The British 12th Army Corps, WWII.

[leigh kitchen]

12 Corps was part of Home Forces & was located in South - Eastern Command until 1944.

Its badge bore three trees, (black trunks, green foliage, set on a ground of green grass & on a white horizontal oval which was sometimes portrayed on a black rectangle), the trees representing an oak, an ash & a thorn.

The trees linked with the name of the Corps Commander, Major General Sir A.F. N. Thorne K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., & also referred to "the Oak, the Ash & the Thorn" in Rudyard Kipling's historical fantasy "Puck of Pook's Hill", published in 1906 - the area referred to in the book being the area in which the Corps was raised.

As part of The 21st Army Group, 12 Corps formed part of the British Second Army during the Normandy campaign & in North-West europe.

Designated a "follow-up" formation, 12 Corps formed up in the Odon Valley area in July 1944 & took command of the troops holding that area, previously commanded by 8 Corps.

It took part in a diversionary action prior to Operation Goodwood, 18 - 20/7/1944, and fought south out of the area in August.

Supporting the left flank of 30 Corps during Operation Market Garden in September 1944, along with 8 Corps supporting the right flank,12 Corps could'nt keep pace with the advance of 30 Corps, leaving the latter's flanks & it's Lines of Communications exposed to counter attack, a major contribution to the British failure to reach Arnhem in time to prevent defeat.

A painted example of the 12th Corps badge:

Edited October 2, 2009 by leigh kitchen