Formation signs were first worn during the 1914 - 1918 war. Their introduction was brought about by the necessity for some form of distinguishing mark or sign to aid recongnition of Corps and Divisional vehicles and personel.

Prior to their appearance, the troops tended to think only of their own particular regiment or Corps and were not always aware of the part it was playing against the vast background of the operations on the Western and other Fronts. When signs were adopted, around the middle of 1916, the men began to take a certain pride in belonging to the formation to which thier regiment were a part. Signs were thought to be a new kind of heraldry. The "Battle Patch", as they became known, taken into use for pratical military reasons had, by the later stages of the war, engendered a strong Esprit de Corps. The signs took the form of "Heraldic", "Symbolic", "Animal", or "Geometric". The design was left to each formation and many reflected the choice of the Corps or Divisional Commander. During the Great War, the signs were worn, either on the sleeve, just below the shoulder, or on the back of the tunic, immediately below the collar. Home based units did not wear fomation signs. The signs were also used on vehicles.