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Detail Info
Object ID
1973.012.012
Access Number
1973.012
Subjects
Object Name
Chevron
Other Name
Red and white service chevrons (WW II)
Status
Material
Cloth
Provenance
Location
Origin
Caption
Date
Status Date
Note
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FEATURE INFO
Artifact Type
Object
Objet
Category
History
Histoire
Collection
BADGES
BADGES
Red and white service chevrons (WW II)
Red and white (silver) service chevrons, circa World War II. The silver chevron indicates service in 1939, red chevrons are worn for each subsequent year. Service Chevrons are worn under the rank badge.
Service Chevrons were revived in the Second World War, being introduced in December of 1942. At first, they were restricted to officers and men of the Active Army except those serving in UK or in "theaters of war." It was not until 1944 that the restriction against wearing them in the United Kingdom was removed.
Initially, one black chevron was awarded for each complete year of continuous service after 10 September 1939. Personnel who joined the CASF on or before 10 September 1940 were permitted to wear a silver chevron in addition to, and underneath, any other black chevrons granted.
The chevrons were to be worn pointed upwards on the left forearm of BD Blouses, SD and KD Jackets, summer worsted and drab serge open collar jackets (only). The point of the lowest chevron was to be 5 1/2 inches from the bottom of the sleeve, or immediately above any rank or Good Conduct badges worn on the forearm.
Further orders changed these regulations dramatically. Soldiers in the UK and overseas war theatres were no longer prevented from wearing the chevrons (which had changed from black to red). Silver chevrons were no longer granted in addition to other chevrons earned; rather those who joined in the first year of the war were entitled to have their first chevrons in silver, with subsequent chevrons in red. The chevrons were moved from the left forearm to the right, with the point of the lowest chevron changed from 5-1/2 to 4 inches avove the bottom of the sleeve (or immediately above the point of the cuff where worn). The silver chevrons issued are actually in white thread.
The wearing of service chevrons earned in the First World War was prohibited.

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