shoulder title is shown below.

Early Canadian made 'Belgium' shoulder title (D.Thomas Collection).

These 'Belgium' shoulder titles were not worn by the Belgians when they became part of the SAS Brigade. They wore no shoulder titles until very late in the war (1945) when 'S.A.S.' shoulder titles were introduced. A few different variations of the 'S.A.S.' shoulder title existed but the example shown below is the type used by the Belgians (This example was worn by Sgt. Henri Verschuere).

SAS shoulder title worn by Sgt. Henri Verschuere (D.Thomas Collection).

Like all other British airborne troops, the Belgian SAS also wore the Pegasus formation patch on both arms. The image derived from an ancient Greek myth which told of a warrior called Bellerophon who mounted a winged horse (Pegasus) and slayed a monster called Chimaera. Emboidered pegasus patches were more commonly worn by the Belgians but some printed versions were also used. The 3 examples below were all issued to men who were in or were attached to the Belgian SAS during the war.

Embroidered Pegasus patches. L-R Capt. Donnelly, Sgt.Vershuere, Capt. Donnelly (D.Thomas Collection).

Although not actually worn by any Belgian men in the unit, the special GHQ Liaison 'Phantom' formation patch was worn by Canadian Captain W.M. Donnelly who was attached to the Belgian SAS late in the war as signals officers. One of Captain Donnelly's 'Phantom' patches is shown below.

GHQ Liaison 'Phantom' formation patch as worn by Capt. Donnelly (D.Thomas Collection).

Other insignia worn by the Belgian parachutists include a metal pocket badge issued to all free Belgian troops in the United Kingdom. These were very popular with all the men who wore them on their battledress jackets.An example is shown below.

Belgian army in United Kingdom pocket badge (D.Thomas Collection).

Another badge which was quite popular with the Belgian parachutists was the so called 'GQ' badge. These small enamel badges were produced by the parachute makers Gregory & Quilter who gave them to anyone who had completed parachute training using their parachutes.

GQ parachutists badge (D.Thomas Collection).

Another pocket badge worn (albeit not very commonly) by Belgian parachutists was a small metal version of the parachutists qualification wing. Like the GQ badge these were worn on the pocket of the battledress jacket.

Metal parachutists pocket badge (D.Thomas Collection).