U.K. Paratroop Camp Flag from the Falklands War 1982.
This maroon flag bears the cap badge of the United Kingdom's paratroops: a British paratroop camp flag used during the 1982 Falklands Islands War. It is not a regimental flag, but a flag used to indicate a camp or vehicle of that military organization.
The airborne forces of the United Kingdom have made use of maroon insignia and flags since WWII when it was first suggested by Lieutenant General Boy Browning's wife, Daphne du Maurier. Du Maurier has been called the master of modern Gothic narrative and is the author of a story on which Alfred Hitchcock would base his film, "The Birds." Unafraid of blood, du Maurier suggested the maroon background color for paratroop soldiers' berets and insignia . Her husband liked the idea. The maroon berets would inspire the German nickname for Britain's airborne troops, Rote Teufel or the 'Red Devils'. Today the UK Parachute Regiment carries on the tradition and the maroon is recognized as the color of airborne troops the world over.
During the Falkland Islands War, which was fought after the invasion and occupation of the Falkland Islands by Argentina in April of 1982, the response of the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher's was decisive and swift. Troops were immediately dispatched. Among them were the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Parachute Regiment.
It is unknown which of these battalions used this flag during that 74 day conflict, and it should not be confused with similar flags sold by the he Parachute Regiment Charity as a fund raiser.
Provenance: Acquired by purchase in 2008 at the Bay Area Militaria Show, San Jose, California.
ZFC Important Flag
Sources:
Camp Flags, Dictionary of Vexillology, Flags of the World, 19 Amy 2012, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/vxt-dv-c.html
British Paratroop Flags, Flags of the World, 19 May 2012, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ufe12.html
Parachute Regiment Flag, The Airborne Shop, 19 May 2012, from: http://www.airborneshop.com/gifts/flags-bunting-and-towels/parachute-regiment-flag
Frederick Browning, Wikipedia, 19 May 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Browning
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
