---
title: Ranks and Insignia of the British Armed Forces [1]
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-ranks-and-insignia-army-raf-auxiliaries-1943/
description: One side of a folded sheet shows colour plates of British Army and Royal Air Force rank insignia, wings and brevets, and auxiliary service badges.
section: Collection
---

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3. Ranks and Insignia of the British Armed Forces [1]

[![Ranks and Insignia of the British Armed Forces \[1\], 1943 UK poster: One side of a folded sheet shows colour plates of British](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-ranks-and-insignia-army-raf-auxiliaries-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-ranks-and-insignia-army-raf-auxiliaries-1943.jpg)

# Ranks and Insignia of the British Armed Forces [1]

One side of a folded sheet shows colour plates of British Army and Royal Air Force rank insignia, wings and brevets, and auxiliary service badges, each with a label, and a note on the Combined Operations shoulder flash worn by British and U.S. Rangers and other Allied personnel. It is largely an explanatory chart; the tell for transfer is the display of insignia as authority symbols for an American audience.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
ARMY
ROYAL AIR FORCE
AUXILIARIES and COMBINED OPERATIONS

[labels include:] FIELD-MARSHAL; GENERAL; COLONEL; LIEUTENANT-COLONEL; BRIGADIER; MAJOR; CAPTAIN; LIEUTENANT; 2nd LIEUTENANT; MARSHAL OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE; AIR CHIEF MARSHAL; QUALIFIED PILOT'S WINGS; NAVIGATOR; BOMBARDIER; FLIGHT ENGINEER; AIR GUNNER; NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE; AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS; WOMEN'S LAND ARMY; CIVIL DEFENSE; AUXILIARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE
COMBINED OPERATIONS (Shoulder Flash) Worn by all personnel serving permanently under Combined Operations Command. They include not only the British "Commandos" and men of the Royal Navy and the R.A.F., but also U. S. Rangers and personnel of other Allied forces.
```

[← Our Rollers keep 'em flying! (Ministry of Supply No. 99)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-our-rollers-keep-em-flying-ministry-of-supply-1943/) [Ranks and Insignia of the British Armed Forces \[2\] →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-ranks-and-insignia-navy-text-1943/)

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