Eighth Army Patch-First Div-Italy

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

Hi Gary:
Here is a little history on the Crusader patch of the Eighth army.
I am sure my old memory won't be perfect but I know Mark could fill in my blank memory lapses. Canadian army personal who were attached to units in Africa during that campaign were entitled to wear the 8th Army Crusader patch. During my time in Italy and Sicily the first division was part of the eighth army as were Poles, Greeks, Indians, etc. The first division wore a straight red patch When I came home on a 30 day leave in April 1945 I had been home 15 days when I went back to the unit pay office for more money. They were signing up for the Pacific operations which I happily did as I guess I was homesick for the regiment. But some one told me I was entitled to wear the Eighth Army Crusader patch. I still do not know whether this was a military order or where the hell I got it from. By the way Gary in 1943 they reformed the Pioneer Platoon into two assault demolision and one tradesman section. One of my officers in "B" Company told me that they were getting there own dispatch rider with a brand new Nortons motorcycle. I of course jumped at it. To make a long story short after 3 accidents and the bike looking like it had been run over by a tank, they told me my riding days were over. I wound up digging mines in Italy. Boy did I miss that motorcycle. Sorry for the long old vets story but what fun it is having a captive audience on the MLU. In the attachment below you will see and actual picture of the patch I wore in the bottom right hand corner. Legal or ill-legal?