WW2 Royal Marine Siege Regiment Embroidered Formation Badge

Red thread flaming grenade embroidered onto khaki cloth with brown paper backing as worn by the Royal Marines Seige Regiment, as worn in WW2. Circa 5.5cm tall. No moth or damage. Trace of bluetack to the paper backing reverse. Unissued condition.

The Royal Marine Siege regiment was formed especially to operate the big guns to be capable of firing across the Channel, including three rail mounted 13.5" weapons that were being completed at the time.

The first of the two fixed guns of the Siege Regiment was named 'Winnie' after the Prime Minister. It was a 14" naval gun. the gunners of 'Winnie' fired her first shot on 22nd August 1940 and thus made history by being the first British gun to send a shell across the Channel - the Germans had been able to do this for a while, and they immediately retaliated by shelling Dover. With no fire control to allow engagements with enemy vessels, 'Winnie' was intended purely for counter-battery work and also to interfere with any build up of an invasion fleet in Calais Harbour, but the crew did fire one round (on half charge) at some E-Boats in mid Channel on 24th September. No.2 Gun was appropriated named 'Pooh'. Both guns received their fair share of attention from the German gunners on the opposing shore.

Code: 55211