Didn’t know anything about this until I saw a badge for sale on the internet for the 1st American eagle squadron of the home Guard in Britain. Authorised by a special order by King George VI the squadron was incorporated into the home guard September 1940 and comprised of US citizens living in Britain. There were approx 80 men and they were attached to the London HQ with Americans working for the US embassy and also press correspondents. Founded by General Wade H Hays (who I also believe subsequently founded the RAF Eagle squadron) felt that he couldn’t just sit by and do nothing whilst Britain was under attack and would have felt ashamed had the Americans living in Britain done nothing to help. This may also have been a positive response to US Ambassador Joe Kennedy and his opposition to US President Roosevelt’s policy of wanting to help Britain. A lot of the squadron members privately purchased their own weapons including Thompson SMG’s and were motorised as can be seen on a Pathe News report of Churchill inspecting the troops.
The troops wore a cap badge similar to the US Army but the difference with this one and the normal army badge is the lack of the constellation above the eagle head.
(As a side note I am starting to collect US Insignia so will now include in my blog some of these as they are in effect awards. Onward and upward my friends).
