Did 50 Recce wear the Recce cap badge? - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

rac1944 · #1 20-10-17, 03:10 PM

Elsewhere on the Forum it has been pretty well concluded that 18 Recce did not receive the Recce cap badge before being taken prisoner and wore only the Loyals badge.

A similar question has come up regarding 50 Recce after reading a 50R veteran’s memoirs – An Average War by Mike Peyton. He was in 4th Royal Northumbrian Fusiliers before they converted and he went to the Middle East/North Africa with 50R in November 1941.

Mike Peyton says (p20) ‘Overnight we became special units of elite troops and were given another cap badge. It was a design of a spear with two jagged lines coming from it. It looked like a Christmas tree. …It was never worn. The 50th Reconnaissance Battalion always wore the badge of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.’ He is in no doubt.

As with 18R timings could be the key to supporting his statement. The Recce cap badge was first available to units from September/October 1941 so there hadn’t been enough time for the badge to gain the kudos it did later. 50R appear to be very attached to their infantry regiment heritage. They retained the rank of Fusilier rather than Private and by Army Council Instruction had (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) added to their title. So although he says they received it, their attachment to the RNF and the timing of their movement to North Africa may have assigned the badges to the stores.

Does anyone have any evidence to support the wearing of the RNF cap badge by 50R or evidence to support that they did at some point wear the Recce badge?
John

fougasse1940 · #2 20-10-17, 07:54 PM

The cap badge wasn't sealed until 7 August 1942, so well after it was already supplied.

Rgds, Thomas.

rac1944 · #3 21-10-17, 02:21 PM

Thomas, I'm having a blank moment, not sure I understand what you mean, could you elaborate, thanks.
John

fougasse1940 · #4 21-10-17, 08:44 PM

If the badge wasn't issued before sealing they couldn't have worn it was my reasoning, but apparently it was issued before sealing so at least in theory they would have been able to wear it.

Jeremy Taylor in his 'This band of brothers' uses the Trooper rank instead of Fusilier.

Rgds, Thomas.

rac1944 · #5 22-10-17, 04:36 PM

Got it, although out of interest where did you get the sealed date of 1942? The badge was sealed 7 July 1941 following The King's approval on 30 June 1941. (Dates from WO 32/4720)
John

fougasse1940 · #6 22-10-17, 07:36 PM

Ah, OK, that explains a lot. My date came from the IWM, see for instance here: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30103238

Rgds, Thomas.