The sealed pattern for this scrolled badge was dated 1897 but an account from the Regiment contends that it was first issued in 1912.
The scroll was added unilaterally by a storeman without the concurrence of the regiment and to their chagrin; allegedly this was done to remind the storemen to which regiment the badge belonged. Consequently, after the scrolled version came into use the old version was much more cherished by those soldiers fortunate enough to own them.
Lt.-Col. C.B. MacKenzie, GSO1 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem in 1944 wore his grandfathers scroll-less silver badge in his marooon beret, as on display in the diorama in the cellars at the Hartenstein Museum in Oosterbeek.
Rgds, Thomas.
|