WWI or WWII cap badge?
 

This one has me stumped so perhaps the Forum can offer opinions. We have an unusual cap badge crown but it's on a band with rank bars suggesting a 1918 RAF issue. I know nothing about cap bands; can it be dated from these photos to WWI or WWII? I also note the central red jewel in the Crown.
Any idea who manufactured the cap badge?? Possibly of Canadian manufacture?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

The white band indicates an officer cadet, but I've never seen the 'rank bands' before.

David

It's late WWI
 

The rank bars were worn very briefly during the Spring of 1918 lust after the formation of the RAF, so this is of WWI vintage. A very nice example and at the risk of getting shot down in flames I would suggest it is British made due to the period when it was worn.

Rank Bands?:confused:

For a short period of time in 1918, the rank bars were worn on the caps for ranks 2nd Lieutenant, Lieut. and Captain as a result of AMWO 617/18 and Air Force Memorandum 2. The bars on my example could indicate that but I'm not sure if the style of cap badge crown dates to 1918. It would be great to see any other cap badge that matches the example in the initial post.
Th band rank bars have been discussed in an earlier post in the Forum: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...highlight=1918

Regards

All right then, rank bars, if you're going to be picky.

David

Outside of my expertise. There are some very knowledgeable Air Force collectors on this Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2246528180/
Clive

I'll add a couple of pictures related to this topic. The first is of Walter G. Preston, an Australian Lt. who served with the AIF, RFC and RAF. The portrait shows one bar but there would presumably have been another on the opposite side of the cap badge. Walter transferred to the RFC in 1916 and became a pilot, being awarded a DFC for night bombing; flying 3 missions in one night, with a total of 70 missions plus additional reconnaissance flights. The photo is submitted with the permission and courtesy of Mark Parker, a family relative.

The 2nd is an image of a full cap with what appears to be an identical style cap badge. The image, with the publishers approval, is taken from Fuss and Fashion by Clive Law but dates the cap to WWII.

The mystery continues...

A photo of the badges being worn.

Jon