A flaming question...

[Bill A]

Just to confirm, the Grenadier Guards have always had badges with 17 flame tips?

[Alan O]

Good question. There are other variants with 14 and 16 tips but it has never been proved what period they were from or whether they were Empire regt badges.

Interestingly in 1914 the 25th Frontiersmen has grenade badges adapted for their use but with 14 flame tips. This may have been old pattern Gren Gds badges or badges originally destined for Canadian Grenadiers.

[grenadierguardsman]

There is photographical evidence of these lesser flamed Grenades being worn pre 1900. Have a look on Pinterest, i may have some in my Album.
Andy

[Bill A]

Thanks Alan / Andy. Yes, the Canadian Grenadier Guards wore badges with 14 points until some point in the First WW. But, they had CANADA embossed below the cypher. CGG badges later in the war had 17 points. I am assuming that they saw their sister Guards Regiment wearing the 17 point badge and adopted the same, but with CANADA on the ball below the cypher. Of further note, a company of the 14th Bn CEF the Royal Montreal Regiment is reported to have worn the plain grenade badge initially. I am not sure how many flame tips were on that badge.

[grenadierguardsman]

Thanks Bill.
Andy

[jf42]

Originally Posted by grenadierguardsman

There is photographical evidence of these lesser flamed Grenades being worn pre 1900. Have a look on Pinterest, i may have some in my Album.
Andy

Was there a standard for Line grenadier companies grenadier distinctions prior to 1860, that was consistent with the First Grenadier Regiment of FootGuards?

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by jf42

Was there a standard for Line grenadier companies grenadier distinctions prior to 1860, that was consistent with the First Grenadier Regiment of FootGuards?

An interesting question posed, JF. It’s has long been my belief that the first grenade adopted by the GG was indeed that of the flank company already worn. We touched on this in the thread “Grenade Fired Proper”. It’s also not that well known that the Foot Guards were the first regiment to have the Grenadier flank companies that were subsequently adopted by the line, although the earliest grenade insignia was I think in cloth.