What were the colors used for the 2n corps insignia There is a difference between the insignia used on vehicles as shown on photos of the BEF and the colors in most books or on a cloth insignia I have in the collection. The vehicle insignia of the BEF have two white waves. What is the color in between? blue or the vehicle color. The other ones have three blue waves on a white background. The fish is not always swimming in the same direction. I suppose the fish is always in red. from: British Formation Signs from collection What units were part of this 2nc Corps? Concerning Aos of 2nd Corps can I presume that the numbers used were equal to them used in 1nd corps as can be seen on http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/1940/8586-bef-1940-vehicle-markings-7.html John,
John, you certainly can work on the basis that 2 Corps Arm of Service markings followed the pattern used in the 1 Corps booklet. As I understand it, the original formation sign for 2 corps was without the fish and was simply the three wavy blue and white lines as a 'pun' on the name Alan Brooke (a 'brook' is more or less a 'beek' in Dutch). They then decided to superimpose the fish to make it more distinctive. I've never seen documentation dating this change but it would have been the early part of the 'phoney war' period. Presumably units then had to apply the fishes themselves, either freehand or stencilled if they didn't have an artist handy which is what has given rise to the considerable variations in form. It is clearly stated in Cole's book that the marking comprised three lines so I think that they must have been blue even when applied to vehicles.
Roughly "translated" into color gives us the following and Though I'm not very sure that there is a lower or third blue line on the truck's insignia. Anyhow the blue lines are much thinner than used on later versions but as you say much depends on the artists mind.
Have you noted the variation in the other thread - three white bands and the fish vertical ? http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/1940/8586-bef-1940-vehicle-markings-13.html#post355497 I think that you'd have to be a pretty poor artist to really make a mess of the 1940 period 2 Corps sign.
Though I'm not very sure that there is a lower or third blue line on the truck's insignia. Anyhow the blue lines are much thinner than used on later versions but as you say much depends on the artists mind. John I have been looking closely at pictures of these markings. I have not yet seen the fish pointing to the left on a vehicle although I know there was a lot of improvisation. I understand the Germans rendered the marking thus in one of their intelligence documents so at least that supports the colours, even if the fish looks a bit like a character out of a newspaper cartoon. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=48698&stc=1&d=1302377641 The example under the '31' looks to have been common and it looks to me that there are three blue lines as Rich has said and as the Germans show. You may have seen the following variant in an earlier thread. To me this looks like three white lines on the background of the vehicle's base colour. Rich - could this be a variant from the three blue lines? http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=48699&stc=1&d=1302377678 Andrew
Have you noted the variation in the other thread - three white bands and the fish vertical ? http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/1940/8586-bef-1940-vehicle-markings-13.html#post355497 I think that you'd have to be a pretty poor artist to really make a mess of the 1940 period 2 Corps sign. Rich - our posts crossed over. I think I could make a mess of that sign. Andrew
It's difficult to say, isn't it ? The sign is on a camouflaged wing which could have been applied after the sign was painted. Certainly the three white lines seem to have replaced the three blue lines, I don't think that there are four blue lines there but I wouldn't like to say if the two central bars are blue or background Dark Green No.4 .
It's difficult to say, isn't it ? The sign is on a camouflaged wing which could have been applied after the sign was painted. Certainly the three white lines seem to have replaced the three blue lines, I don't think that there are four blue lines there but I wouldn't like to say if the two central bars are blue or background Dark Green No.4 . I agree with your analysis. I'm off now. Andrew
I see, quite some possible variations depending upon the "artist" on duty Resuming: first picture: two, (maybe three) thin blue lines and two broader white lines second picture: three (though not clearly visible) thin blue lines and two broad white lines third picture: only three white lines on vehicle background color "Coles book": It is clearly stated in Cole's book that the marking comprised three lines so I think that they must have been blue even when applied to vehicles. If I ever decide to apply them on my Austin Tilly I have a certain margin but depending on the first pictures: always two broader white lines or waves and a curved red fish.
