Sherwood Rangers GM?

[lettman]

Was the final pattern of Sherwood Rangers badge (KK 2287) ever issued in GM rather than A/A? I recently acquired one but all of the usual sources list it in A/A only.

[Mike H]

I think theyve gone back to wearing the strap type badge in new metal,rather than the anodised circlet badge.

[Alan O]

The GM versions have been made for commercial sale but as far as I am aware the only issued ones were a/a.

The regt all wear the single RY cap badge across the regt. It has been known in the past for individual sqns to retain old Yeomanry designs; but I was under the impression that this had ended.

[lettman]

Thanks for the information, gentlemen. Tracking the yeomanry since 1947 is a mind-bogglingly complex process!

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by lettman

Thanks for the information, gentlemen. Tracking the yeomanry since 1947 is a mind-bogglingly complex process!

Thats very true ,a maze .

[Alan O]

From another thread but of interest

ORs wore the brass bugle in WW1 and from what I can see from these pictures the RTC cap badge mid WW2. They had converted to armour in 1941 so the RTC badge cannot date before that. They had briefly been gunners before that but still a mounted yeomanry unit up to the start of WW2.

http://www.sherwood-rangers.org/photos/ww2-soldiers/

If you browse the photos at the link there is a large group photo of B Sqn dated 1944 when they are wearing the garter and crown Yeomanry badge.

Annoyingly in the 1939/40 era photo with side cap and battledress the yeoman has no badge in his side hat! I am presuming they adopted the black beret and RTC badge when they converted to armour in 1941 and wore that through the NAfrican campaign. Like many yeoman regts they had their bespoke badge again in 1944 on the RTC beret. K&K date the garter badge's (K&K 2285) use from 1936.

[lettman]

I'm almost certain I've seen photos of the Sherwood Rangers in North Africa with regimental badges on black berets, but can't recall which pattern.

[lettman]

Originally Posted by lettman

Was the final pattern of Sherwood Rangers badge (KK 2287) ever issued in GM rather than A/A? I recently acquired one but all of the usual sources list it in A/A only.

Just by way of a postscript to my own question, I was looking through a library copy of Robin Hodges' British Army Badges (a book which unfortunately I don't have) and came across the following information in relation to the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry squadron of the Royal Yeomanry:

'Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry cap badges are not available from the Army and therefore gilding metal badges are bought from Squadron funds and issued to all soldiers.' (p. 342)

So for at least some period of its existence, the 'default' badge for the unit was in GM and not A/A. Hodges also adds:

'Soldiers wear anodised aluminium collar badges, also bought with Squadron funds. The only badges available from the Army are officers' collar badges. They have the incorrect wording on the circlet, NOTTS SHERWOOD RANGERS YEOMANRY but are worn because they are available.'

[GriffMJ]

"A" Squadron Royal Yeomanry now..... they wear the Wm Royal Yeomanry cap badge with SRY Collars.... everything else is now RY. The only old regimental ID is on the collars.

[lettman]

Thanks for that. I should have included that Hodges' information dates from c.2005.

[badjez]

30.06.50. List of Changes C4154
Badges, Cap. Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers) (Cat No CB 1242).
2. New Pattern.
The new pattern (14109) Cap Badge is hereby introduced. It differs from the old pattern in that it is reduced in size to 1 5/8”, Horn surrounded by gilding metal ring bearing designation of Regiment and surmounted by a Crown.
Patterns have been sealed to govern future manufacture.
Info from Ordnance List of Changes.

Stephen.
= = =

30.04.57. List of Changes C7176
Badges, Cap. Sherwood Rangers. GM (Cat No CB 7558).
1. New Pattern.
A pattern (No 17066) of the above-mentioned item has been sealed to govern future manufacture.
The new pattern differs from the old (No 14109) (Cat No CB 1242) in that it incorporates the St. Edward Crown.
The existing Cat No (CB 3190) (See C4717) will be retained for the new pattern cap badge in anodised aluminium.
Badges, Cap. Sherwood Rangers. GM. OP (Cat No CB 1242).
2. Change of Designation.
Obsolescent.
Consequent upon ‘1’, the designation of the above item (Previously ‘Badges, Cap, Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)’) is hereby changed to read as now shown and declared obsolescent.
= = =

Of course, none of this meant badges were actually issued. By 'obsolescent' I understand they could be worn until wasted out.

[Alan O]

A couple of pictures to help:

The WW2 badge with k/c and strap worn after the RTR badge. (K&K 2285) This is the Cat No CB 1242 sealed (again?) in 1950 mentioned above.

[Alan O]

The 1957 pattern badge in a/a with King Edward's Crown.

[Alan O]

The final pattern badge in a/a. (KK 2287)

It is this pattern that was made commercially and is the one refered to in Hodges book as being provided by at unit expense.

[lettman]

Originally Posted by Alan O

The final pattern badge in a/a. (KK 2287)

It is this pattern that was made commercially and is the one refered to in Hodges book as being provided by at unit expense.

And here is that final pattern in GM, so presumably the one mentioned by Hodges as the badge used c.2005. Thanks for the other illustrations and information, too.