British Army Aid Group formation badge : Colonel L T Ride

Rectangular black felt badge backed with khaki cotton drill. Embroidered in the centre is a scarlet pimpernel with a yellow centre. The back carries four brass press studs for attachment to a uniform.

This British Army Aid Group (BAAG) formation badge was created, and worn by Colonel Lindsay Tasman Ride during his service in the Second World War. The flower, the scarlet pimpernel, was chosen by Ride himself, who thought it an appropriate symbol considering secretive nature of the work he was undertaking.

Ride was born on 10 October 1898 at Newstead, Victoria and served in the First World War. He enlisted in the AIF on 14 February 1917 and joined 38 Battalion on the Western Front early in 1918. He was twice wounded.

When the Second World War broke out Ride was Professor of Physiology at the University of Hong Kong. In 1941 Major Ride was placed in charge of Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps field ambulance during the Japanese attack. After the fall of Hong Kong on Christmas day, Ride escaped from the Japanese Shamshuipo prison camp to China in early January 1942, for which he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Ride formed (as a colonel in the Indian Army) the BAAG in March 1942 with the express purpose of helping prisoners of war, internees and escapees from Hong Kong.

This was approved by the British War Office and Colonel Ride became the MI9 representative in China and commandant of the Group. BAAG became the chief source of military intelligence for the Allies in Southern China. It helped to liberate 2000 people from Japanese captivity and smuggled medical drugs, food and messages of encouragement into Hong Kong. In 1944 Ride was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his outstanding leadership of the BAAG. Ride and BAAG also helped the Chinese population with medical assistance and food until it was disbanded on the 31 December 1945.

From 1948 to 1962, Ride was the colonel commandant of the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force. He was knighted for his service to it.