« Holland » insert patch for The Staffordshire Rgt (the Prince of Wales’s)
 

Hi

What is the «*Holland*» insert patch for The Staffordshire Rgt
(the Prince of Wales’s) ?

Is it a badge backing ?

Yes, see here.

http://castlemilitaria.com/viewphoto...h=64361&phqu=2

regards

Holland Patch - South Staffs
 

Stems from the 38th Foot and the posting to Antigua WI in 1707. Remained there until 1764 - longest ever overseas posting for the British Army. Re-supply was dreadful and there were widespread shortages. The forerunners of the South Staffs were reduced to making tunics out of hessian sugar sacks. The hessian patch behind the cap badge commemorates this period of regimental history. With the formation of the Mercian Regiment the patch has been consigned to history.

Hi Simon and Volunteersoldier

Thank you !

At the era post WW2, was this backing felt or cloth?

Was it the same for the The Staffordshire Rgt (the Prince of Wales’s) 1959 - 2007 ?

The Holland backing was still worn with the cap badge during this period by the Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince Of Wales’s) I would say a cloth backing but not positive on that others may know for sure.
Gerard

It is a piece of Hessian cloth, the sort that sand bags are made of, before the plastic type.

The Mercian Regiment continue to wear the patch as part of the sleeve badge.

Marc

Holland Patch - South Staffs
 

Yes, the Holland Patch was a proud, integral, and essential, item of uniform. The patch was always worn behind the cap badge.The "transfer" from cap to arm was an attempt to continue "a golden thread", according to the butchers of the regimental system. The DERR used to wear the brandywine behind the cap badge
- another casualty of multi-amalgamation. You may ask "What happened to this golden thread?"

Thank you Gerard and Marc !

Good evening,

I have a beret with this badge. The Patch is not a cloth one but made in a kind of aluminium.
I have the officer version too

Laurent

Great, thank you !

Here is a close up of the Staffordshire Regiment officer's beret badge. Note the hessian effect of the Holland Cloth backing.

Tim

The hessian backing was used for the cap badge and the collar badges. Although you find badges with the backing glued on ,the hessian comes in a small square which had to be cut to shape.