Sleeve patch of the 7 December Division, Dutch East Indies, ca. 1946

The sleeve badge of the 1st Infantry Division '7 December' is a military emblem worn by Dutch soldiers starting in September 1946 during the Indonesian War of Independence in the former Dutch East Indies.

Symbolism and Design

The sleeve emblem has a specific structure and meaning:

• The Coat of Arms of Batavia: The center of the shield features the coat of arms of the former capital Batavia (now Jakarta), consisting of a red shield with a sword surrounded by a laurel wreath.
• The Letters 'E.M.': These letters flank the coat of arms and originally stood for Expeditionaire Macht(Expeditionary Force). In popular speech, they were later also translated as Elk Moment (Every Moment) ready.

Historical Context

• Naming: The division was named after Queen Wilhelmina's famous radio broadcast from London on December 7, 1942. In this speech, she outlined a restructuring of post-war relations within the Kingdom.
• Establishment: The division was founded in 1946 and consisted of approximately 19,000 men, mostly Dutch conscripts. They were deployed by ship to Java and Sumatra.
• Adoption of the Emblem: The design was originally intended for the early war volunteers (Oorlogsvrijwilligers / OVW) of the Expeditionary Force, but was officially assigned to the entire 7 December Division in September 1946.

Variations

Collectors today distinguish between several variants of this badge:

• Printed fabric variant: Early, simple versions produced in Great Britain or the Netherlands.
• Woven/embroidered fabric variant: Commonly worn on the daily tropical uniform.
• Metal (enameled) variant: Equipped with a pin fastening on the back, often produced locally by companies such as Cordesius & Zonen in Batavia or Engelen & Evers in Heeze.