Ninety years ago this month, in March 1918, the German’s mounted their last desperate bid to break the British line, throwing half a million men against the 5th Army under General Sir Hubert Gough. This information is revealed on the back of card no. 2 in Morris’s Victory Signs, on the front of which is a racing Red Fox with a white splash on its tail, the 5th Army’s distinguishing mark, chosen by General Gough a keen hunting man, when he took command. This is a truly fascinating series. Released in 1928, it is in effect a history of the British Army in the Great War, and not just the broad canvas, but down to the work of individual groups such as the Royal Engineer’s Tunnelling Company whose highly dangerous task it was to “dig vast mines under the enemy trenches at the end of the tunnels of great length lay tons of explosives and then blow them up.” The tunnellers’ distinguishing mark was a T superimposed on a triangle. All the marks were chosen to represent a particular attribute – the White and Red Rose of the 31st Division reflecting its make up as Lancashire and Yorkshire troops, the 38th Division comprised Ulstermen hence the Red Hand, the 9th (Scottish) Division a Thistle and so on.

This set of 50 Victory Signs issued by Morris in 1928 in very good condition is catalogued at £35.00.