Capt Vivian Graham Loyd, MC, RFA

[Dan M]

On another forum a member posted the following photograph of Capt Loyd from The Great War. The member is American and had questions about the placing of the 'T' on the lapel rather than on the epaulette, and lack of the word 'Ubique' on the cap badge.

Loyd was a Territorial commissioned into, according to Wikipedia, the 4th Home Counties (Cinque Ports) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

Can any of the knowledgeable posters on here provide any answers?

Thanks.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Dan M

On another forum a member posted the following photograph of Capt Loyd from The Great War. The member is American and had questions about the placing of the 'T' on the lapel rather than on the epaulette, and lack of the word 'Ubique' on the cap badge.

Loyd was a Territorial commissioned into, according to Wikipedia, the 4th Home Counties (Cinque Ports) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

Can any of the knowledgeable posters on here provide any answers?

Thanks.

The small T was required of Territorial Force officers and worn beneath the collar badge if one was favoured by the regiment and on its own if not. Similarly the TF did not initially have the UBIQUE scroll on collar badges and it was replaced on the cap badge and then collar badge too by a sprig of laurels. There was nothing unusual about this and it had applied to the previous Volunteer Force too that certain things were only the entitlement of regular army units and personnel.

Another difference was that among TF ‘other ranks’ (enlisted men below commissioned officer) the rank of warrant officer was not permitted. Each unit had regular army colour sergeants on attachment as instructors, or equivalents in other arms like the artillery. In the case of the infantry one colour sergeant in each TF battalion was carefully selected by the colonel commanding and he was appointed as the Acting Sergeant Major (ASM) and received certain advantages in pay and dress, but none of the latter were publicly funded and so had to be found at unit level. Instead of the crown of regular warrant officers appointed as sergeant major of battalion these men (ASMs) wore the old, pre-1881 badge of four inverted stripes surmounted by a crown.

Both of these aspects ended over the period of 1915 to 1916, when firstly Territorial Force units reorganised to the 4-company structure from 8 and were permitted warrant officers, and secondly the “Military Service Act” (conscription) of the following year created a unified army and ended differentials so that insignia could be standardised and soldiers and officers could be posted wherever they were needed without concern as to category. The regular army supply chain took over from Territorial Force County Associations the responsibility for the supply of all insignia and by 1918 and the Armistice it was truly an army of citizenry.

[Dan M]

Toby,

Thanks for the great reply. It is much appreciated. I've already passed the details on to the original poster.

And thanks for adding the photographs. The use of laurel sprigs for Territorial artillery officers was new to me. Every day, eh?

Dan.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Dan M

Toby,

Thanks for the great reply. It is much appreciated. I've already passed the details on to the original poster.

And thanks for adding the photographs. The use of laurel sprigs for Territorial artillery officers was new to me. Every day, eh?

Dan.

I’m glad to help Dan. I omitted to mention that the word UBIQUE, which you probably know translates as EVERYWHERE, was very much earned by the regular artillery and replaced any concept of colours bearing battle honours (they had in their early history had banners). Ergo the honour was considered unearned by auxiliaries of the VF/TF and so inappropriate for their insignia.

[fairlie63]

Interesting to note that AO 298/1917 awarding the Regular distinctions to the Territorial Force makes it clear that the 'T' was still to be worn underneath the collar badges, and that no officer was to be called upon to change the badges he already had in wear.

Keith

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

Interesting to note that AO 298/1917 awarding the Regular distinctions to the Territorial Force makes it clear that the 'T' was still to be worn underneath the collar badges, and that no officer was to be called upon to change the badges he already had in wear.

Keith

That’s interesting to know Keith. I guess in part intended to ensure officers were not pressured to purchase new badges. The soldiers were certainly no longer issued with shoulder titles bearing a T. Do you know if the order was issued early in that year?

[fairlie63]

22 September 1917 Toby.

Cheers, Keith

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

22 September 1917 Toby.

Cheers, Keith

Thanks Keith. Much appreciated. It shows how the authorities took some months to think about it after the Military Service Act entered the statute books.