Mike
I think you are right, as the turret hatch configuration is wrong for a Saladin.

Rob

Some good examples here of both Crewman patch and Yellow Oval etc....

Re Diamond patch.
Message from 14/20th.. friends this am.
'Brian, Take no notice of that.
It is Royal Blue left, Primrose right on square as Bob put it.
We never wore it as a diamond shape.

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(there was a comment about ebay but we won't go there!)

14/20 H
 

Brian,

Many thanks

3748 Hussar

Scorpion or Saladin
 

Hi Mike

Look behind the Commander and you will see a Pistol Grip. The rest of the gun is covered by loose stowage.

That Pistol Grip is the friendly end of a Gun, Machine, Calibre.30 Browning,
M1919A4. These MGs were mounted at the commanders' station on Saladins.
(as indeed they were on some Mks of Centurion)

The guns mounted on Scorpion, Strker, Sultan and Scimitar were 7.62mm GPMGs.

Best wishes

Gordon

14th/20th King's Hussars Beret Badge Backings
 

For those of you who are now losing the will to live one last post on 14/20H beret badge backings.

No.1. The Primrose oval backing, initial issue obtained from the regiment
mid '60s, showing the first edition of the reversion to the black Hawk. These were painted under regimental auspices. This was formerly a gilding metal badge with no makers name on the slider.

No.2. As no.1 but now aa made by SMITH & WRIGHT LTD.

No.3. First issue by government contractor, aa made by J.R.GAUNT B'HAM

No.4. As worn on the Beret Patch, the subject of this thread.

My thanks again to all for your help and perseverance.

Best wishes

Gordon

Scorpion CVR(T).... did the Saladin CVR(W) ever have tracks? I thought we flogged them all (Saladin) to the OMAN & Kuwait mob....

Good point Griff well made! Nobody's perfect!

Slight slip of the keyboard there, it was the Information board I was really trying to portray, but thanks for pointing it out.

Best wishes

Gordon

Misunderstanding.
 

Hi Mike

Reading through this thread again I see I have misunderstood your comment above. I thought you were referring to the photo put up by Sketchley Kid of the Commander sitting in the turret with a square patch on his beret.
I have now realised you were commenting on my photo of what is clearly a Scorpion and not a Saladin as I stated in my comments.

Please accept my apologies and disregard all reference to M1919A4s and GPMGS please.

Best wishes

Gordon

I retract that comment, as the picture is taken from the back of the AFV the turret facing forward. My apologies, it does appear to be a Saladin or ?.

I would like to add that this AFV was by all accounts a splendid piece of kit, a little over designed perhaps and hard to maintain, but I am told, many lads believe it should have not have been removed from service without a comparable replacement.

The use of such a AFV would have been a most useful in our involvement in both Iraq & Afghanistan in recce & support.

I would be interested to hear from anyone who has crewed in a Saladin.

Thank you.

Rob

Saladin v Saladin
 

It's a generational thing. To my generation this is a Saladin - sorry to have been the cause of such confusion!
Attachment 89661

Griff

Thanks for the images. The Blue/ Primrose Beret flash seems to have no 'hawk' cap badge, the question is though why? and do you have a date for these images?

I would also urge those involve in this this thread to continue searching for images, because whilst it is good to have the images presented, it really is not enough to draw any conclusion to this Flash/backings wear.

As it is clear, this, like many other regimental insignia evolved, mutated, and finally disappeared.

Rob

They had Centurions in LIbya, admittedly quite old ones.

Hi Griff

Just when I thought the end was in sight you throw up the photograph of the beret patch seemingly being worn without a Hawk.

Awesome research, thank you for that; the hare is up and running again.

Thoughts gentlemen please.

Gordon

P.S.Following on from REMEVMBEA1's observation above I think the 14/20H soldier in Brian's picture is in a Centurion (and trying to figure out where the part he is holding fell off from!)

Here is a better close up..... don't forget that the 1950s Hawk was brass and it may disappear against the primrose yellow.... I think there is a hint of a brass Hawk on the crewman patch.

This photo I think is early 1960s?