Royal Leicestershire regt.

[ARTY]

I would like to offer this badge on the forum but would like opinions please. is it junk or is it an old badge well polished is it worth anything at all thanks.

[leigh kitchen]

I like it, it has "character".

[Frank Kelley]

It is an original beret badge in well used condition.

Originally Posted by ARTY

I would like to offer this badge on the forum but would like opinions please. is it junk or is it an old badge well polished is it worth anything at all thanks.

[ARTY]

Thanks Leigh and Frank
Arty

[Alan O]

The reduced size Royal Leicestershire badge was authorised for wear in August 1949 as the large tiger was judging too large for wear on the beret. The TA and Cadets continued to wear the 3/4 sized Royal Tiger badge up to 1971 as the attached articles record although the 4th TA Bn changed to Royal Anglian some 4 years beforehand. The badge was also worn by 579 LAA Regt RA (as they were the old pre-war TF 4th Bn) who re-joined the Regt as the 4/5th Bn in 1961 on their re-roling back to infantry.

Article for Feb 1949 recording the reduction in badge size for all ranks. The offrs wore an embroidered version on a blue backing to match the blue beret and a bronze version on the SD cap.

There is a small window between 1946-49 where the large sized Royal Leicestershire tiger badge could have been worn but there seems little doubt that such a badge was not produced for ORs as old stocks were still in use. There is mention in the 1948 edition of the regtl magazine of recruits being issued (large) Leicestershire badges that had been handed in by de-kitting soldiers and re-used.

Indeed it was not until Feb 1950 that the regtl journal records the decision to change the officers and soldiers cap badges to include the new title 'Royal'. This was some 5 years after the title had been granted but the record is quite clear that the former Leicestershire cap badge was the one replaced in 1950. This coincided with the production of the new badge in 3/4 size which had been agreed but not produced, the previous year.

I can only conclude that while the 'Royal Leicestershire' OR's large sized badge does exist, it is a fake made to fill a 'gap' in collections that never actually existed. The regt went straight from the large Leic badge to the 3/4 size Royal badge which was worn on all forms of headdress and not just the beret.

[mooke07]

This is really informative thanks Alan - plugs a gap in my timeline of Leicestershire Regiment badges, cheers Dean

[Alan O]

K&K have got it very wrong here as they show the large 1970s fake as a sealed pattern of 1951. The badge shown in K&K is a 1970s fantasy badge as the regtl magazine proves.

The s/p 1951 date is for the brass and white metal 3/4 size brass badge. Hugh King showed a fake badge in K&K Vol 2 instead of the 3/4 size badge. Likewise the 3/4 badge was not just for the beret but for the Offrs and ORs' No1 dress hat as well.

The s/p date of 1968 given for the 3/4 size badge is not correct for the metal version as the regtl magazine and photos show it to be 1951.

[Wayne Ihaka]

so from post 6 the full size bronze Royal Leicestershire is the real deal and worn by officers

but the BiM full size Royal Leicestershire is not

my bz version attached

[Alan O]

Yes - the regulations are quite clear that the only full-sized tiger with the Royal title was that one for wear on Offrs' Service Dress caps in khaki.

Dress regulations changed in 1948 for proscribing officers to wear SD caps with battledress in day-to-day wear although berets were retained for field use. There is also recorded in the Leicestershire's journal.