barnsleyrunner Posted 17 January , 2020 Share Posted 17 January , 2020 I am reading about Rifleman Ernest Blackburn, 9th KRRC kia 15.9.1916 at Flers. What does having his bit of colour stitched to his back mean in this context, a few days before going into the front line for the first time? Ernest had `had my bit of colour stitched to my back’, as the battalion’s commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Benson, told his men they would soon be moving into a `show’ where it would be a case of “up you go & the best of luck”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 17 January , 2020 Share Posted 17 January , 2020 Hi, it meant that when Ernest and his fellow soldiers attacked, they could be distinguished from other units and this allowed for battlefield command and control. Observing attacking troops in the dust, smoke and rain through binoculars or telescopes, the patches would be a relatively easy way of finding out where the lead elements of the attack were, if troops had reached their objective and if other units had merged with their company or battalion. From this information, an artillery barrage could be moved or lifted and a reserve force used to reinforce successes or counter threats from weakly-held spots. As the colour was only visible from the rear, there were no advantages given away to the Germans as they attacked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 17 January , 2020 Share Posted 17 January , 2020 (edited) 9th KRRC had a green oblong stitched onto the rear of their jacket, 2 inches below the collar until 1917. Unfortunately the 9th KRRC and other units in the 14th Division had a torrid time on 15/9/16. Andy Edited 17 January , 2020 by stiletto_33853 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 17 January , 2020 Share Posted 17 January , 2020 Some men had a triangular piece of metal sewed to the backs of their tunics, which would catch the sun and make them visible from aircraft, for the same reason. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnsleyrunner Posted 17 January , 2020 Author Share Posted 17 January , 2020 Thank you for your replies. I thought it meant something along those lines, but the additional information on colour and context is very useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buelligan Posted 23 January , 2020 Share Posted 23 January , 2020 I'd assume that outlaw motorcycle gangs' term for their back patches - colors/colours - comes from this practice too. How interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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