| The standard unit scheme consisted of khaki green base
with the turret and upper portions of the hull painted dark green and spots of lime green
sprayed over both. Officially the unit was supposed to have the 3rd Division Kiwi as its
formation sign and the unit serial of 26 was to be painted in a black square. However,
they negotiated a deal to retain their Rampant Dragon insigna adding the Kiwi alongside
the unit serial patch. For purists the eye, tongue, flames and claws of the dragon were
red. A simpler design of dragon was use for
the Valentine III CS tanks as this marking was added to the tanks on Guadalcanal where the
official stencil for the Tank Brigade was not available. Photographs indicate that the
unit serial patch was in its original colour; yellow. Roman numerals were used to
distinguish the troops, the troop leader's marking being white (Valentine III CS tank),
the troop sergeant being yellow and the troop corporal being red. The troop number was
also painted on the Bren ammunition box on the turret rear and the formation signs and
unit serial patch repeated on the hull rear. The tanks also carried a tank infantry
telephone in a box replacing the rear light, alongside the POW rack. The words Trp Leader,
Trp Sergeant, Trp Corporal were supposed to be painted on the lid of this box though for 1
Troop the letters TL, TS and TC were used. |
