RTR brass sleeve badge

[iaindh]

I have a RTR brass sleeve badge that was my Fathers. I seem to recall it was worn on the No 1 dress uniform which I think were called blues.

RTR sleeve badge 003.jpg

Can anyone confirm this please?

thx Iain

[Dave Alexander]

I think the arm badge on No1 Dress for RTR was bullion, and the uniform was probably black not blue.

[Robthereiver]

Originally Posted by iaindh

I have a RTR brass sleeve badge that was my Fathers. I seem to recall it was worn on the No 1 dress uniform which I think were called blues.

Attachment 109011

Can anyone confirm this please?

thx Iain

Iain

I think Dave maybe right, the No.1 Dress badge was embroidered, at least that's the info I have. However, RTR No.1 Dress aka 'Blues', were dark blue again according to references eg. RAC Uniforms by Lawson.
As to which uniform your fathers badge can be allocated to I think '1st tankie' is the man for that, and I'm guessing when I say early days of No.2's or Battle dress.

Rob

[iaindh]

Rob,

many thanks for your reply, (and thx also to Dave,) I had it in my mind that he did always refer to No 1s as "Blues,) but it's a long time ago and all photos look like it's black.

As to the brass sleeve badge, I can't find any trace of a brass sleeve badge being worn, even his own photos show a cloth badge.

Iain

Originally Posted by Robthereiver

Iain

I think Dave maybe right, the No.1 Dress badge was embroidered, at least that's the info I have. However, RTR No.1 Dress aka 'Blues', were dark blue again according to references eg. RAC Uniforms by Lawson.
As to which uniform your fathers badge can be allocated to I think '1st tankie' is the man for that, and I'm guessing when I say early days of No.2's or Battle dress.

Rob

[Alan O]

No 1 Dress are indeed a very dark blue. Perhaps Dave is mixing up RTR black berets with No 1 dress 'Blues'. Whilst the RTR uniquely wear a black beret unlike most other regts' dark blue ones, I don't believe they have managed to get black No 1's. They do have a penchant for black coveralls and black belts however.

[Peter Brydon]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

P.B.

[iaindh]

Thanks Peter & Alan;

Few people are probably aware the the RTC were the first to wear a beret in the British Army.
As I understand it, black was chosen for the beret and overalls were because of the amount of oil encountered inside the tanks.

Here's another whilst on the subject....

The belt and yes, it is black; is it OR's No 1?

RTR belt 001.jpg

RTR belt 004.jpg

Iain

[Martin W.]

Hi guys,

i just talked to my dad who is ex-RTR and curently the Branch Chairman of the Birmingham RTR Association.

First he told me that the #1 dress uniform was black and a gilt embroidered tank was worn on the sleeve,as mentioned by Dave.

He went on to say that the brass sleeve badge was,but is no longer worn on the #2 khaki uniform.It is now silver.

He thinks the brass sleeve badge is now worn only by the Regimental Police ?

Here is a photo i took at Bovington in 1997 showing the silver embriodered badge in wear on the khaki uniform.

My dad is on the right of the pic with his back to us.They are preparing for the Queen's visit.

Cheers,Martin.

[1stTankie]

Hi Iain

The arm badge you show in your initial post was worn by 1RTR ORs on OGs in Hong Kong, 1957-1960.


During our time in the colony the regiment was selected/nominated to provide an "Honor (sic) Guard" for the talks between North and South Korea following the termination of hostilities. All units were liable for this duty and the First took its place in the line, c1958. The belt was a local manufacture I think; it was worn by the members of this small detachment in lieu of our normal black webbing ones.

I hope this helps

Best wishes

Gordon

[iaindh]

Good Evening Gordon,

thank you for your input.

So the sleeve badge relates to the Regiment's posting to HK. Do you happen to know whether this was just for 1RTR? (I dont know if other RTR units served in HK; ie was it limited to 1RTR only?)

The belt was of such limited use? That is quite amazing. I know my Father was also a Guidon Escort when the Regiment received the new colours from HM EII in 1960 and I thought it may be related to that but either way, rare.

Kind regards, Iain

Originally Posted by 1stTankie

Hi Iain

The arm badge you show in your initial post was worn by 1RTR ORs on OGs in Hong Kong, 1957-1960.


During our time in the colony the regiment was selected/nominated to provide an "Honor (sic) Guard" for the talks between North and South Korea following the termination of hostilities. All units were liable for this duty and the First took its place in the line, c1958. The belt was a local manufacture I think; it was worn by the members of this small detachment in lieu of our normal black webbing ones.

I hope this helps

Best wishes

Gordon

[Martin W.]

Thanks for the information Gordon.

I will pass this on to dad when i talk to him next.


Cheers,Martin.

[fearnaught]

Hi Iain, the brass arm badge was, according to Jim MacDonald, introduced in Oct 1957 or that was when it was officialy approved. He does quote all the official numbers which if I have time tomorrow I will look up. the staybright was introduced in 1970, again I will look up tomorrow and hopefully photo some of them.Again according to Jim the stock of the metal badges were used up by 4 RTR whilst on tour out east so became known as the 4 RTR arm badge.The belt is quite amazing, I don't have anything like it. As far as I know the gilt bullion arm badge was for the band. The only silver metal arm badge I know of was worn very shortly, if at all, in WW1. Best wishes and congratulations on some interesting items, Mike

[fearnaught]

Hi Gordon, it's interesting that the badge is K/C on the belt, were you wearing K/C badges at that time? thanks in advance and hope you are well, Mike

[1stTankie]

Hi Mike

Good to hear from you. The brass Arm Badge, with black backing, was worn by 1RTR in Hong Kong wef our arrival in June 1957. I have never seen or heard of a staybrite version.

I have no idea why the belt was produced with the king's crown. We were well into queen's crown beret badges by '57. I have always assumed that the belts were produced in theatre but could be wrong. they could have been sent out from UK for the Korean Honour Guard. I have one somewhere. I will dig it out and see if I can find the manufacturer's details anywhere. This may take a little time; don't hold your breath!

Best wishes

Gordon

[iaindh]

Hi Mike,

many thanks for your input.

I would appreciate anything else you have on the sleeve badge.

I had no idea that these 2 items were so interesting. I'm truly amazed that the belt was produced only for this small honour guard.

Thanks again Gordon for this information.

Kind regards, Iain