{"product_id":"wwii-british-expeditionary-force-bef-2nd-infantry-division-shield-plaque","title":"WWII British Expeditionary Force (BEF) 2nd Infantry Division Shield Plaque","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003eAn \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eauthentic piece of World War II military history: a hand-painted wooden commemorative shield plaque representing the\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003eBritish Army's 2nd Infantry Division\u003c\/span\u003e during its deployment with the \u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003eBritish Expeditionary Force (BEF)\u003c\/span\u003e from 1939 to 1940.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003e2nd Infantry Division\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was one of the first regular army formations sent across the English Channel to stand against the German invasion of mainland Europe in late 1939. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs panzer divisions pushed through the lines in May 1940, the 2nd Division fought tenaciously during the Allied retreat. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey served as a crucial rearguard element, holding open the defensive lines to allow hundreds of thousands of Allied troops to safely evacuate the beaches of Dunkirk.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003eThis hand-painted wooden shield plaque features the insignia of the British Army's 2nd Infantry Division.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003eThe two white crossed keys on a black background represent the Crossed Keys of Saint Peter, which were adopted by the division in 1940. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003eThe emblem was chosen by the commander at the time, Major General Henry Charles Loyd, and is derived from the coat of arms of the Diocese of York.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\"2. I. D.\": Stands for the 2nd Infantry Division. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\"1939 - 1940\": Marks the first period of active service during World War II, specifically covering the deployment to France, the subsequent fighting, and the eventual evacuation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\"B. E. F.\": Stands for the British Expeditionary Force, the name of the British Army contingent sent to Europe during the opening stages of the war. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003eThe back of this wooden shield provides valuable historical provenance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003eThe typed paper label reads: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003e• 2nd Infantry Division \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003e• Mjr Genl H. Lloyd \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003e• British Expeditionary Force, 1939 – 1940 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003e• Property of H. Finlay\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 20px;\"\u003ethe shield is in an e\u003cspan\u003excellent vintage\/antique condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 15.0pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eThe photographs are of the actual item and form part of the description. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 15.0pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 15.0pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003ePlease examine the photographs carefully and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Haywards Antiques \u0026 Collectables","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57368819564809,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/5437\/0569\/files\/295B5DAF-06E4-4B70-A0A8-12FAEBE38686_1_105_c-Photoroom.png?v=1790767244","url":"https:\/\/haywardsantiques.co.uk\/products\/wwii-british-expeditionary-force-bef-2nd-infantry-division-shield-plaque","provider":"Haywards Antiques \u0026 Collectables","version":"1.0","type":"link"}