Cap badge help, which regiment? - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

High Wood · #1 20-06-17, 06:23 PM

Can anyone please identify the amorphous blob that is this man's cap badge? My first thought was Gloucestershire Regiment but it appears to have a crown at 12 o'clock. The photograph dates from 1940.

GriffMJ · #2 20-06-17, 06:37 PM

South Staffordshire Regiment

High Wood · #3 20-06-17, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GriffMJ

South Staffordshire Regiment

I was seeing it as a solid badge but wouldn't the south staffs have a scroll?

leigh kitchen · #4 20-06-17, 07:11 PM

Looks like it has, the badge backed by an oval patch of Holland cloth.

High Wood · #5 21-06-17, 07:14 AM

Does the cloth backing have any significance such as denoting a particular battalion?

Paul Spellman · #6 21-06-17, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by High Wood

Does the cloth backing have any significance such as denoting a particular battalion?

The Holland cloth originates from the 38th of Foot (1st S.Staffs) who from the early 18th century spent over 50 years on continuous foreign service, whilst in the West Indies their uniforms got in such a bad state that they started to wear ones made from Holland Cloth a type of sack cloth.
I'm sure the badge backing was worn earlier than the 1934 date that the King presented the Holland Cloth to the Regiment
Paul