Any opinions

[Alex Rice]

Hi All
I have had this SAAF senior officer's style cap badge for quite a while. The backing seems to be a plain white and there is no evidence of mothing or fading on the backing. Any opinions on what it might be from? It is very similar to Dinnes 3439 & 3440.
Thanks in advance. Cheers,
Alex

[Snowdrop 68]

Hi Alex,

Could it be a Nursing Officer cap badge? In the RAF, the PMRAFNS Officer's have a white backed RAF Officer's badge.

Just an idea.

Cheers, Bill

[Brian Conyngham]

Alex

A very nice mint piece, sorry thats all I can add.

I wonder if Dudley or Jimmy Duguid can add their opinions?

Brian

[Alex Rice]

Hi Bill
I don't think it would be medical unless maybe a prototype from the 60's or 70's. The medical service has been independent since the late 70's.
Cheers,
Alex

[The Good Dudes]

The white backing would usually be from a Candidate Officer, but I've only seen them from post 2004, and only seen the white backing on flight caps and not like this one, from a cap badge.

I've attached a picture where you can see the difference between the styles of bullion wire stitching. The purple chaplain one, is from post 2004 and the blue senior officers one is pre 2004. You can see the bullion wire stitching style from the chaplain is the same as the white one in question.

I guess the next question would be wether the badge in question, fits into that time period that it was in your possession?

[Alex Rice]

Hi Good Dudes
The style of embroidery seems more like your later chaplains badge and I have had the badge less than 10 years. Sounds like it may be the candidate officer badge.
That display you showed looks very nice, any chance of a look at the whole display if there is more
Cheers,
Alex

[The Good Dudes]

Hi Alex
This is the full frame of that picture you wanted to see.

Cheers
Jimmy

[Alex Rice]

Hi Jimmy
That's a fantastic display, thanks.
Cheers,
Alex

[7923BSAP]

Jimbo, you stuff is looking good,
Bill

[milhistry]

An interesting badge. I doubt it is a Candidate Officer cap badge (though it may be a prototype).

I've just paged through a new book on the Central Flying School and every picture of a Pupil Pilot/Candidate Officer from 1960 onwards shows a metal on black junior officer style cap badge worn with SD cap (either with the stripey gymnasium cap band of the early 1960s or with the later white cap band worn in 1970s-date).

White backings were worn on the side cap introduced circa 1980 but the badges were also metal on these.

As far as nursing and medical goes. If I recall correctly, the SAAF medical personnel used to wear SAAF uniform with SA Medical Corps cap and collar badges in the 1960s & 70s before the medical section was absorbed in the new standalone SA Medical Service around 1983 or 1984.

Most likely a prototype - perhaps somebody thought all officers should have embroidered badges. They may be cheaper to manufacture these days from Pakistan than the gilt badges?