what patches did royal marine commandos wear on there field uniform in the 1980s

Royal Marine Commandos in the 1980s typically wore the Royal Marines Commando shoulder flash on their field uniform, and on 3 Commando Brigade dress they could also wear the green dagger patch associated with 3 Commando Brigade. The shoulder flash was usually the most recognizable identifier, and other unit-specific or formation flashes could be added depending on posting and role.

What was most common

• Royal Marines Commando shoulder flash on each shoulder of combat or field dress.

• 3 Commando Brigade dagger flash for those serving in that formation.

• Unit or formation flashes sometimes appeared alongside the commando title depending on assignment and dress regulations.

Important note

The exact patch setup could vary by year, unit, and whether the clothing was older field kit or later combat dress, so there wasn’t just one single “1980s” patch layout used by every Royal Marine Commando. The most reliable general answer is the shoulder commando flash, with brigade or unit insignia added where authorized.

Quick scoop

If you’re looking at a photo or reenactment impression, the safest 1980s guess is: black-and-green Royal Marines Commando shoulder flashes , plus any unit-specific patch if the context shows a particular troop or brigade.

TL;DR: In the 1980s, Royal Marine Commandos most commonly wore the Royal Marines Commando shoulder flash , and sometimes the 3 Commando Brigade dagger flash or other authorized unit insignia.